The place to ask China-related questions!
Beijing Shanghai Guangzhou Shenzhen Chengdu Xi'an Hangzhou Qingdao Dalian Suzhou Nanjing More Cities>>

Categories

Close
Welcome to eChinacities Answers! Please or register if you wish to join conversations or ask questions relating to life in China. For help, click here.
X

Verify email

Your verification code has been sent to:

Didn`t receive your code? Resend code

By continuing you agree to eChinacities's Privacy Policy .

Sign up with Google Sign up with Facebook
Sign up with Email Already have an account? .
Posts: 30

Governor

0
0
You must be a registered user to vote!
You must be a registered user to vote!
0

Q: How do you deal with naughty public school primary kids

As per my earlier post, I mentioned I teach 30 classes per week in a public primary school with kids ranging from class 1-6. Although 75% of the classes are fine the rest take the pis* and IMO have no respect for their foreign English teacher.

 

Okay this is cool. I am getting paid and if they want to f*ck about great. As I am more professional than this I want to deliver an educational 40 minutes but they are preventing me from doing this. I feel sorry for the kids in the class who actually want to learn

A perfect example was yesterday and class 5. After 5 minutes the talking started, books being tossed about, kids doing their Chinese homework, basketballs running up and down the room etc. For the first time, I walked out of the classroom and got their Chinese teacher form the staff room who was busy shopping online.

When we returned there was perfect silence, no Chinese homework books out etc. I pointed out the little s*its to the Chinese teacher who then beat them one by one and sent them to stand against the back of the room for the rest of the lesson. Unfortunately as I am a contract teacher and only see them once per week I don't have such authority and wouldn't dream of hitting them.

 

How would you handle such a situation?  

11 years 45 weeks ago in  Teaching & Learning - China

 
Highest Voted
Posts: 2253

Emperor

1
6
You must be a registered user to vote!
You must be a registered user to vote!
5

Honestly, I teach at a college, and the kids still are on their phones, talking to each other, doing homework from other classes, sleeping...it doesn't end in kindergarten. I usually just try to keep going talking loudly for the few that are listening. If the talkers get too loud I slam my hand on the podium, that usually gets their attention. If they get loud again, I slam my hand again and that usually shuts them up for the rest of the class. I also have no way to punish them, I can't even tell them to leave if they misbehave. And yes, I call them children because they don't act like adults despite their age. Honestly it really pisses me off, because any teacher or professor back home could at least tell a kid to leave the class, take away or warn about taking away the cell phone, and tell the kids to be quiet or they'll get in trouble. And there certainly wouldn't be any sleeping, but it's a better than the talkers. I keep getting told that my students like me, but most of them don't pay attention in class. Maybe it's because I "talk too fast." I keep trying, but nothing makes them pay attention better.

gregoryneal1:

That sounds EXACTLY like what I am dealing with! It astonishes me to hear that the world generally holds out that Chinese are Model Students.

I would say that for every one-hundred students I have observed here, thirty-five participate to some degree, ten work rather diligently, and five are keen students.

 

This is probably on par with most countries; but what really surprises me is the in-class behavior. It would take too long to illustrate individual incidents, so, the best way I have found to describe it is thus: They treat a 'classroom' as if they are in a KTV lounge.

I work at a private school for rich kids, and they eat, drink, sleep, play video games, walk in and out of the classroom, talk, shout, argue, drink alcoholic beverages until their hearts are content. I was so shocked !

Management told me to not worry about it. They want me to go in there and engage them in conversation if/when they feel like it. That is all that I am suppose to do. Amazing!

 

pls forgive the rambling, semmi-coherent response. I'm a bit tired...

 

 

11 years 45 weeks ago
Report Abuse

Danieru:

In all honesty I'll just take their phones and give it back to them after class or during the break. I'm not putting up with disrespectful crap like that during class. This one guy comes to class with his hoody on listenting to music I took his phone and gave it back later. Other students come to class I give them assignments and they won't even try to do it so I basically started to lower their grades and when the semester is over then it'll really affect their grades. 

 

I do think no matter what country you go to you'll also have students that aren't interested in doing class work but in any other country no teacher would be forced to put up with it. I did ask a few students why and they say "Oh we're adults if want to use our phones in class we can do it." Then I asked how would they feel if all their teachers used their phones in class and played on Wechat. They seemed to think it was tottally different like teachers who are adults seem to not be able to do what ever they want. 

