Student Discipline EFL Classroom
Discipline in the EFL Classroom
Basic Concepts:
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.
Expanded Concepts:
Read the following link for excellent advice, information, and help with discipline issues in the classroom.
Top 10 Tips for Successful Classroom Discipline
- read that page and peruse the links from that page as well -
That should give you a good start and get you thinking about positive discipline
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