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rusty1983
Joined: 30 Jan 2007
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Posted: Mon Sep 21, 2009 2:45 pm Post subject: Dealing with ego-tripping students |
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Just wondering how you deal with students (Im talking adults here) who go off on an ego-trip in the middle of your class. By this I mean they blatantly get you into a battle of wits thinly disguised as a language point or even something else...Gets a bit draining after a while. Ive had this guy in my class for a few weeks and he has been a great student, but he had a bad weekend and the arrival of a few new sexy lady students prompted him into becoming a bit of an arse, frankly.
He is a higher level than the rest and was jumping into every discussion headfirst without being prompted. Then we got to a tricky text and he tore into the ambiguity of it. I managed to hold my own (experience helping me here) but it amounted to a collosal waste of time and has set me back for tomorrow.
It annoys me when guys go off and do this as the girls being girls are usually a bit more sensible about it all and arent often impressed.
Whats the best technique for dealing with this kind of thing, without alienating them? |
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Demophobe

Joined: 17 May 2004
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Posted: Mon Sep 21, 2009 2:49 pm Post subject: Re: Dealing with ego-tripping students |
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rusty1983 wrote: |
Just wondering how you deal with students (Im talking adults here) who go off on an ego-trip in the middle of your class. By this I mean they blatantly get you into a battle of wits thinly disguised as a language point or even something else...Gets a bit draining after a while. Ive had this guy in my class for a few weeks and he has been a great student, but he had a bad weekend and the arrival of a few new sexy lady students prompted him into becoming a bit of an arse, frankly.
He is a higher level than the rest and was jumping into every discussion headfirst without being prompted. Then we got to a tricky text and he tore into the ambiguity of it. I managed to hold my own (experience helping me here) but it amounted to a collosal waste of time and has set me back for tomorrow.
It annoys me when guys go off and do this as the girls being girls are usually a bit more sensible about it all and arent often impressed.
Whats the best technique for dealing with this kind of thing, without alienating them? |
"Listen, I appreciate your desire to know in detail about all of the things you insist on discussing, but frankly, I have a room full of students here who are not as concerned as you are with these things, and I owe it to them not to work with or talk to you alone. I suggest you hold some of your more detailed questions until the end of class, when you can buy me lunch and I will be happy to answer them all. Now, I think you can understand that we need to move on to the next item and stop using everyone's time on trivialities. Thanks."
Last edited by Demophobe on Mon Sep 21, 2009 2:51 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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D.D.
Joined: 29 May 2008
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Posted: Mon Sep 21, 2009 2:50 pm Post subject: |
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a stick works |
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smartwentcrazy
Joined: 26 Feb 2009
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Posted: Mon Sep 21, 2009 3:14 pm Post subject: |
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Left high kick, Croatian style.
On a more serious note, you should just cut him off mid-sentence and inform him if he wants to talk further about the subject to talk after instruction was over, instead of interrupting the entire class. That's usually what my professors did to other 'smart-ass' students and worked flawlessly. |
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jhuntingtonus
Joined: 09 Dec 2008 Location: Jeonju
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Posted: Tue Sep 22, 2009 11:02 pm Post subject: |
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Stop acknowledging or responding to him, if it's really severe, and continue with your agenda. |
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proustme
Joined: 13 Jun 2009 Location: Nowon-gu
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Posted: Wed Sep 23, 2009 12:46 am Post subject: |
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Tell the student to meet you after class to speak with you. |
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Julius

Joined: 27 Jul 2006
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Posted: Wed Sep 23, 2009 1:26 am Post subject: Re: Dealing with ego-tripping students |
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rusty1983 wrote: |
Just wondering how you deal with students (Im talking adults here) who go off on an ego-trip in the middle of your class. By this I mean they blatantly get you into a battle of wits thinly disguised as a language point or even something else...Gets a bit draining |
Personally i don't teach adults if I can possibly help it.
Neither do I teach korean "adult" males If I can possibly help it.
Working in an elementary school means I usually get to avoid both most of the time. |
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asams

