Job Discussion Forums

[wangdaning]

I have my students perform a dialogue every other week, using the grammar, vocab, ect that they have been taught. I have smaller classes, 26-7 students, but occasionally it becomes an issue.

I never stop the performance, seems that would be worse than the talking. I wait until the end, the I get in front of the class and remind them to listen. The degree of my reprimand varies based on how many times it is offered. I always tell them they are doing this to practice their English, which is why they are in the class. I often draw a parallel with my own university life. The most severe, and the one that ensures they will shut up and listen, is to tell them when I was studying Chinese we had to do similar dialogues biweekly and to mention my teacher never had to confront the class about being quiet. I have told the class it is people like them that make me avoid the cinema in China as well. I have a good rapport with my classes, thus I can make these statements and not be hated. They know what is going on and they know they are acting stupid. I would never make such comments to a class I didn't know.

University students are adults and should act and be treated that way. If they misbehave, well, they need to be told as adults what they are doing wrong. Do not treat your students as children or they will continue to act that way. Chinese university students feel they are in limbo between childhood and adulthood, which way would you have them lean?

[daCabbie]

[wangdaning]