Job Discussion Forums

[Capergirl]

Do you assign homework for your ESL classes? Whether you do or not, do you think homework is a positive or a negative thing for ESL students?

I am required (yes, you read it right) to assign homework and give tests, but the students complain vigorously about it. I'm not talking about kids, now...these are adults. They do the homework - grudgingly - but sometimes I wonder if it is really necessary and/or beneficial. I hate feeling like a big ol' meanie doling out assignments and telling the students they have a test on such-and-such next class only to see their faces scrunch up as if they were in pain.

Thoughts? Insights? Opinions?

[ls650]

I think it depends entirely on the class. If I think they're at the level of progress I expect to see, I rarely assign 'assignments' for the next class.

I instead prefer to ask students to work on projects in their outside time, such as research, gathering pictures and other materials for classroom presentations, etc.

However, if I think students are having difficulty grasping a grammar point or similar, I'll assign extra work to be done at home.

[denise]

Given the nature of my program, I do have to give assignments, homework, tests, etc. But I don't like giving them busywork. I like to give them projects--preparing for presentations/debates, keeping a weekly vocab log, eavesdropping on natural conversations (I hope I don't get in trouble for this assignment!), etc. I rarely give them book exercises or worksheets--maybe if we haven't finished covering something in class. And they rarely do the homework! (The projects they do; "daily" stuff they don't do. Sigh.)

I hate giving tests! This term, I'm giving final exams in three of my four classes. Yuck! I plan the syllabi, so I guess I have only myself to blame... I'd rather have final projects, papers, etc., but somehow final exams kinda crept into my plans.

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[guest of Japan]

Giving homework helps to put the responsibility of learning in the students hands.

[Roger]

It depends on more than the class - it also depends on the SUBJECT, and the OBJECTIVES of the class.

Say you are condemned to teaching (can one do that?) "oral"
English - i.e. you create situations in which individual students have to respond in a natural way using English. What kind of homework could you order them to do? And what might be the goal of homework?

Most of my observations tend to be critical assessments of students' miscommunications, sluggish responses and poor intonation and pronunciation. These are shortcomings that students can only overcome by drilling and honing, in other words: repetition, repetition, repetition, but not during class time, please! The job to be done is mainly remedial work, and that means little teaching but a lot of improving, which means students must become aware of their own proficiency levels. Learning involves conscience, but drilling targets the subconscience. It's well-nigh impossible to synchronise subconscious achievementwss, so students should work on their own - hence homework.
For oral classes, I suggest they tape-record their own voices as they read a text aloud and contrast it with a native speaker's recording.

Most Chinese students are a bit lazy when it comes to doing homework - not used to working on their own, and often they won't do homework. However, I have recently had the good fortune of working with very dedicated students who would never fail to turn in homework when I asked them to do it! In fact, I was so overwhelmed by their production I had to go into overdrive to mark all their papers in time (over 350 compositions!).

Chinese schools overburden their students with a lot of repetitive and largely useless exercises so the kids just spend their "self-study time" (as their time they must spend in their sticky classrooms after supper is called). Westerners are not normally expected to add to their burden, but hey, how are your charges going to improve their language skills if they are not made to work on them on their own???

[Lynn]

I'm also required to give homework every day. (And a dictation, quiz and memorization weekly). The homework is the students workbook. Maybe it because I teach beginners, but I think homework is very neccesary. I find that students tend to leave English class, put their books in their backpacks and never open their books again until the next class. They don't retain anything at all.

For advanced classes, I guess it might be different. My students actually like homework and all of them do it, too. They always make noises when I assign homework at the end of class,"Ahhhhh!" But they are just playing, because when I only assign a little they demand more!

[guest of Japan]

Lynn stated her advanced classes actually want to do homework. That is why they are advanced.

[Lynn]

Oops! I think my post was pretty confusing. I just added that line about advanced classes because it came to mind suddendly, but it doesn't actually fit.

I don't teach any advanced classes. My students are level one, or even level zero, if you want to call it that. Some haven't even finished high school in their home countries. I think taking an English class reminds them of their youth. That might be one reason they like homework.

[shmooj]

Ah but guest of Japan's point is well made. The ones who make time for homework (no one has time) are the ones who will make it.

[october]

I don't think it depends on the class at all but on your objectives and the exposure the class has to English. if they are exposed daily then homework is just an overload and it would be much more benefitial to work with them in the class (except projects...) But if a class has Enlgish only a few times a week (like in my case) then homework is a must.
I also hate giving tests but have to since my principal just won't give up on them, what i love is the projects, getting them involved and motivated is much more benefitial and fun. I really think that through them they will learn L2 much better.

[Wolf]

In my oral/conversational classes I don't bother with homework. In my writing classes, I gave a short assignment every week (I only see the class once a week.) In my literature class I give reading assingments, but aside from two papers and an exam, I don't give other homework.

Last term, I noticed a definite improvement over the course of time with my writing students. The complained at the time, but now most of them thank me for the experience.

I have to be careful not to give assingments that can be copied from the internet or from a book.

[Capergirl]

It depends on the class for me, as well. Since I am currently teaching a lot of grammar classes (somehow I've become 'grammar girl' around here), I end up giving a lot of homework and having frequent tests, as that is part of the curriculum. I suppose it is necessary to have lots of practice with grammar, though, and my students do seem to understand that, no matter how much they protest (at least in the beginning).

In addition to the grammar classes, I also assign homework for writing classes (paragraphs or essays, depending on the level) and for ESP (English for Specific Purposes) classes. I don't assign homework for CALL classes or listening/speaking classes. However, I do give them ideas for things they can do on their own outside class to practice their English.

[fluffhead]

[Gordon]

Homework is important if it is practicing what you are teaching. Don`t give it just for the sake of giving them work. If they do homework, it will allow you to do more during class time.