Job Discussion Forums

[lumberjackej]

Hi,

I'm currently teaching literature and oral Eng classes this term. After two weeks, the lit classes are going swimmingly well and the oral English classes just so-so. I think this has to do with my teaching style, as I enjoy explaining literature and discussing ideas, rather than teaching vocabulary and idioms.

Last term, many students recommended that I make my class 'as fun and entertaining as possible'. I cringed at this. While my students consider me to be a funny and interesting lecturer, I'm not here to entertain my students, or perform for them.

I'm also the type of teacher who likes to have an organized lesson plan, and teach them something specific rather than just talking about whatever comes to mind, or playing games all day. Maybe it's just me, but I'd feel guilty about making a bunch of college students play hangman every week. After all, I'm a teacher, not a camp counselor.

But maybe they have a point. In my oral classes, a lot of the students are reluctant to share their ideas. I try not to come off as intimidating, but it seems like many students are still scared to death to speak to their only foreigner teacher in class.

Perhaps I should take a class or two to just screw around with them, let them loosen up? I'm teaching oral English, so I guess the main goal is to get them to talk as much as possible, but I'd also feel bad if I didn't actually teach them anything useful.

Where do you strike the balance between playing games with your students and teaching them things like vocabulary, idioms, slang, etc etc? I'm not sure if I expressed my problem clearly but if anyone has had a similar experience, I'd love to hear from you.

[Rice Paddy Daddy]

How are you going to feel when you get your students' course evaluation and they rate you low?

this aint Kansas anymore, is it.

Don't get all intellectual - play games.

show a movie if you can - especially on the first day and just before your student-course evaluations. They will love you for this.

I can tell from your post that you care about your teaching and are tryiing to do your job as a 'lecturer' would in a college back home.....but try to Kick it back a bit more and don't worry about teaching so much - adapt. "fun" is more important than 'teaching' and 'learning' here.

Those that don't adapt are terminated eventually with extreme prejudice! LOL!!