TEACHERS!!!!! Please I need help, any help... I'm a new teacher.?

Question

Hello, I'm an English teacher (ESL) for adult learners and my student's are really unresponsive, and it's making me become really defensive and annoyed because nobody ever answers me. For example today I was teaching them the word 'guilty' and I explained what it meant, then I asked them 'Would you feel guilty if you ran over your neighbours puppy?' to see if they understood and nobody even said yes or no, and it's like that throughout the whole class. Nobody talks to each other even though their level of English is quite good. I am a young teacher and I'm very bubbly and friendly, I make sure to give them an opportunity to speak and practice, they're just really unresponsive and I'm beginning to loose respect and motivation for them because I'm beginning to think they're stupid. But I think it might be something I'm doing wrong, any suggestions, advice or guidance would be greatly received !!!!! Thankyou. x x x

Answer 1

Interesting.  I have been an ESL teacher, adults, for 10 years now.  I also am very outgoing and friendly with my classes, but I wouldn't describe myself as "bubbly" because that sounds a little like you might be coming across as childlike, and this sort of projection will definitely lose you some respect points.

I would come to them with an attitude of "we are in this together as adults" with the feeling that it is a collaboration, in a sense.  

Next, if the lessons aren't interesting, you will lose their interest.  Interesting lessons make classroom experiences much better.  If you don't have the "True Stories" books, I suggest that you get the one for your level.  They are true stories and have been around forever, but they are funny and just great, and INTERESTING!

Another idea.... even though you say they are at a fairly high level, are you sure you are speaking slowly enough for them to understand you?  MANY times, students will not respond when they didn't understand the question.  Make sure they understand what it is you are asking them to do.  Even if they nod, ESPECIALLY if they nod, they often will just nod or say yes.  Make them prove to you that they understand, and if they don't, back up and go slower.

Pronunciation lessons are a sure way to get them to talk and have fun, bc they must participate, they must try to repeat the sounds, or they won't learn how to pronounce words.

Get some interesting story books, and see what happens.

Good luck!

Lady Morgana

Answer 2

There were some great ideas here - another suggestion to overcome the situation you described is to have them write an answer to your question, it can be in their native language.  Then ask them to translate their answer, on the paper, then read it to the class.

Answer 3

My suggestion would be to find activities that are applicable to their real life.  That is key in any teaching situation. If the kids/students don't have buy in because they don't see a use for it then they won't learn it. Try to find assignments that make them interact with the real world or put them in situations where they have to interact. For example. You could recruit your friends to come. Set up the class as a restaurant and your students have to be able to participate and conversate with their guests. You of course would scaffold prior to their visit but its a real life scenario. Also, ask them what they want to learn and why they are in the class. You may learn alot from what they are expecting.  Also, they could be really really low.  English is the hardest language to learn and in so many cultures the letters/sounds don't match so can you even imagine plus add in pride. Can you take them on "field trips" where they are forced to interact.  Maybe a homework assigment would be to create a script of a possible situation.

In my class of kids, to build fluency, we do reader's theatre. They read scripts and work on influx etc... then we talk about comprehension.. I could totally see that as applicable in your case - but pick a more appropriate topic.

Answer 4

You did say they were adults so I reckon if you say the truth on how there acting they should understand.I mean they are adults.Or maybe they just don't know the answer.

Answer 5

You say you teach E.S.L. there might be a language barrier. Try to get some in class to translate what you are trying to communicate and see what happens. If it fails go back to the basic letter recognition and simple words before trying anything requiring conitive thinking.

Answer 6

Wowed the crowd

Answer 7

Play some games that are interactive for everyone. Even you get into some of the games. At the beginning of the class just play a simple games for them. Everyone loves games, no matter how retarded or stupid they may seem. Give them papers that they have to do an oral presentation. Bribe them if all else fails. "If you want candy answer the question." ha ha just joking.

You're not doing anything wrong, but keep trying and maybe one day they'll respond. Adults just have a harder time talking and meeting new people that teenagers do. Nothing is wrong with them or your teaching.

Answer 8

Hi

it sounds like you haven't engaged your class, try and relate what you are saying to what you know about them. Of course you have to get to know them a bit first , and you obviously haven't that's why your assuming they're stupid . Also choose a person from the group to ask a question on occasions .

For example Mr Putin you said you you had a good time invading Georgia last week do you feel guilty about upsetting your friends in the G8. Now Mr Putin is more likely to answer because the situation is related to him and he is more like to have an opinion about it.

