I'm currently teaching in Japan. It's my first teaching job. I've been teaching at my current school for over 4 months. I teach kindergarten, elementary, jr. high, high school, and adult classes. I really enjoy teaching, but I have difficulties with a few of my jr. high students' classes. I don't have any other problems with my other classes; and the students really enjoy class.
Mainly, my problem is that 2 of my jr. high classes aren't motivated at all. They just want to sleep, or they don't want to be there. (By the way, there is about a max of 4 students in each class.) I'm getting frustrated since my boss seems to focus on these 2 classes, even though they don't make up the majority of the school. The kinder, elementary, high school and adult make up for the majority. (Plus, I recently got 7 new students to join.) I can understand my boss's stance, from a sales point of view; but it's very frustrating.
I only keep hearing negative comments about these classes and that I need to get them more interested. I'm frustrated because I'll ask the classes if they understand or don't understand (which they will tell me they understand); and I'll ask if they have any suggestions for how to improve the class. The students will answer, "No" and smile and act like they really enjoy the class. However after class, they will go complain to my boss.
![Sad :(](./images/smilies/icon_sad.gif)
I've spoken to my boss about how the students say they understand, don't have suggestions, and act like they really enjoy my class. My boss told me I should just try to "read their faces" to figure out how they are feeling and what they want. It's a little difficult due to cultural differences in translations of facial expressions and body language. I asked if I could give out an evaluation, in hopes that they might not feel as embarrassed or worried to express their opinions on paper. However, my boss told me that I shouldn't do that. She decided to give an evaluation to the students, in which the students said the lesson plan and everything is fine and didn't really give any suggestions. The one suggestion I did receive is I need to be more friendly.
![Confused :?](./images/smilies/icon_confused.gif)
Therefore, I asked my boss what exactly does that mean. How should I be more friendly? Should I chat more? Do they want to play more games? My boss just says, "I don't know. Try to think of something." I'll ask if she has any suggestions, and she'll just tell me, "Let me think. I'll get back to you" (which she never does.)
Thus, I'm on here asking for advice and suggestions on what I can do to motivate these kids. Sorry for the rant. Thanks for reading.
![Neutral :|](./images/smilies/icon_neutral.gif)
Edit: Also, I've already looked at the sticky posts about unmotivated students.