Monster Class! Help!

[Lone Traveller]

I need some advise on dealing with "problem children".

I have a class of grade 8 students (15 - 16yrs old) that are just nightmares. The school grades all their students into their various ability levels and this class is ... well .. at the opposite end to the incredibly intelligent class.

They don't want to be there. The school requires me to work from a set text and they never bring their texts so it makes conduction of lessons, somewhat of a challenge. Their listening is very poor and their speaking isn't much better.

Their head teacher sits in on the lesson but even she has no control over them. Neither does my assistant. We tried slowing the pace of the lesson right down and using my assistant to translate EVERYTHING and they still ignore us. They fight, they throw things, they yell, they talk over the top of me. They don't participate in anything I try to do. Not even the games.

I'm so close to tearing my hair out with these kids. I just don't know what else to try.

I feel like I'm loosing this battle - and I hate to loose!

Any advise would be greatly appreciated.....

[Raoul Duke]

Tough situation, and a BIG part of why I won't teach kids, especially this age group.

I'm going to assume you're in an English mill rather than a public middle school.

It's best to get the school management involved in this. Being the bad-guy laowai can be a dangerous situation, especially in smaller towns. You should discipline if possible through the Chinese teachers....but it sounds like you don't have that option here. So, tell the management what you've told us. Tell them that the situation is absolutely intolerable, and they need to either a) intervene and solve the problem or b) find someone else to take that class.

Start here. If it doesn't do any good (and there's a good chance it won't) then you're going to have to take the bull by the horns...or leave the school. Start sending people out of the class...they HATE that. Tell your next class with them that if they don't bring their book to class, you're going to ask them to leave. If they show up next time without the book, send 'em out. If they go over the line in your class, send 'em out. They won't like it and will likely resist you; don't let this faze you. I simply stand there and stare at them, not teaching, until they finally leave.
This is a risky strategy (ie they might fire you), but hey, you really want to go on like this? There's lots more schools where that one came from. And I promise you it WILL get noticed...by the school and by the parents. With any luck it might even get you a meeting with the parents, where you can tell them directly what's happening in your class. It will at least probably wake up the school management enough to try and do something to solve the problem before the parents riot on them.

I don't know you or all the specifics of the situation LT, but I will tell you that you've got to be tough on this. You aren't going to win this age group over with "fun English learning activities" or being the smiley teacher lady. I've discovered that one of the Great Secrets of Teaching is that, no matter who you're teaching, you've got to be indisputably In Charge for the entire duration of your class. These students are like packs of wild dogs...the moment they smell fear or weakness, they will tear you to shreds. Whether they want to be there or not is not your problem...or at least it shouldn't be. You've been charged with running the class; go in and By God run the class. Go in and be tough. Be as cool as the class will let you be...and don't take any nonsense from anyone. ESPECIALLY a 15-year-old kid.

My 2 cents. But I don't teach kids.

[Raoul Duke]

One other note.

You're going to have to intensify the penalties for misbehavior.

Balance it out by intensifying the rewards for good behavior and honest effort. Lay the praise on thick when it's warranted at all. Be friendly and helpful when you can. Find the survivors cool things to do. If they show respect to you and the class, reward that by respecting them back.

It's not JUST toughness.

[Jollyjunklass]

I teach University kids here and I do precisely what Rauol says, athough these things should be done from day 1. If my students don't have their work or their homework done I send them home until they finish it. They DO NOT come back to class until it is completed.

I also charge them 1 yuan for every Chinese word they speak, no one leaves the class until I get my one yuan, they often have to borrow money from their peers.

If they are disrupting the class, for instance speaking when their peers are presenting something, I ask them to leave. At the beginning of the year they all sign contracts regarding these rules and I ask if they agree with everything. If they don't, some say it is too strict. I say too bad.

I have taken these measures many times, especially at the beginning because they will test you. They are totally shocked that you mean what you say, they also feel very embarrassed when they have to leave. If you do these things they will take you very serious and it is only then that you can begin to enjoy your class.

Good luck, don't let these squirts walk all over you, you are smarter than them. Keep that in mind. I also wouldn't give a poo what the parents think, if they like they can come in and teach your class.

If this doesn't work, tell the school that you refuse to teach them and that they need to send in a replacement. This type of thing becomes dreadful and can ruin your day and you don't need to feel that.

[Non-Dave]

I suspect I know the school and the situation you're in LT. You can't win them all and you may have to suck it up and just put up with the situation until the term ends. I doubt the boss is willing to support anything too harsh that might invite the wrath of these darlings' parents and lose the income they provide.

Does their head teacher have any ideas? I'd be getting their support for anything you plan to do in the classroom.

Is there anyone in the class who's interested in learning? Can you seperate them from the bigger group and just focus on them - ignoring the others?

Otherwise, write their assignment for the day on the board. Explain it with a big happy smile and then sit down, plug in the MP3 or open your favourite book and wait for the class to end.

Pick the battles you can win, enjoy the classes that do behave and participate and don't waste too much feeling or effort on a bunch that aren't likely to change.

My two cents worth...

[Missi]

I hate to say it, but I do agree with you Non-Dave. I feel terrible agreeing, but its true. You can't win them all. And sometimes you do have classes that you just can't work with.

I showed a DVD last week in both grade. Grade one 18 classes. 16 classes got a DVD and the other two didn't. Those two classes were ticked off that they don't get a DVD. I explained why and told them that if they are good students who try hard for the next two weeks I will be more than happy to give them a DVD. One of the classes, today was just amazing. A far cry from where they were last week and the week before that. The other class, they kindof think that I will give them a DVD because I gave everyone else a DVD. I'll find out tomorrow how they are, but I think they will just be their little pansy arsed self's. And I can't wait to explain it to their head teachers when asked.

The above might work.


I do do what Jolly does as well. At the beginning of the year I have my rules and make sure that they know what will happen if they break the rules.

Is this your first year teaching? if it is, well, think of it this way, next year will be better!!!!

Good luck!

[BeiLi]

Do you use tongue twisters? Maybe that would be good to start with in the beginning? Something to grab their attention. Try to stay away from the book, pick a subject. How about songs? Are there English songs that they like? Do they want to learn a new English song? Do they have English names? Give them English names, and remember to refer to them as that. Get them to write the words in Chinese on the board for the English words. Cambridge has an International textbook that I think is good.

[Lone Traveller]

The tongue twisters I've tried, the songs the don't give a rats about, any game or activity I attempt usually only gets the involvement of 2 students at the very most.

I've just decided that I only have another 4 weeks left. That's only 4, 45min lessons to deal with. After that, change of timetable - Thank God! I'm not going to stress over it anymore because it's really not worth the energy.

I feel so defeated but there is just nothing left to try. But, like I said only 4 left - piece of

;D

L.T

[phets72]

Dearest Lone Traveller,

NO, YOU ARE NOT DEFEATED!

Knowing you personally, and the many conversations we have had on teaching and the behaviour of our students, I think you have done the best you can do in a very difficult situation in a very professional way.

Remember, many teachers would have packed it in by now and you have not - congratulations and give yourself a pat on the back for going forward, don't give yourself a hard time. I take my hat off to you as I often look to you for inspiration as to teach my own students.

Phets72.