Hi,
I have one or two nightmare classes right now - discipline-wise.
basically, I have a few groups of 12 year olds that just simply refuse to study, be quiet, play a game - anything.
all they seem to want to do is play with their phones or laptops, which they refuse to put away.
No support really given from the admin either.
so, what to do?
help
Sometimes I honestly believe that unruly classes can be the fault of one or more teachers from previous years not giving a shit. If this is the case it is difficult to change their mindset of 'Oh, here comes the farang..let's go mental'. It is possible though.
Not sure if you're new to teaching but if so, trying a few of these could help. Basically, if the kids know that there are rewards/punishments in place for certain behaviour it helps.
Make a list of rules and stick them on the wall and/or in their books. Example 'Do not speak unless the teacher asks you to. Put up your hand to ask a question'
1. Don't shout and scream at them ( you may already know this to be fair). It just doesn't work out here and you'll only lose your voice and get headaches.
2. Get a list of all the kid's names and put them in groups. Try and make the groups as even as possible in ability and behaviour.
3. Print out a sheet and stick it on the wall. Name the teams after cartoon characters 'Team Scooby' etc. List each child's name in the relevant teams.
4. Award 'star stickers' for a child's effort/ behaviour in class. Give each child one or two stars to start.
5. Take away stars from the child (or team if the kid has no stars) for bad behaviour. Not putting away a notebook/phone would mean minus 5 stars for a team in my book. Award stars for good behaviour and effort. If a kid gets an answer wrong but put his/her hand up and actually tried...give them a star. Others will see this and start to make the effort.
6. At the end of each week/fortnight award the winning team prizes. A bar of chocolate each or similar works wonders. You could give out felt tip pens etc but kids of twelve would be more interested in sweets and crisps. Not good for them I know, but a bar of chocolate every 6 weeks or so won't do them too much harm.
7. Be more forceful. If a kid refuses to put away a laptop...take it off them. It's that simple.
8. Make the lessons as engaging as possible. Try and find out what things the kids like and make these the themes of your next few lessons.
If this fails and the school refuse to tell students to stop bringing laptops into class...
9. Look for another school. Seriously. If the boss at your school really doesn't think it's an issue then you're working for an idiot.
10. If the kids are refusing to put away laptops and the school tell you to leave them alone and let them play...at least try and get them to use this (whilst you seek a better job)
ESL Pre-Intermediate/Lower Intermediate- Level 6 Revision Wheel Game
In fact, if by chance you have an interactive board you could put them in teams and play this for a few lessons (after trying to teach what's coming up in the quiz).
Good luck.
Last edited by Neil S; 12th July 2012 at 14:44.
".Tony Banks described the English fans arrested in Marseilles as 'brain dead idiots'. That goes for me as well. ".
Secretary of the Football Supporters Association.
This may not be at all what you are looking for, but I give in, in as funny a way as possible. Make jokes about how they never do their work, or whatever, but smile and just be cool about it. It will never get to the point where they will come in and do their work one day of course, but I find if i reach a certain level of respect with them, they just do their own thing and dont disturb the entire class as before. I think with questions like yours, "winning" really means making strides to pay more attention to and help students who want to learn. If you think of classes like bell curves, there is just simply going to be a certain area where you have to cut your losses.
Neil S:
thanks for the long post.
trying to take laptops of the students by force doesn't work, they just resist and start going ballistic - just doesn't seem to be the done thing here.
it's a tricky one going to the admin as they tend to get rid of teachers that have 'issues' so perhaps your point 9 is the most practical.
The other points you mention can be useful I agree, though this one class that is the worst are just refusing to do anything point blank - fortunately it's not long till end of term so can drop the class then (which obviously doesn't help my finances)
I guess it's one of the joys of Tefl.....
A very fair point. Do you have a non-Thai head of English at your school? If you have I assume you've told him/her already?Originally Posted by matilda
If you do move jobs and have a work permit you need to remember a few things.