 

The only thing you can do is not put up with it. 

5 years 21 weeks ago
Report Abuse
Report Abuse
11 years 45 weeks ago
 
Answers (21)
Comments (7)
Posts: 2604

Shifu

0
0
You must be a registered user to vote!
You must be a registered user to vote!
0

Don't give them attention if thats what they seek. Just carry on with your lesson. If they don't do good in school their parents will have their way with them. So you just do your job and teach the kids that want to learn. Let the parents handle the failing kids at home!

adminanswer:

Holy...just did a double take there. Thought there was a programming error with the 'highest voted' system.

11 years 45 weeks ago
Report Abuse
Report Abuse
11 years 45 weeks ago
 
Posts: 2381

Emperor

0
0
You must be a registered user to vote!
You must be a registered user to vote!
0

My sympathy; some days (today being a notable example) I think the one-child policy doesn't go far enough.

 

Have you considered screaming at them until you're red in the face?

RachelDiD:

With some parents, it certainly didn't. I think the bulk of Chinese people & children are quite wonderful--but those special few who make the xiaohuangdi are insufferable.

10 years 25 weeks ago
Report Abuse
Report Abuse
11 years 45 weeks ago
 
Posts: 2253

Emperor

1
6
You must be a registered user to vote!
You must be a registered user to vote!
5

Honestly, I teach at a college, and the kids still are on their phones, talking to each other, doing homework from other classes, sleeping...it doesn't end in kindergarten. I usually just try to keep going talking loudly for the few that are listening. If the talkers get too loud I slam my hand on the podium, that usually gets their attention. If they get loud again, I slam my hand again and that usually shuts them up for the rest of the class. I also have no way to punish them, I can't even tell them to leave if they misbehave. And yes, I call them children because they don't act like adults despite their age. Honestly it really pisses me off, because any teacher or professor back home could at least tell a kid to leave the class, take away or warn about taking away the cell phone, and tell the kids to be quiet or they'll get in trouble. And there certainly wouldn't be any sleeping, but it's a better than the talkers. I keep getting told that my students like me, but most of them don't pay attention in class. Maybe it's because I "talk too fast." I keep trying, but nothing makes them pay attention better.

gregoryneal1:

That sounds EXACTLY like what I am dealing with! It astonishes me to hear that the world generally holds out that Chinese are Model Students.

I would say that for every one-hundred students I have observed here, thirty-five participate to some degree, ten work rather diligently, and five are keen students.

 

This is probably on par with most countries; but what really surprises me is the in-class behavior. It would take too long to illustrate individual incidents, so, the best way I have found to describe it is thus: They treat a 'classroom' as if they are in a KTV lounge.

I work at a private school for rich kids, and they eat, drink, sleep, play video games, walk in and out of the classroom, talk, shout, argue, drink alcoholic beverages until their hearts are content. I was so shocked !

Management told me to not worry about it. They want me to go in there and engage them in conversation if/when they feel like it. That is all that I am suppose to do. Amazing!

 

pls forgive the rambling, semmi-coherent response. I'm a bit tired...

 

 

11 years 45 weeks ago
Report Abuse

Danieru:

In all honesty I'll just take their phones and give it back to them after class or during the break. I'm not putting up with disrespectful crap like that during class. This one guy comes to class with his hoody on listenting to music I took his phone and gave it back later. Other students come to class I give them assignments and they won't even try to do it so I basically started to lower their grades and when the semester is over then it'll really affect their grades. 

 

I do think no matter what country you go to you'll also have students that aren't interested in doing class work but in any other country no teacher would be forced to put up with it. I did ask a few students why and they say "Oh we're adults if want to use our phones in class we can do it." Then I asked how would they feel if all their teachers used their phones in class and played on Wechat. They seemed to think it was tottally different like teachers who are adults seem to not be able to do what ever they want. 

 

The only thing you can do is not put up with it. 

5 years 21 weeks ago
Report Abuse
Report Abuse
11 years 45 weeks ago
 
Posts: 18

Governor

0
0
You must be a registered user to vote!
You must be a registered user to vote!
0

The best way is to teach at university.

qbsinceage10:

Except that universities don't pay anything!

