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KMT22 · Joined: 06 May 2008 Posts: 7

I just started my CELTA class this week. I'm looking for some advice, or perhaps a different take on what I'm experiencing.
We're teaching 12 pre-intermediate students, 11 of them are from China, South Korea, or Taiwan.
I am having a hard time getting them to listen to my instructions, or to even just stop talking. It's only our second day of teaching, so all of us are having this problem to some degree. Our CELTA tutor tells us to stand at the front of the classroom and wait until everyone stops talking. This might work if it was one or two students, but it's normally more than half the class. I'll go ahead and add that I am not a quiet speaker, or an uncertain one. I know how to give short, clear instructions, and the tutor said that I model activities well. But I seem to have WAY more trouble getting the class to settle down than the other trainees. Now I should add that I'm 23, with very blonde hair, petite, and pretty. (I say pretty because I have had two of the students tell me that I am "beautiful"). Flattery is always nice, but I am worried that they are not taking me seriously. My attitude is quickly moving from slightly annoyed to severely frustrated. I worry that my confidence will soon be undermined, and this will make the problem worse. I know how I would address disrespect in my workplace, but the same tactics cannot be used on students.
So what does everyone think? Is this a cultural issue, an issue with my teaching style, or is it all in my head? Has anyone else had issues like this during training or teaching, and if so what did you do to correct it. Any help before my next teaching class (Friday) would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

Give a quiz in the first 5 minutes of class. EVERY class.

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

Sit them next to people who they can't stand.

Embarrass one student and make an example of him /her by pulling them in front of the class and asking them if they realise that they're talking and being disruptive.

If they're young, threaten to talk to their parents, and follow through with it.

Punish them for talking while you are. Sit them in a different section of the room. Have them write an apology.

Talking while the teacher talking, unfortuantely is a common problem.

Try positive reinforcement. Make an example of the good kids by calling everyone's attention to them.

Bribery works wonders. Give out candies to the good students, or stickers

Dragonlady · Posted: Thu May 29, 2008 4:10 am Post subject:

deleted

out of date

laconic · Posted: Thu May 29, 2008 4:25 am Post subject:

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

Also would be a good way to fail your CELTA course.

No, I think you need to seek serious advice from your course providers. You need to know exactly what kinds of classroom management techniques they recommend in such a case. They are there to help you with exactly these issues.

I would ask for a meeting specifically to discuss this issue.

Regarding your appearance, you may want to try to offset your youth and beauty by dressing seriously and conservatively. Not overdone, of course, but leave off any extra ornamentation and try to give the impression that you are taking the thing seriously.

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

And about that whole you are beautiful thing, that's just the way that Asians are. And you should deny, rather than accept the compliment. If you can say one word in Chinese, they will go on and on about how good your Chinese is.

Or if you go to eat at their house, they will tell you how terrible their food is.

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

Justin Trullinger · Posted: Thu May 29, 2008 2:55 pm Post subject:

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

I'm not going to shout at the students. Simply call them in front of the class and ask them to look around them and see that they're in class and should respect the teacher.

Girl Scout · Joined: 13 Jan 2005 Posts: 525 Location: Inbetween worlds

Calling someone out is only something I use after classroom rules have been established and it is obvious students are purposefully disobeying them. I would never call out a student early in the semester.

You do need to take control. I like the quiz idea. I sometimes get the students to move, move the desks into groups or a new classroom configuration, ask one or two students to help you put up a poster or a map. Movement normally gets students attention.

You can also move. I have never had a lot of success just standing in front of the class and waiting for them to be quiet. That has only worked after a hierarchy has been established with me on the top. Walk over to a desk, put your hand on it, then ask a student a few feet away a simple personal (not too personal) question. What are you talking about? What did you do this morning? a "you" question, a question about them.

You have the attention of the student you are standing over and the attention of the surrounding students. The should all quiet down. (should)

Kootvela · Joined: 22 Oct 2007 Posts: 513 Location: Lithuania

Get a whistle and blow it when you need their attention. Works well with adults as well as with kids. Seriously! At first it might be a good laugh but then they'll get used to it. It's not very communicative but effective.

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

Almost all posters here are ignoring the fact that the OP is have trouble with practice teaching on her CELTA course. Blowing whistles, shaming students, etc. are all courses of action that may cause her to FAIL unless her trainers have previously approved them.

Her only real course of action is to formulate strategies along with the trainers on her course. Shocked

Kootvela · Joined: 22 Oct 2007 Posts: 513 Location: Lithuania

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

No - it's quite possible to fail a CELTA or a good generic TEFL course. Reputable course providers have a responsibility to potential employers to ensure that the newbie teachers they've 'stamped' as 'ready to start' fit into a range of acceptable behaviors in the classroom.

I've unfortunately known quite a few TEFL trainees over the years who really couldn't reach the basic goals and who were NOT passed.

It's unlikely that the OP will find herself in this situation - she shows initiative in trying to find ways to solve the problem. But her solutions need to also fit into her trainer's expectations for appropriate classroom behavior. Her trainers may agree with you that whistles can be blown in some situations - or not.