Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Thunndarr]

So, you're in a mixed-level adult class. There are 8 students, about half of whom have fluent English. The other half can understand well enough, but need time to articulate their thoughts. Oh, it's a discussion class.

Each class member has a list of discussion questions. You, the teacher, decide that the students with a weaker command of English will probably sit back and listen to the 4 students who are fluent, and so decide to break the class into groups in order to give all the students a chance to participate in a meaningful manner.

However, upon informing the class that they are to form into smaller groups, you are told by one student that, "Some of us don't want to do this," and are subsequently put into the position of either beginning an argument in the middle of class or acquiescing to the demand.

So, the first part of the question is, what do you do?

The second part of the question will follow shortly....

[flotsam]

I think your response choices are biased slightly toward the belligerent viking in nature.

How about:

Ask the student why and make the discussion part of the lesson. If it turns out those who object to your idea have a valid point and the majority agrees, go with it. However, if it turns out the dissenter is a *beep* and his reasoning is shyte, ask him to try things your way. If he refuses, bring it up with the boss and see what can be done. If that fails, or your boss is also a *beep*: funk it, it's their money anyway, and you have longboats to scour and England to sack.

I mean, they're adults, not kids, right? What are you going to do, get into a fight over classroom control with a bunch of professionals or housewives?

[Grotto]

Definately need more options!

Depending on my mood at the time I would:

A) Do you want to teach this class? Then shappup and sitdown!

B) I would like you to try it...this is my plan for this class, if people dont like it then next class I will plan something else.

C) What the hell do you know dumbass? I am the teacher here and you will do as I say or suffer the consequences! Now where did I put my lovestick?

D) Oh no....someone doesnt want to run with the play....perhaps if I collapse into a fetal position and sob uncontrollably I will shame them into conforming

E) You dont want to do it OMG! I'm a failure as a teacher I shall now run out of the class and hide

Its all about options!

[seoulsista]

I would have called a vote. "Raise your hands if you don't want to split into small groups." I do this in my class when kids complain. If they win the vote then so be it.

To me, and I teach children, this is small potatoes. Not following directions, not paying attention, speaking Korean in class these are the things that I will come down hard on. They won't win any arguements on those points. This one however you probably won't get support from your boss if it came down to it.

[Qinella]

[denverdeath]

You might want to tell them(all, not just the problem child) that you like to shake things up a bit; sometimes pairwork, sometimes two small groups, and sometimes everyone together with you. Tell them that this will benefit all as all modes can be found in many speaking situations. Also, tell them that it's beneficial to them to be speaking with different people on different days as that's how things work in the real world.

p.s. I had a student like that at one of my former workplaces. What I did was put it up for vote after I left the class. He lost. Also, I was informed by the other students that he had stormed out of the room after losing the vote and crumpled up the week's discussion topics and threw them in the garbage can in the hallway. Good riddance. The students, and I, thought he was a bit of an aggressive creep...I also thought he was a bit of a whiney momma's boy. Apparently, he had a former teacher who always had the classes discuss things as a larger group, and he preferred that style. For some reason, he didn't like the way I handled things even though I tried to rationally explain to him that he actually has more opportunity to interract in a smaller group and that I would be constantly monitoring the groups for correction and what not. I also didn't have the heart to tell him that a lot of the students were at a higher level than him and would actually be able to help him improve his ability a lot. Anyway, he was happy to change to a lower-level class(as were the rest of us).

[Zoidberg]

I agree with Qinella, that's what I would do.

Either that or take a violent dump in protest. I've often found that to be effective.

[canuckistan]

I've been in this situation before. It sucks.
I'd try to explain that the stronger students should be helping the weaker ones by being grouped/paired up with them on drill exercises--they're all in this class together eh?
Otherwise it's always the usual--the stronger speak the most and the weaker just listen. At some point the weaker need to make the jump from just listening all the time.

Maybe a comprimise for both groups could be worked out--a little of both each week or even offer the stronger to be grouped together and the weaker togther for a class....a rotating basis...hopefully everyone's happy with that.

[I_Am_Wrong]

The adults who are better are probably thinking that they are paying money to talk to you, not to talk to students who are weaker than them.

I don't know what'd I do...as you have a fine line with adult classes.

[Thunndarr]

Very informative responses thus far. Now, let me elaborate on the exact situation a bit more. The class is for teachers at my school. They don't pay any money for the class, and I'm not being paid to teach it. The guy who spoke up is nominally in charge of arranging things for this class. He was the one who said "We don't want to do this." As such, the other teachers defer to him, rather than listening to me. It was a bit like having your legs cut from under you.

Part of the reason I found the situation to be so infuriating is that I expect better behavior from teachers. I found it very disrepectful to speak up like that in the midst of class, and it basically shocked me into silence for a couple moments.

So, knowing now that it's a free class for your co-workers, how does that change how you'd react?

[Zoidberg]

Keeping the new information in mind.

Could you suggest to the co-worker causing the problem a compromise, that they try it your way for one lesson to see how it goes. Then, take a group vote on whether this way is better or not, and take it from there depending on the outcome.

[canuckistan]

Geez the plot thickens.
I wouldn't let the fact that it's your co-workers learning English change a thing. If team leader et al is going to be sticky about it, shove all the responsibility back onto him/them--that's what I always did with the really "difficult" ones.

Get each group/level together with each other and ask them what they want to do to learn in your class. Have them write it down. Share this info with everyone. If the outcome proves to be stalemate of weaker vs stronger having completely different ideas, ask them what they think you should do about the impasse.

I found this a good way to stop the griping. And sometimes we actually got to a place where everyone was happy (especially me) because THEY made the choices--which they couldn't easily gripe about after...could they

[flotsam]

Yuck. The dump option seems more viable than before.

I have to say first off, I would refuse to teach it. I mean, if somebody asked me to teach co-workers I would just say no, it complicates relationships among the most adult and professional of people, and the way that Koreans handle hierarchy, as you are seeing, takes them well out of the "most adult and professional of people" demographic. At my current school I was asked to do it, and I firmly declined--told them about past experiences with fluctuating attendance, attititudes and attentiveness and that was that.

That being said, in your case I think you have three options:

1. Tell him directly it's your way or the highway, and stick to it. But expect retaliation.

2. Go with the canuck's advice.

3. Ignore him, arrange the class your way and have a blank standoff if he disagrees with you. I have found that sometimes, sitting quietly on the edge of a desk, occasionally glancing at one's watch while waiting for people to do what one wants is an effective way to either A) Get what you want. or B) Rapidly eliminate interest in your class. It also gives you 50 minutes of down time if they decide not to blink.

Your co-workers sound like dicks. Hope that doesn't carry over into all aspects of the job. If it does, you might just want to think about relocating.

[Pak Yu Man]

[schwa]

I always stress to my teachers classes that its their class & I welcome their input into how it should be conducted. Knowing full well they are deeply conditioned not to criticize the teacher. So I generally pay close attention to what the class "captain" has to say as they have likely been discussing things together, outside my earshot.

Hey, I'm here to satisfy them. Getting along is paramount & learning happens anyway.

8 is not an unwieldy number for whole class discussion. Some class members are more outspoken & others are more hesitant. I take it as my job, in that case, to act like a conductor & to draw on each member to contribute within their comfort level.

I understand when teachers tell me they dont want to spend class time conversing extensively with other teachers. Sure, it might seem to us to be useful practice, but they often see it as just rehashing familiar stuff. Theyre more keen to learn fresh & interesting material from the native speaker.

Therein lies the challenge. Once you've got their trust, other possibilities present.