10 years 26 weeks ago
Report Abuse
Report Abuse
11 years 7 weeks ago
 
Posts: 19790

Emperor

0
0
You must be a registered user to vote!
You must be a registered user to vote!
0

I had same classes (1-6 grade) at Public School in Lin'an, Zhejiang, last year. When I couldn't handle the class because of discipline, I told Chinese Head teachers, and they helped me with discipline in particular class.

 

We are foreigners in China, and we don't have authority to discipline or punish Chinese kids. That is Chinese teachers duty.

Report Abuse
11 years 7 weeks ago
 
Posts: 205

Governor

0
0
You must be a registered user to vote!
You must be a registered user to vote!
0

From my experience teaching in a university isn't much better than these middle schoolers.  That is unless you somehow can teach English majors who tend to pay more attention.  In these cases though you have to be strict.  As a teacher you have power and authority in your classroom.  Find whatever way of discipline works for you.  If students talk when not being asked, make them sit in the corner or come to the front of the room and talk for you.  I'd say if books and basketballs are flying you probably did the right thing by getting help.  If some want to do Chinese homework then just ignore them and focus on whoever wants to learn. 

 

Whatever you do, don't make threats to the students (just take action when you see wrong behavior) or lose your cool (hitting kids or throwing stuff yourself).  Good luck. 

Report Abuse
11 years 7 weeks ago
 
Posts: 18

Governor

0
0
You must be a registered user to vote!
You must be a registered user to vote!
0

Before you get a job at a primary school always ask the interwiever if there are supervisors provided. I worked in Xi'an Gaoxin primary school for a year in 2011-2012 and there was a supervisor in the classroom every time I taught there. So, I did the teaching and she disciplined the kids, so it was really good. In junior and high school the kids will not scream or run wild anymore - they'll just play mobile games Smile

Report Abuse
10 years 29 weeks ago
 
Posts: 18

Governor

0
0
You must be a registered user to vote!
You must be a registered user to vote!
0

Well, I'd talk to the person who gave you the job and ask for a supervisor every time you teach them. Chinese teachers could take turns to help you out. 

Report Abuse
10 years 29 weeks ago
 
Posts: 2494

Emperor

0
0
You must be a registered user to vote!
You must be a registered user to vote!
0

Let them stand outside the hallway and tell them to stay by the door. It works most of the time. The kid doesn't want to leave he'll lose face etc. , He won't get the attention that he needs....If you have an assistant have her take them out and discipline the trouble makers outside where the others can't see..

Report Abuse
10 years 29 weeks ago

There are cookies, bookies and too many rookies for me to sit here trying to be a hooky! Looky Looky don't call me a wooky. Touchy Touchy Feely Feely Spicy Spicy Nicey Nicey & that's what the doctor Ordered!!

 
Posts: 4421

Emperor

0
0
You must be a registered user to vote!
You must be a registered user to vote!
0

Be honest with the parents and talk to them and get there Wechat and show them what their children do during class. This always worked

99Silva:

or have them sit in the classroom with them

10 years 29 weeks ago
Report Abuse

ironman510:

yeah I've done that, it works but when they leave they're back to their Naughty self..

10 years 29 weeks ago
Report Abuse
Report Abuse
10 years 29 weeks ago
 
Posts: 305

Shifu

0
0
You must be a registered user to vote!
You must be a registered user to vote!
0

make the students leave the classroom and stand outside.  When they come in the classroom make them pile there bags in a corner and just take out there English books.  Confiscate mobile phones if they take them out.  Browse there phone in front of everyone and laugh.

Report Abuse
10 years 29 weeks ago
 
Posts: 1198

Shifu

0
0
You must be a registered user to vote!
You must be a registered user to vote!
0

i saw an assistant letting the bad kid doing push ups, the girl cried after doing push ups, haha

 

thats just because she lost face.

Report Abuse
10 years 29 weeks ago
 
Posts: 46

Governor

0
0
You must be a registered user to vote!
You must be a registered user to vote!
0

I teach at a language school and there are just a few really bad young children.  I have TAs but, I find, if I am very firm and tell them to sit and follow up by moving them away from other students, they improve.  However, the Chinese TAs chase the kids around the room and the behavior never ends.  I had a TA tell me that I should not be mean to one particularly obnoxious boy after she chased him around the room for a whole period.  I wonder why she does not see that what SHE is doing is NOT working!

Report Abuse
10 years 26 weeks ago
 
Posts: 887

Shifu

0
0
You must be a registered user to vote!
You must be a registered user to vote!
0

Try to get a Uni job (if you stay next year). 

