[clivehawkins]

Quote Valll9

So I brought them outside for the last half hour of the course! I made them run and play games (in english!). I think it calmed them down at the end... (Finally!)

I was trying a simple drill but had to give up for the same reasons. Couldn't take them outside but gave them a 'free drawing' to do. Nightmare!

[clivehawkins]

Right, sorry to bring up this old subject again but I've just remembered another one (or should I say a new student is doing something I had forgotten about).

'Turn to page 26, please'

The student opens the book at page 6. Fine.
She then turns every single page looking at the number each time. Now, page 7 follows page 6. And page 8 follows page 7.
Guess what follows page 8? Answers on a postcard please.

This continues until page 26. I realise the English language is different to others, what with all that word order, auxilliary verb and pronunciation nonsense but page numbers are pretty universal, aren't they?

Or do I need a holiday?

What about you guys? Post your replies here on page 2 of this thread ( the one after page 1)

[DaveESL]

Sometimes, when I tell a student to stop talking on their cellphone, they nod and then simply lower their head (without ending the conversation). Many of the students seem genuinely surprised (dare I say indignant?) that I insist on them not using such devices during class time. Most of their teachers must let it go.

Anyhow...

[clivehawkins]

Yes, that too. Italy has actually introduced a law banning them in high school, much to the annoyance of the students but above all the parents! How can you fight this if the parents see nothing wrong with calling their child during a lesson?

As for my school, I ask them to turn off their phones. If they are on call then they are to put it on silent alert and leave the room to use it if it rings. Does that seem so unreasonable?

[HUE]

Yes, cellphones are a particular annoyance of every teacher, I think. Sleeping in class drives me up the wall, which in Japan is perfectly all right to do (sleep, that is). What's worse, though, the sleeping students expect to pass because they came to class!

[clivehawkins]

Quote HUE

What's worse, though, the sleeping students expect to pass because they came to class!

You what????!!!!
Please tell me you're exaggerating. I've never had anyone actually fall asleep, although a few have been close. I've never actually been riled by it as they are usually shift workers of some kind or new parents (can sympathise with that one!)

But actually sleeping. Wow - never realised that happened. What do you do in that situation? I'd really like to know.

[HUE]

In Japan's public education system, it's enough to come to class to pass. This includes university. In fact, a student can stop coming to junior high school, and he/she will still receive a diploma (but won't be able to continue on to high school).

It's happened a few times in my uni classes. The first time it happens in a class, I wake the student up. If he/she persists in sleeping, at the end of the class I tell him he/she was absent. This usually results in an indignant, "But I was here!" After that, students rarely fall asleep in class.

In classes with business professionals, or in conversation schools, sleeping has never been a problem.

[HUE]

Here's something else: When students think they know more about the language or teaching than I do! It's not that I don't make mistakes, or am never wrong... that's not the problem. I'll be the first to admit that I don't know, am not sure, or was incorrect about a language point. But when a student remains adamant that he knows the language better (or how to teach better), even when faced with expert opinions such as textbooks, grammar books, dictionaries, etc., it gets under my skin.

[emile]

When students think they know more about the language or teaching than I do! It's not that I don't make mistakes, or am never wrong... that's not the problem.

Yes, they weren't happy when I told them to stop using 'whom' because they sounded ridiculous. Apparently their previous teacher would not agree.

[clivehawkins]

I had that with 'How do you do?'. I told them that 'Nice to meet you' was fine, indeed in most cases more appropriate, but they wouldn't have it.

[zaza]

Hi Frauke,

don´t dout your teaching I teach English in the Czech Republic and I guess the children are all the same all over the world.

I´ve been explaining the rule for forming -ing forms come+ing= coming over four years and there are still some pupils who write comeing and they are always surprised they have made a mistake. that really drives me mad.