problem students
problem students
I teach at a little known school here in Phnom Penh. I have little contact with admin. I want even less. My students are typical I suppose. A few are hardworking, motivated, show signs of genius and are a joy to teach. A different group are habitually disrespectful, lazy cheats. This latter group is causing me to age prematurely and may end up costing me my job. After a certain amount of disrespect from the HDLC (habitually disrespectful lazy cheats) in full view of the other students my typical response is to scream at them to get the hell out of my classroom and report to the Discipline Officer. This drama has had good consequences on 2 occasions. Both of those formerly HDLCs now sit quietly in the back of the class and are no longer discipline problems.
However, I still have a few HDLCs (from wealthy families apparently) who continue to show extreme disrespect towards me in the classroom (eg--a girl recently came to class 10 minutes late while I was lecturing. Instead of quietly taking her seat she stood at her desk with her back towards me(at the front of the class) and chatted with a friend for about 15 seconds--which seemed like an eternity!-- until I walked over and screamed at her to take her seat. This she did with no further hesitation. (except for her usual sour grapes expression)
I understand that such displays of raw emotion are considered to be culturally unacceptable in Cambodia. Thing is, I don't give a fuck. I have no respect for this culture. Maybe a little screaming would do them good. In any case, when the year is finished I will leave Cambodia forever. (maybe) But what can I do with the HDLCs until then? Ideally I would engage them, motivate them, and learn from them. And they from me. Any suggestions?
However, I still have a few HDLCs (from wealthy families apparently) who continue to show extreme disrespect towards me in the classroom (eg--a girl recently came to class 10 minutes late while I was lecturing. Instead of quietly taking her seat she stood at her desk with her back towards me(at the front of the class) and chatted with a friend for about 15 seconds--which seemed like an eternity!-- until I walked over and screamed at her to take her seat. This she did with no further hesitation. (except for her usual sour grapes expression)
I understand that such displays of raw emotion are considered to be culturally unacceptable in Cambodia. Thing is, I don't give a fuck. I have no respect for this culture. Maybe a little screaming would do them good. In any case, when the year is finished I will leave Cambodia forever. (maybe) But what can I do with the HDLCs until then? Ideally I would engage them, motivate them, and learn from them. And they from me. Any suggestions?
Truth. Beauty. Justice.
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If you have no respect for their culture, why should that have respect for you?
If you don't give a fuck, why should we?
There are issues with practical solutions here, but in the first instance you need to look at your own shortcomings.
If you don't give a fuck, why should we?
There are issues with practical solutions here, but in the first instance you need to look at your own shortcomings.
I came, I argued, I'm out
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What on earth are you doing "lecturing" to your school students and shouting at them? You answer your own question in the final paragraph: "Ideally I would engage them, motivate them, and learn from them."DieHard wrote:I teach at a little known school here in Phnom Penh. I have little contact with admin. I want even less. My students are typical I suppose. A few are hardworking, motivated, show signs of genius and are a joy to teach. A different group are habitually disrespectful, lazy cheats. This latter group is causing me to age prematurely and may end up costing me my job. After a certain amount of disrespect from the HDLC (habitually disrespectful lazy cheats) in full view of the other students my typical response is to scream at them to get the hell out of my classroom and report to the Discipline Officer. This drama has had good consequences on 2 occasions. Both of those formerly HDLCs now sit quietly in the back of the class and are no longer discipline problems.
However, I still have a few HDLCs (from wealthy families apparently) who continue to show extreme disrespect towards me in the classroom (eg--a girl recently came to class 10 minutes late while I was lecturing. Instead of quietly taking her seat she stood at her desk with her back towards me(at the front of the class) and chatted with a friend for about 15 seconds--which seemed like an eternity!-- until I walked over and screamed at her to take her seat. This she did with no further hesitation. (except for her usual sour grapes expression)
I understand that such displays of raw emotion are considered to be culturally unacceptable in Cambodia. Thing is, I don't give a fuck. I have no respect for this culture. Maybe a little screaming would do them good. In any case, when the year is finished I will leave Cambodia forever. (maybe) But what can I do with the HDLCs until then? Ideally I would engage them, motivate them, and learn from them. And they from me. Any suggestions?
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As per Andy and Eric. Sorry, DH, you have to ask yourself why they are HDLC. We've all been through the treadmill of having to keep disinterested students happy, but engagement is the first step. Most of them do want to learn, even if a few try to be cool and disrupt the class. As Eric said, you can't lecture in a school, especially in a language class.
Try a horseshoe configuration as a seating plan - how many students are there? The horseshoe allows for pair work, group work, easy monitoring, greater attention focus - and it's different, so there's a novelty value. It might also bring some luck!
Try a horseshoe configuration as a seating plan - how many students are there? The horseshoe allows for pair work, group work, easy monitoring, greater attention focus - and it's different, so there's a novelty value. It might also bring some luck!
O, let me not be mad, not mad, sweet heaven
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1. How do you set your stall out the first time you meet your students? Do you set ground rules with punishments if they are not met? You can even have some fun with this...You can range punishments from mildly amusing and admonishing to downright sadistic and humiliating!
2. How do you begin/end your lessons? Any warm-ups or games at the end, ever?
3. Would you say you were more of a "stick" teacher? Personally, I favour the "carrot". If you are worried about stress, I'd consider making the change. As has been said, and as the teacher, it's always going to be up to you how you manage your classroom.
It shouldn't be too difficult to control your class without anger, even if you have to resort to outright blackmail!
2. How do you begin/end your lessons? Any warm-ups or games at the end, ever?
3. Would you say you were more of a "stick" teacher? Personally, I favour the "carrot". If you are worried about stress, I'd consider making the change. As has been said, and as the teacher, it's always going to be up to you how you manage your classroom.
It shouldn't be too difficult to control your class without anger, even if you have to resort to outright blackmail!
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What are you waiting for? Why don't you just fuck off now, you obviously don't care about this place.DieHard wrote: In any case, when the year is finished I will leave Cambodia forever.
Romantic Cambodia is dead and gone. It's with McKinley in the grave.
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Where is the like button?Lucky Lucan wrote:What are you waiting for? Why don't you just fuck off now, you obviously don't care about this place.DieHard wrote: In any case, when the year is finished I will leave Cambodia forever.
Dictated to a slave and sent by carrier pigeon.
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This was obviously a waste of time.
That's not really any of your business, now is it? Mr Internet Tough Guy.What are you waiting for? Why don't you just fuck off now, you obviously don't care about this place.
Truth. Beauty. Justice.
I'm not so sure about that. You have been given a variable amount of advice, some of it pretty good, and the rest of it probably pretty close to what your post deserved.DieHard wrote:This was obviously a waste of time.
That's not really any of your business, now is it? Mr Internet Tough Guy.What are you waiting for? Why don't you just fuck off now, you obviously don't care about this place.
Some men you just can't reach. So you get what we had here last week, which is the way he wants it... well, he gets it. I don't like it any more than you men.
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To be honest, you seem like a horrible teacher. Your indifference towards the local culture aside, screaming at students is a shit way to teach in the west too. Your own stubborn nature and quick temper are causing you to age prematurely, not your students. Get some perspective.
"This is my happening and it freaks me out!"
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