Report Abuse
10 years 26 weeks ago
 
Posts: 272

Governor

0
0
You must be a registered user to vote!
You must be a registered user to vote!
0

I have been teaching at a senior middle school with 55 students per class.  I have ran into the same problems that you have.

If the students play around with stuff that is distracting, take the stuff away and tell them they can pick up the stuff later from yourself or their head teacher.  I've kept stuff from a few weeks to a few months.  If they start to cry, tough.  You can even have their parents pick up the stuff.

If that does not work, have the head teacher walk in before class to give them a pre-chew out to get them to behave. 

if some things are really out of hand, put the class under marshall law.  In one particular class I had the head teacher sit in the back of the class for a few weeks and walk around. In that same class I even asked that head teacher to walk around and look into the windows.

You can even ask their English teachers to sit in the back of class and correct papers.  They just need to sit there.

I've had students drink bai jiu in class, play card games, play football, do homework etc.  I even had one student put a sign on my back. He thought it was funny, until I saw him later with his parents and head teacher having a little meeting to discuss his behavior.  This little incident got around to every middle school in the small town.  Students from other classes even kept asking me if that really happened.

At the end of the day, I got my way. Students writing me letters of apology, and parents dragging their kids to my office to give me an apology.   

Be selective though as to what you discipline.  Rule of thumb is to only correct things that distract other students. 

Report Abuse
10 years 26 weeks ago
 
Posts: 4397

Emperor

0
0
You must be a registered user to vote!
You must be a registered user to vote!
0

  I have a large inflatable hammer which I swing around playfully. It distracts them enough for me to kick them in the bol***ks.

Report Abuse
10 years 26 weeks ago
 
Posts: 63

Governor

0
0
You must be a registered user to vote!
You must be a registered user to vote!
0

I just started teaching University students here in China and majority of the classes went well as I am still trying to find the best way to teach them (and I have come to the conclusion that the text books are useless in intriguing them).  But I have had one class I had to yell at because one student could not understand so I went over to help him and the whole class started talking very loud.  At first I was nice about and said Hey guys lets quite down, 30 seconds later I find myself yelling at them to be quite as I help this student... they looked at me like I had three heads... but the rest of the class went smoothly... other than that I had one student sleep through the majority of my whole class, so when it was his turn to speak I walked over... looked at him... and told the rest of the class to call him by his new English name... sleepy and that's what I call him now,,, not really a punishment I guess but it got the whole class to laugh at him.... I view it as... if you want to sleep and not learn ,,, dont show up to class or at least go in the back of the class.... From my own experience in University back in America its "if you want to learn... great .... pay attention and participate,,, if you dont either sit in the back quietly or dont show up"  I feel they are old enough to understand this.... But I give credit to those of you who teach young Children... I couldn't do it.... I'd probably throw one of them through a window or something... and that would go for anywhere in the World not just China

Report Abuse
10 years 26 weeks ago
 
Posts: 482

Shifu

0
0
You must be a registered user to vote!
You must be a registered user to vote!
0

Wrong answer, Mattaya.

 

I have taught here for four years, and I have learnt that you have to nip things in the bud early doors, or it will manifest to the point that you want to give up, and your experience in China as a whole is ruined.

 

I am a good teacher.  First of all, I care about my job, and I care about my students.  If you care about those who want to learn, you need to sort out the problems from the start.

 

Only yesterday, I had a problem class.  One of a few.  80% of my Grade 8 & 9 classes are good.  

 

I was trying to teach Grade 8 students whose English is terrible, and this is in Shenzhen - a city where a lot of them have grown up for a while with an English environment in this city.  For various reasons, many have no English whatsoever.  I can accept this, but, I want them to try and get better - even a little, and to let those who want to learn learn.

 

My class yesterday - third class I have taught them since I started there.  Each week a problem.  First week, a student sleeping who is then dragged out by the Principal who comes to the door.  He's a good and friendly man.

 

Second class, same student is sleeping and giving me trouble also.  I requested he leave the classroom.  He tried getting big and shirty with me.  I put him in his place.  Later, he was at the front gate with one of the Deans (Senior Management) who had obviously punished him.  Well done!