If you move schools it can be tricky cancelling and getting new permits/visas etc over to a new school. Your current school sound as if they would be no help (you need a letter from them etc) so if you leave for another job I advise leaving the country by plane and getting a standard tourist visa. This will give your new school enough time to sort stuff out (in theory).
It can be done without leaving (I did it) but both schools need to have very good admin and the school you leave must hold no grudge!
The nice thing about Cambodia is that there are no visa hassles like the ones you have in Thailand.
Jusy pay the money and get yor yearly visa!
Help them to find another teacher?
Hang in there until October 2012 and start at another school by November 2012. Second semester at government and private K12 schools.
that definitely happens. when i started my current (first-ever teachering job) about 3 years ago, i was hired specifically for mathayom 4/5/6. it was august and i was about the 3rd teacher that semester (the others had flaked out). the year before wasn't much better. so by this time the kids had all gotten the impression that it wasn't a 'real' class and they could do what they wanted. 3 years later those classes run smooth as clockwork (at least by mathayom standards).
sooner or later you'll get advice along the lines of 'be a total prick' 'don't try to get them to like you or be the cool teacher' etc. maybe these hackneyed cliches underline a viable approach, i don't know. but i suspect that the same approach won't work for every teacher. i also suspect that there are some students who just won't give a flying fuck no matter what.
that said, whether you're going to be a hardass or a pal, one thing you've got to do is start establishing some kind of rapport. first thing you need to do is learn their names. especially the troublemakers. or learn something about each and every one of 'em. especially the troublemakers. you don't necessarily have to convince 'em you're nice (or that your wallet's the one that says "bad motherfucker" on it, either), but i think it's necessary to convince them your'e fair, and you give a shit about them. do that and it'll get easier and might even turn out to be a lot of fun.
i've always thought that urban cops would be a lot more effective (and less inclined to be pricks unnecessarily) if they lived in the neighborhood they worked in, got to know the neighborhood and its people. you don't have to live in the school, or near it, but if you live in that classroom for your 2 or 3 hours a week instead of just mailing it in, not only are you in the top 0.0000001 percent of foreign teachers in Thailand, but it makes the job easier.
Imodium can't stop me.
Sorry, maybe I'm a hard-ass, but cellphones and laptops are not allowed in my classroom. If a student pulls one out it is immediately confiscated by me. If they complain about it or resist, they get diciplined - they sit alone in the back of class, or they stand in the back of class, or they get sent to the hallway. It's YOUR classroom and YOU make the rules. They follow the rules or face consequences. If the school won't back you up then you're in the wrong school.
"There's a beverage here man!"
What he said.
it's a tricky one going to the admin as they tend to get rid of teachers that have 'issues' so perhaps your point 9 is the most practical.
I have seen this issue come up a lot. Here is my take... let's face it, your job is really to absorb the constant bickering and behavioral problems of your students. That is it, that is your job. If you can't do that, of course they wont be happy, I wouldn't either.
focus on the good ones, screw the bad ones , they can play on their laptops or phones as long as they don't make too much noise. these ones are lost so focus your attention and energy on the ones that deserve it
wake up...
"You really want to save the planet?...the next time you see a hybrid car with a childseat... smash the window, remove the childseat and replace it with a box of condoms..." Doug Stanhope
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Sometimes a student simply sleeps with the head on the table; I let him sleep. As long as he doesn't disturb my lesson I don't care. But the little buggers that talk, laugh and monkey around I tell to stop it because I can not hear the replies of other students. If telling them several times doesn't work, I tell them I'll hit them. After that I tell them to hold out their left hand and whack them with a stick. (They need the right one for writing.) It really produces results! Some kids only 'get it' when they feel pain. A minute later they raise their hands and give the right answer, it's amazing!
I remember it worked when I was small...
After two months now they know me, they listen better, and other Thai teachers smile and nod to me, letting me know that they agree with what I'm doing.
...and end up with a 5 year jail sentence.
Careful with that one. All it takes is achild to complain to a parent. A parent to call the police. The police to visit the school...you get the rest.
Bad advice.
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