The best way to deal
with discipline
issues
in the
EFL classroom is to have a
good lesson that is active and
encourages the participation of
every student
in the room. An active
student is not usually a problem
student.
That said, many
students are not
in the
EFL classroom because they
want to be. Many are there because
their school or university program
requires it, their company/employer
requires it, or their parents put
them
in the class. A few parents
even use language schools as a
babysitting
service. So, sometimes, problems can
be expected.
No matter what the
problem, the best policy is to keep
your cool.
In fact, the best advice is
to always act on a problem BEFORE
you get upset, while you can still
think
rationally and calmly about solving
it. Plan ahead for dealing
with common problems.
Set clear rules and
explain
them to students the first
day of class. Be serious about the
rules, enforce them consistently,
without showing
any upset, and you are on your way.
Students who talk a
lot, or misbehave
in a mild manner, can often
be quieted just by your presence if
you stand next to them. Even quite
disruptive teenagers can often be
settled down with a simple gentle
hand placed on their shoulder. You
don’t have to say anything,
they get the message. Try not to
take things
too seriously, just enforce rules
with a smile on your face so as to
not upset the rest of the class.
Adults generally are not too
problematic, though
in some cultures they can be.
Children present a
special challenge. Remember the old
rule that the length of an activity
for a child should be no longer than
double their age minus
two and some suggest age equals
length of activity. Thus a
four-year-old child at maximum can
probably only tolerate an activity
of six minutes
or less then you should move on.
Children will often
act out for your attention and it
would be best to study some basic
psychology and behavior modification
techniques to keep a handle on them.
Generally speaking,
giving
a child attention for unwanted
behavior is not a good idea. It is
far better to target the child right
next to the misbehaving
child and reward them for doing
what you want the problem child to
do (like sitting
down, or working
on the assigned task).
It is important to
get some idea from your employer
what rules they feel should be
enforced and what they recommend you
do about discipline
problems. Language schools are
typically private businesses
and need you to deal with any
problem gently, positively and
in a way they doesn’t chase
their customers away. Ask the other
teachers at a school what the school
enforces and if they “back up” their
teachers. Some don’t and it is far
better to know that BEFORE you have
to press a point
– and lose.
Know that what might
be perceived as “cheating”
in the Western world might be
considered “helping
your friends”
in some other cultures. Here,
prevention is the best action
– spreading
desks far apart and even all the way
up to the front and back walls if
need be
– during
examinations.
Don’t allow cheating,
but don’t get too stressed by it. It
is a cultural issue more than anything
else.
Discipline
in the
EFL classroom is no different
than discipline
in any other type of
classroom with the simple exception
that you have one more thing
to frustrate your student and that
is language.
Module 6: Managing Large
Classes
In recent years, the
demand for English has
increased. Schools around the
world have responded by adding
more English classes into the
curriculum. Class sizes can be
quite large and, in some cases,
are growing even larger.
Classes of 50-75 students
are not uncommon. Many
people in education
are asking
themselves: * How do large
classes affect an instructor?s
ability to teach, and a
student?s ability to learn? *
And, how do large classes affect
the quality of education?
Teachers may not be able
to answer
these as research
questions, but they can
examine pedagogical
techniques and classroom
management practices that
make the best of
large classroom situations.
Expanded
Concepts:
Read the following
link
for excellent advice,
information, and help with
discipline
issues
in the classroom.