Teacher Discussion Forums

Hi, As a beginning teacher myself, i am still searching for ways to make class interesting and relevant. I have found, however, that if you are bored during your class, the students most likely are also. Being enthusiastic makes a big difference- and if you don't feel enthusiastic, you should try to...

Hey, Welcome to China. i've been here for about 6 months, and I was also told before coming that I would be observing for about a month, and that then I'd have a teacher in the classroom with me. Never happened- I was alone from day one. Because of the vast differences in communication style between...

Well, I told the class they needed to not do their homework, or else I would take it. They complied immediately, and the class that day was so much beter. A few days before, I had asked them to write some things about the class, such as how much they can understand, and what they (and I) can do to i...

Rania, I just read your post after my last post. Thank you so much for your ideas and advice. I think you really hit the nail on the head. These are good kids who really do have a desire to learn English, but they are pretty desperate to get all of their homework done for fear of being yelled at. I ...

Sian, While I do appreciate you responding to my posts, your cursory respones kind rub me the wrong way. Point well taken about being a softie, but as you know very little to nothing about me or my class, I think you are way too hasty in deciding that "My students have lost all repsect for me". With...

I underatnd I'm a softie, and need to lay down the law, etc. But this doesn't get to the underlying problem. Am I supposed to say, "oh well, not my problem, let the students deal"? Or what? somewhere there's a balnce there, and that's what I'm looking for. thanks for replying.

thansk for your reply, you gave me some good ideas.

Hi, Sian thanks for your reply. Yes, the ideal situation would be to ban the homework....however....Call me a softie, but this is China...the students are loaded down with work every minute of the day. They also have class all day Saturday, and most of the day on Sunday. I don't assign homework, bec...

Hi, I already posted, but hopefully this post, about a different topic, will yield more replies. Every morning, I teach a class at 7 a.m. It's the same class everyday. Most of the classes at the school begin at 8:10, but this is an extra class for these students. The class is going okay, and I am wo...

Hi, I was wondering what people here thought about taking the students outside, and what kinds of activities you'd suggest. Sometimes I feel that a change in the classroom setting would be wonderful..especially for my Chinese students who are in the classroom, literally, from 7 a.m. until 9:15 p.m.,...