Joined: 17 Nov 2008
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Posted: Wed Sep 23, 2009 10:08 pm Post subject: Re: Dealing with ego-tripping students |
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Julius wrote: |
Personally i don't teach adults if I can possibly help it.
Neither do I teach korean "adult" males If I can possibly help it.
Working in an elementary school means I usually get to avoid both most of the time. |
Usually? So you're saying you've had a Korean adult male or two in your elementary classes? |
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Epicurus
Joined: 18 Jun 2009
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Posted: Wed Sep 23, 2009 10:12 pm Post subject: |
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I'd welcome the challenge of crushing some a-hole's overinflated ego.
repeatedly  |
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TheUrbanMyth
Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Location: Retired
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Posted: Wed Sep 23, 2009 10:15 pm Post subject: Re: Dealing with ego-tripping students |
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rusty1983 wrote: |
Just wondering how you deal with students (Im talking adults here) who go off on an ego-trip in the middle of your class. By this I mean they blatantly get you into a battle of wits thinly disguised as a language point or even something else...Gets a bit draining after a while. Ive had this guy in my class for a few weeks and he has been a great student, but he had a bad weekend and the arrival of a few new sexy lady students prompted him into becoming a bit of an arse, frankly.
He is a higher level than the rest and was jumping into every discussion headfirst without being prompted. Then we got to a tricky text and he tore into the ambiguity of it. I managed to hold my own (experience helping me here) but it amounted to a collosal waste of time and has set me back for tomorrow.
It annoys me when guys go off and do this as the girls being girls are usually a bit more sensible about it all and arent often impressed.
Whats the best technique for dealing with this kind of thing, without alienating them? |
I'll answer your question with another question, Zen-style.
What did the five fingers say to the face? |
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poeticjustice
Joined: 28 Feb 2009
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Posted: Wed Sep 23, 2009 10:26 pm Post subject: |
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Three words:
"You were adopted."
If you want to be REALLY mean, you can add:
"From Vietnam." |
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pkang0202

Joined: 09 Mar 2007
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Posted: Wed Sep 23, 2009 10:47 pm Post subject: |
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Ask him a question. Say, "You are a Native Korean speaker yes? For the Korean sound "eh" what rule is there for writing ㅔ (어이) or ㅐ (아이)?"
I haven't met a single Korean that can give me a definitive rule. When they can't answer I say, "English is the same way. There are some things that have no rules, and you just have to know" |
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benji
Joined: 21 Jul 2009
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Posted: Wed Sep 23, 2009 10:48 pm Post subject: |
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"You know Mr. Kim, you remind me of my former student. Same questions, same attitude. He was Japanese and he was a homo. Are you sure you arent a japanese homo? Really? Because you are just like him. Look like him too. Does your boyfriend know you arent gay? What did your father say when you told him you were a japanese homo? Oh you are married? So you are just half a homo. Does your wife know?" |
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rusty1983
Joined: 30 Jan 2007
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Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2009 12:14 pm Post subject: |
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This isnt a Korean its a Spanish guy. Freaking annoying. The problem being he is actually way above the level of the class but there isnt a higher class. I realised he was unworkable when he refused a couple of basic corrections (he was using 'used to' instead of 'usually' - I nearly had an argument over it and now he just avoids saying it altogether). He's not a horrible guy (been to the pub a few times with him) and I think he gets alot out of the class but god working with people can be frustrating.
Well he leaves on Friday so all will be well again, only some nutty old woman has already lined herself up to fill his shoes.
The biggest frustration for me at the moment with this job is one or two annoying people ruining it for everyone. I can never and could never be someone who just stands there talking, then hands out worksheets and heavily controls the conversations, but some people just cant stay focused and always have to start spouting nonsense. Well, I say I could never be but I bet a lot of young teachers started out as an 'Im a fun guy here to have fun with you' kind of teacher and I can see where it got beaten out of them!!! |
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Olivencia
Joined: 08 Mar 2009
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Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2009 2:55 pm Post subject: |
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just another reason why i choose to teach lower level englsih ability students |
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