Job Discussion Forums

[chryanvii]

I had a student say today that my social clubs were boring. To be honest, i don't prepare social clubs at my training center the same way I prepared my university classes in the past...and with three a week in addition to the other preparation we have to do, I am often not usually motivated to go out of my way to find awesome "speaking activities" to plan anyway.

I have always thought of social clubs as an opportunity to "do whatever you want." It's our place for creativity. If you want to do listening activities, you can do that. If you want to just share some interesting photos of your country and culture, you can do that.

I have never introduced games into my social clubs, nor debates or role plays or anything like that...and I don't really intend to. I explained to the guy today that WEB is NOT a college program...it is a completely different beast all together. Some teachers seem to have a different idea here at this particular WEB center, but I don't. I want to do what I've always done, just as at the WEB before, where the students seemed to like my material. That's why I came back here.

There ARE some opportunities for speaking and small discussion in my social clubs, but because of the varying levels of students, and the possibility of confusion, I have chosen to keep the speaking activities light [10-15 minutes].

I introduce the topic, show some pictures, ask them some questions about the photos, give them a vocabulary/cloze worksheet, and then a partnered discussion activity.

I came back to WEB so that I could once again do my own style...introduce unique videos I have found in the way that I want to. I was really disappointed to find out that the most motivated student at the school was not happy with my social clubs.

[doogsville]

Boredom is a choice in my opinion, so that's what I tell my students. In any given lesson or activity, some people will be bored, some will be interested, so how can you say the class or activity is boring. Each person is having a unique experience. The truth is, the individual is bored. It's possible to find something of interest in almost anything, if you use your brain. Even if you only use it to think about how you would do it differently to make it interesting, you're still doing something. Boredom, it seems to me, comes from having an expectation that the thing you're consuming will be interesting, and all you have to do is passively consume it. After all, that's your right, isn't it? To have an endless stream of stimulating experiences without having to lift a finger to enable them?

I also point out from time to time that life, real life, outside of the confines of the Chinese university experience, feels boring. A lot of jobs have a distinct lack of stimulation. We spend a great deal of time doing mundane things like going to work, doing our jobs, coming home, watching TV etc. etc. When did boredom become a crime? As a kid I was occasionally bored, but I got through it. At the risk of sounding like an old fart, I don't remember having the kind of resentment of boredom that seems to be the norm these days. Life is not a video game. Excitement is not an entitlement. If you're bored, either get through it without whining about it, or find something else to do.

Here endeth the lesson. Damn, I'm getting old. Not getting bored that much though.

[chinatimes]

The best and worst students are the most likely to complain. In addition to that, if a student knows the answer they are less likely to verbalize it as they get older.

I am finding out that games are more stimulating for the smarter bunch. This could be with trivia or problem solving activities. I start out with categorical conversations about music, movies, sports, games, food, or art and then find out where their interests are. You can research material for the next time they come.

Get out of the loop where you have to constantly prepare the "soup of the day". Get them to tell you what they want to learn. This makes it a more enjoyable experience for them the next time they come.

[A593186]

Is your "social club" a contractual obligation as part of hours/pay? If so, then you should have been prepared to conduct a class as any other (in regards to preparation). All lessons should be creative. It's not only the teacher's job to instruct, but to entertain as well in a conducive mix or relationship to motivate learning.

[chinatimes]

[Harbin]

Outside of my social club classes, they're 100% teacher centered.

[Denim-Maniac]

[chryanvii]

[quote="Denim-Maniac"]

[Denim-Maniac]

[chryanvii]

What if I don't WANT to do all this stuff? Can't I just do my own thing, as I always have? Have my own style?

And even if I do this stuff, where can I find it on the internet? I have been searching for YEARS to find good stuff. I have come down to a few good websites, but even then and there, I don't like the majority of the material they have presented.

[Non Sequitur]

[Denim-Maniac]