Job Discussion Forums

[Slim Pickens]

X

[taschenrechner]

Tell them straight up not to do that. That's what I do when fellow students do the same thing. Most of the time if I ask a student something and it takes him/her a few seconds to think of the correct response, other students jump in, interrupting with whatever answers they think are correct. It could be impatience or just a jab at the classmate's inability to answer in an expedient manner. Either way, I tell them to stop it. It's not helping the student to learn how to think on his/her own.

If the parents say anything to you, then tell them you just want their child to learn English well.

[lagerlout2006]

Luckily I have never had this happen. Guess it would be OK if it;s one parent only. Of course they should be observing only...Maybe jokingly say "Well of course YOU know the answer..." I recall observing an ESL class in Canada and making a comment (quietly) to one of the students. Teacher politely but sternly told me ---you are here OBSERVING. Don;t know if that would work in China.

[davis]

I'd get right on their case. Tell them the child can't learn if the parent won't let you teach. Tell them they are wasting their money by giving the answers. And then...tell then to sign up for an adult class if they want to participate.

[Roger]

How old are these kids?

Even at kindergarten, I push them out unceremoniously ("xiao pengyoumen, nimen xianzai zou le!")

[struelle]

[rick_martin_78]

if a parent acted up, I would stop teaching - and then glare at the parent until they got the message. Or gesture with a sssh finger.

The school I worked for had about 20 chairs in the back exclusively for parents. They used it as a marketing ploy - and it seemed to work. Parents could see what they were paying for, and get a free english lesson as well. On the plus side, kids never misbehaved, and always did their homework.

don't hesitate to single out a misbehaving parent, because chances are everyone else sees that parent as an annoyance too.

[latefordinner]

The schools that I've taught at have occaisionally done this as a marketing ploy, so if the parents are there its because the admin has invited them to come and observe. Sometimes I've even been told about it ahead of time.
R-M78, was this the glass "fishbowl" at NC in Dalian? I was slightly miffed that I was only asked to conduct two open classes there. BTW, pm me if you're going back there, I'd like to stay in touch.
Typically, the parents who spoke the clearest English were the happiest with my classes. I've had to toss a few kids into the hallway for cool-downs, but no parents (yet). Yes, the prompting is a problem, but I've been dealing with it with the kids from day one, so by the time dwe have an open class they are usually able to model the class behaviour that I want for their parents. When they see that working, the brighter ones catch on and help pass it on to the slower ones.

[Ger]

Parents are welcome if they pay to attend my English lessons.

[Slim Pickens]

X

[Roger]

Well, Slim Pickers,
these parents are disruptive and definitely would not be welcome by me in my classes!
Maybe they can watch through a glass door, but they should NOT be present and distract their own child and interfere with class procewdures!

Most of them no doubt don't understand English anyway. Their presence must be embarrassing for their own child!

[The Great Wall of Whiner]

This bothers me.

My school has two classrooms. One is tiny, and thus cannot accomodate parents fortunately. I do however have two parents getting free English lessons who sit in the back of the class to be entertained by the handsome white man from Canada.

The other classroom however is dreadful. There is a "viewing area" set up so parents can come and watch their children. Actually, truth be told, the only reason they come is to watch the white muppet perform.

I never had this is Taiwan, Japan, or Korea and it is starting to get under my skin.

[China Pete]

We were having this problem for awhile. A group of mothers constantly wanting to watch and or prompt their kid. It was annoying after a couple weeks, so we started telling them that the rules state that parents may watch once or twice only at the beginning of the term, and that its better for the kids learning if you leave them with the teacher to learn. we got a few bottom lips stuck out and some dragging feet, but after repeating it a few times guess what. They stopped going to the classes, but then theystarted constantly sitting in the reception making complaints to yours truely, the management, about this and that, all little stuff- knitpicking. After another couple weeks of that, I told them to write any complaints or suggestions on paper so we can review them in our staff meetings, and find the best solution.
BOOM! Magic!
They stopped all complaints, all peering in on classes, etc. They still come religiously, but they sit in reception and each of them brings yarn and they sit there and knit, and yap about normal stuff. Its a funny sight! One even offered to make me a sweater, and they even all laughed at my joke about our school starting a 'mothers knitting club' for them to attend during class time...

[Slim Pickens]

X

[lfclouds]

I actually get very distracted by parents in the classroom.

If its the kids first class with me then no problem, and if its a young kid (I teach 5 -14 year olds) then a the first few classes is ok.

But generally I find it annoying.Some even have the gaul to SMOKE while I'm trying to teach these kids!!! ( I'm a heavey smoker myself )
I've been borderline shouting at them to get the *beep* out of my class at those times but I cant be seen to loose my temper in front of the little ones, not to mention the culprits own child.

So a quick word to my boss to bring it up at the next PTA always sorts it out.