Job Discussion Forums

[lajzar]

I have some students, in different streamed classes, who are studying for the same exam. The top kids are going to walk this test, while teh bottom kids don't give a flying one about English.

My goal for the bottom kids is partly to make them actually care about studying, and partly to make the next term as painless as possible for all concerned. I regard actually getting them to learn anything a distant third in priorities.

I've already noticed that the bottom kids really need a different syllabus, but that cannot happen at this school unfortunately.

So, is this a reasonable attitude? And should I be at all concerned about the completely different amounts of Japanese I am using in class between these two levels?

[Celeste]

I can't believe they have taken the time to stream the kids and then they use the same materials for both classes. There is no easy answer here. On the one hand, I would be tempted to simplify the lessns for the slower class (teaching only to the exam) on the other hand, they have probably had stuff dumbed down to them a lot in the past, and this is a never ending cycle. As for speaking more Japanese with the slower class, I suppose this is unavoidable when you are trying toexplain difficult grammar concepts, but I would try to make sure to expose them to a lot of spoken English. To do so, I would make sure to start my classes the same way every day, with some set questions to the whole class. Lots of basic questions that you know they can answer. Try to do all of the class business in English (calling roll, passing out papers, instructing students to stand up, sit down, start working, etc. ) Rather than translating for them into Japanese, ask them as a class if any of them can tell you what xyz means in Japanese. I would also create some kind of rewards system for both classes. As they acheive a certain number of points they will get a reward such as computer lab day, a class "party" where you show a video and play cards or something, or you could do individual rewards. As each individual answers a question correctly in class, uses any English, actually does the homework, etc. you give them a token, or a point or whatever. When they have a set number of tokens they can bu a reward from you.

Motivating kids is tough work, but motivating low level kids is especially tough. I would also recommend a website called www.behavioradvisor.com
It has a lot of stuff about behavior problems, but it also has some info on rewards systems and motivating students.