Hope this helps bye

http://www.softe4u.com/bodylanguage/

Answer 9

I'm a student myself and my advise is to attempt different methods to get your pupils more involved. Maybe getting them to stand up and do a role play. Ne imaginative. This way, your pupils are more involved and enjoying your lessons more than just sitting there having the average lesson. Make each lesson different and interesting. I hope i have helped. Good luck x

Answer 10

English as a Second Language Links

http://a4esl.org/

http://free-esl.com/

http://www.eslcafe.com/

http://www.freeenglishnow.com/

http://www.eslgold.com/toefl/links.html

http://www.geocities.com/allhou/lessgame...

http://www.englishlearner.com/teachers/i...

http://free-esl.com/channels/articles/de...

http://www.vuw.ac.nz/llc/languages/lang-...

Lesson Plans & Resources for ESL,

Bilingual & Foreign Language Teachers.

http://www.csun.edu/~hcedu013/eslindex.h...

Answer 11

Hi there  - first thing is to understand why they are being unresponsive: as someone perceptively noted in an earlier answer, they are probably unwilling to be there and thus not very well motivated!

Here are some tips:

1) Try being open and honest with them. Acknowledge that you understand their lack of enthusiasm and explain to them as best you can WHY it is so important to learn English (preferably using some sort of visual stimulus - eg powerpoint to reinforce the point!) Ask them why they want to learn English, find out what their goals are and how you can work together to achieve them.

2) Try not to stick to one method of education. This gets tiresome very quickly. Use interesting games and different stimulus types to arouse interest, for example, videos, audio clips etc.

3) If you want to keep them on their toes: learn their names. It is so much better in class, rather than asking a question to everyone (no-one will reply because they can't be bothered) you can then select the person who looks like they aren't paying attention! But keep it friendly if its adults, if the person doesn't know, ask someone else to 'help them out'.

4) Don't fall into the trap of starting to loathe your class! They are unlikely to be stupid, they are probably just frustrated at having to go 'back to school'! Lets face it, if ANY of us had to return to classes after all these years of not being at school, we'd all think it sucked too. Try to get them to express themselves and find out what makes them enthusiastic. Eg is one of them into football, or into music etc etc - if so, incorporate it into the lesson! Or just talk to them about it, people appreciate having interest shown in them.

I'm sure you know all this stuff already, but hopefully something might have helped a little. Keep calm and remain distant from it - remember, it is just a job, and its not personal!

x

Answer 12

just make them hate u and they will bond.

Answer 13

incorporate a game like scrabble or hangman or wheel of fortune any game that involves the english language then let them ask questions about the words theyve learned or possibly dont know. . It would be a good distraction from the daily grind and if you work in groups it would force your students to communicate positively with each other... I hope this helps good luck!

Answer 14

i know it feels like doodoo when  no one answers you, it's like talking to the wall. tell them if they don't want to answer then why the h**l are they here . wasting their own time and money!! don't care if they don't care about learning

Answer 15

ok nobody is stupid. I have been a teacher for 4 years and I have never thought about calling one of my students stupid. It doesnt matter what age they are or what learning level they are at.  

Answer 16

Call on individual students rather than asking the group for volunteers. If you worry about embarrassing someone or putting them on the spot, a good tactic is to tap their shoulder while you explain the word. This is the signal that you will ask them a question so they should pay attention. Then call on them.

I also think that games can really be a lot of fun. Split the kids into two groups and have them compete against each other on teams.

Answer 17

Ask yourself why the students are there. Are they being forced to take the class, perhaps by an employer or the courts for some reason (you said they were adults). If so then it is understandable that they might be resentful and un insterested.

Otherwise perhaps they are just self conscious, or unsure of how to deal with someone so outgoing. Perhaps their culture is more reserved?

Answer 18

Please don't take offence at my answer but sometimes "bubbly" characters are just annoying. People perceive a false enthusiasm and switch off.

Maybe a different approach. Put them into pairs and get them to talk to each other. They may respond more positively

Answer 19

They're not stupid, you're just not reaching them.  I would really suggest talking with their previous level ESL teacher to see what worked in his/her class.

Also, do most of them come from a specific region of the world?  When teaching a language, you need to relate it to things that they already know and then teach from there.  Culturally, America and the English language are very different from Asian and Middle Eastern nations as well as many Central and South American nations.  Are you familiar at all with their native tongues or cultures?  If not, you really may want to put in some extra study time...you can't reach them if you don't know where they're coming from.

Answer 20

take  easy, because   they are  more dificult for to learning but they can to learn;

Answer 21

I am not a teacher but Maybe they are shy pupils why don't you ask questions directly to different persons.

Answer 22

juz 1 word i will tell u, TALK! juz have a private talk with them n see wats the problem! as u talk to each others, u all will know each other better n u can create a great system to solve ur problem!