 

Yesterday, class is ovlatile.  I try to start.  Many are listening.  A few are chatting to their friends.  Their teacher comes in and sits.  I carry on, but with a bit of a struggle, but at least the students are mostly quieter.  She leaves the room.  VOlume rises.  I am trying to teach "I haven't got an english name".  One boy is asked three times with the answer on the board, but he is not listening - instead chatting with his friend.  Three times he did this.  Class is getting louder.  That's it.

 

Walk up angrily and bang hard on his classmate's desk.  Instant silence!  I then have an angry moan at the guy mentioned, but then his friend who was sleeping in previous classes thought it was funny.  Switch flipped.  Told him to get out.  He refused to move,  I pulled his shirt up a bit (not much), but he moved and then tried getting shirty again.  I stood firm.  Took him to Principal's office.  Spoke to Prinicpal.  Left smiler in there.

 

Went back to class and waited for Principal to come, but I was bored, and being caring about those who want to learn (why should they suffer), I gave the class a lecture - a stern talking to.  I said, I came here from 5,000 miles away and I like teaching.  Every school I have been bar one has been very happy with me and given me recommendation letters.  I told them, I can go anywhere, but I chose to teach them.  I want to teach them.  I don't do fail.  I want them to try. Listen in class.  Give me some respect.  Then, they can learn even a little english and I will then be happy.

 

Re-started class thirty minutes later.  Smiler came back.  I told him to sit down.  Remainder of class went well including the naughty two.  Shook smiler's hand and said sorry for being angry with him.  End of class was really good, and everyone was happy.  Took naughty two and another sleeper to Principal's and Teacher's office.  Had a meeting.  

 

Message is now loud and clear and everyone is hapy.

 

Sometimes, you just need to be strong without crossing a line, and once the issue is tackled, you move on, continue the class, smile and lighten the class up a bit, and then have fun.  It works.  I don't believe I will have trouble with that class again.

 

Sorry for the long reply, but hope it helps.

 

 

Report Abuse
10 years 26 weeks ago
 
Posts: 5732

Emperor

2
0
You must be a registered user to vote!
You must be a registered user to vote!
2
Report Abuse
5 years 22 weeks ago
 
Posts: 827

Shifu

2
0
You must be a registered user to vote!
You must be a registered user to vote!
2

indecision

Report Abuse
5 years 22 weeks ago
 
Posts: 28

Governor

1
0
You must be a registered user to vote!
You must be a registered user to vote!
1

You need to establish essential rules and agreements from the very beginning. I have very reasonable class rules, plus a few I let the kids make up themselves. Then we repeat them at the start of each and every class. A kid talks; "Why are you breaking our second rule? 'Follow the teacher!" And then just move on. There should be no talking when teacher is talking. If they get too much, sit down, put your feet up, pretend to play on your phone and when they hush, which they always do you ask 'finished?" Then move on. I dont ever shout because I dont need to. How do they enter the room? My students wait outside in a quiet line for me, and at the end we pack up, clear the room and I dismiss them one by one at the end of lesson. Its all about routines and established rules. A more senior colleague told me one that there is a throne in each classroom and if you dont sit in it then a student will. I also use an app called CLASSDOJO for discipline, take a look. Good luck!

Report Abuse
5 years 21 weeks ago
 
Know the answer ?
Please or register to post answer.

Report Abuse

Security Code: * Enter the text diplayed in the box below
Image CAPTCHA
Enter the characters shown in the image.
  • Allowed HTML tags: <a> <em> <strong> <cite> <code> <ul> <ol> <li> <dl> <dt> <dd> <img> <br> <p> <u>
  • Web page addresses and e-mail addresses turn into links automatically.
  • Lines and paragraphs break automatically.
  • Textual smileys will be replaced with graphical ones.

More information about formatting options

Forward Question

Answer of the DayMORE >>
A:  "... through ..."?  Only "through" comes to mind is "S
A: "... through ..."?  Only "through" comes to mind is "Shenzhen agent can connect you with an employer, who's authorized to hire waigouren ... and can sponsor Z visa." It's not like every 10th person you meet in Shenzhen's hood can sponsor work visa ...  The only way to change from student to labourer visa is just a regular way by: 1. Finding an employer, who'll apply for an Invitation letter; 2. Exit China and apply for Z visa in your home country's Chinese embassy; 3. Enter China in 30-days after Z visa was stamped into your travelling instrument ...As I am aware, you won't be able to switch to Working permit by remaining in China....,so make ready for a return to your home .... -- icnif77