I had to act like Bozo, so I went home - ESL discussion

SK hogwan told me originally I'd be teaching 'high school age' kids. I arrived here and found myself expected to teach about 20-30 14-year olds and younger. I was even given a class of kids barely old enough to walk. Most of these kids complained that I was either too fast or too slow. They liked to complain a LOT, and I was even expected to jump around in the class like a fool........So I walked. Right to the airport and was gone.

Ann-Toe-Knee

You cant have any pudding til you've eaten your......... - ESL discussion

HI,

A wise technology teacher once told me that when she taught cooking, she would teach 2 weeks on savory cooking, then 1 week on sweet in rotations.

This relates directly to ESOL because:

Keep them motivated by putting on a crazy game show every 3 weeks, in between the meat meals.

BB.

hare brain - ESL discussion

affinity ( P ) Pronunciation Key (-fn-t)
n. pl. affinities

1. A natural attraction, liking, or feeling of kinship.

2. Relationship by marriage.

3. An inherent similarity between persons or things. See Synonyms at likeness.

4. Biology. A relationship or resemblance in structure between species that suggests a common origin.

5. Immunology. The attraction between an antigen and an antibody.

6. Chemistry. An attraction or force between particles that causes them to combine.

let me spell it out for you genius. YOU ARE A FRUITCAKE.

all right. my new motto is... - ESL discussion

BB,

I enjoyed reading how you used the song "New York, New York" in your example. Teachers need to "think outside the box" and be creative in presenting lessons in order to "hook" the students' interest. I have always felt that teachers need to think of themselves as being either actors or actresses and the stage is their classroom.
Dr. Yanni Zack

And the TEFL shephards sighed.....Amen - ESL discussion

Nice post. I agree 95%. Bozo IS good for young learners, though. However, by the time they hit high school, it's time they start burying their noses in the books. The parents want it that way even IF they don't know it yet.

If studying is too boring, too bad. If practicing is too boring, too bad. If doing homework is too boring, too bad. Students here in Thailand have to learn sooner or later that some things in life they must do are, well, BORING.

Keep bearin' down on 'em.

RhenoThai

I guessed that, AO - ESL discussion

I assumed all along you don't 'clown around' like I implied in my post. However, a LOT of folks do, and it's even 'pushed' by my TESOL mill.

Good luck.

E

No restraint. - ESL discussion

Doing anything half assed will leave your students confused & disrespectful or at least bored & unimpressed. None of these states is likely to get them motivated.

Presenting a single, simple, clear personality is what you need to do. Trying to be some strange malange of Bozo and taskmaster will make them think you are a schizo.

I suggest that you get together with your fellow teachers & choose a stereotype for each of you to play.

Just put slips of paper in a bowl & whatever you grab is what you play for the whole semester.

Here are ALL the selections:

Bozo (the REAL Bob Bell version)

Disiplinarian (Standard issue British, like in The Wall)

Seductress (Van Halen-Hot For Teacher or Elizabeth Hurley in Bedazzled)

Super nerd (Thick glasses, tweed jacket with leather elbows, out of style tie)

Nanny (Like Mary Poppins or Sherry Bobbins, turn everything into a song)

Kool Guy (Hep to all the new bands, casual clothing, bring a guitar)

Genius Professor (Loud talking, Einstien hair, wild gesticulations when making an important point)

Bozo--the Band-Aid Approach - ESL discussion

I don't use 'clowning' in my classroom to get my students motivated. I think it's a 'band-aid', desperation tactic begun by the TEFL industry to keep Farang teachers in the classroom and off of planes taking their aggravated asses back home. Some people DO use 'The Bozo Way' with great success. I realize that. However, you won't see me using clown techniques in my classes. And you never will. I'm a teacher in a classroom--not a clown in a circus.

I teach in Thailand, where 'charm' is king and students want 'fun and games' in their lessons. That is the way it has been for who-knows-how-long. I learned this hard fact not at my TESOL mill, but after I landed a job teaching at a high school here last year. After arriving, I was immediately met by students who wanted to 'play game' all the time in every class. I also discovered almost immediately they were sadly deficient in English proficency as well, albeit they've been attending English classes for between 4 and 10 years--classes filled to the brim with the 'Bozo Way'.

Yes, I've found acting like Bozo doesn't help, really. The only thing that HAS helped my students increase proficiency is my own insistence that they practice, practice, practice outside of class. In other words, WORK at it. THAT has worked, and worked well with my 'more motivated' students. Unfortunately, work is boring to Thai students, students who have a genetic aversion to mental effort. It's been tough getting my 'less motivated' kids to actually EXERCISE their 'LAD's' (Language Acquisition Device) and catch up with their more motivated colleagues.

It's been so tough to motivate these students I've decided to embark on a new approach. I'm currently experimenting with a language lab at my school using modern technology. I don't know yet where it will lead, but I HOPE this will solve my motivation problems and get all my students moving towards fluency.

Acting like a clown didn't work for my predecessors, so you won't see me impersonating Bozo in my classes. After all, this is Asia--not Las Vegas. Besides, if the 'clown' approach actually worked, I wouldn't have the proficiency problems I have 'inherited' here. I'd even be acting like Bozo myself if that were the case.

I realize the 'clown' approach DOES seem to work for you, AO, and you as well, Bee. You guys truly love playing the role, and to that I say 'more power to you'.

I would LOVE to sit in on one of your classes. I bet I'd laugh my ass off.

Good luck in teaching.

E

a strong penchant for? - ESL discussion

a strong affinity with, more like it.

alright, alright.......my new motto is......... - ESL discussion

Well, my new motto is plan lessons like a nerd, and teach the lessons like a nutty fruit cake.This morning I was teaching travel, "what did you see? I saw skyscrapers, etc".......and started flapping my arms around singing "New York, New York.......da da da da.(from the musical).
The locals loved it. Even the teacher cracked up laughing. So go ahead, make their day...

BB