Category Archives: Problem students

New TEFL Articles and Worksheets April 2008

Posted on 01/05/2008 by alexcase

Hopefully it’s just Mayday bank holiday rather than my lack of effort TEFLtasticwise recently that has seen a sudden drop in my number of views, but if only to make myself feel better I thought I’d give a list of … Continue reading →

Posted in Body language in the classroom, Business English and ESP, Cross cultural training in EFL, Cultural differences/ cultural training, Difficult sounds, EFL exams, ELT management, Error correction, False friends, Functional language, Grammar, Learner training, Lesson observations, links, Listening, Materials, Medical and pharmaceutical English, Peer observations, Photocopiable worksheets, Problem students, Pronunciation, Reading, Requests, Teaching English Abroad, Teaching English in Japan, TEFL, TEFL games, Travel and tourism, Usingenglish, Vocabulary | 3 Comments

33 cultural differences to annoy you in the classroom

Posted on 20/04/2008 by alexcase

1. German students trying to be cool 2. Japanese students giggling at everything you say, until it just isn’t flattering anymore, however cute they are 3. Chinese students falling asleep, then making you feel guilty when you do the topic … Continue reading →

Posted in Body language in the classroom, Classroom management, Cross cultural training in EFL, Cultural differences/ cultural training, Problem students, Teaching English in Japan, Teaching shy students, TEFL, TESOL | Comments Off on 33 cultural differences to annoy you in the classroom

Why don’t my students listen to me? (TEFL Why oh why Part Three)

Posted on 06/04/2008 by alexcase

…Why does no one ever listen to me?? Rather than a complaint about how your friends back home ask about your experiences abroad for 10 seconds and then get back to gossiping about Britney, I’m talking here about students who meet … Continue reading →

Posted in CELTA, Classroom dynamics, Classroom management, Grammar, Problem students, TEFL | Tagged | Comments Off on Why don’t my students listen to me? (TEFL Why oh why Part Three)

Chinpoko – Japanese education quote of the day

Posted on 10/01/2008 by alexcase

“During the speech both old and new students had become extremely restless, and thirteen children were out of their seats and moving around the room. The obscenities accompanying another tussle between two four-year-old boys- bakayaro and aho (fool)- had started … Continue reading →

Posted in Classroom management, Classroom routines, Discipline in the classroom, pre-school/ kindergarten/ very young learners, Problem students, Teaching English in Asia, Teaching English in Japan, Teaching large classes, Teaching young learners, TEFL | Tagged | Comments Off on Chinpoko – Japanese education quote of the day

Unautomating teaching with Summerhill English Schools

Posted on 02/12/2007 by alexcase

Following my own advice for automated teachers, I’ve been trying to use my search for something to write about Japan and or teaching English on my blog as a way of expanding my horizons rather than shrinking them. Recent semi-successful … Continue reading →

Posted in Alternative teaching techniques, Classroom dynamics, Classroom management, Discipline in the classroom, Humanistic language teaching, Learner training, links, Mixed ability classes, Pairwork and groupwork, Problem students, Teaching methods and methodologies, Teaching mixed level classes, Teaching teenagers, Teaching young learners, TEFL, TESOL | 1 Comment

Pairwork: "It started with a kiss…"*

Posted on 06/08/2007 by alexcase

In a moment of inspiration fueled by low tolerance to the stimulating effects of real British “builders’ tea”, have come up with: The pairwork magic formula I have yet to teach a class that wouldn’t do and enjoy pairwork eventually. … Continue reading →

Posted in Classroom dynamics, Classroom management, First conditional, Grammar games, Learner motivation, Lesson planning, links, Mixed ability classes, Pairwork and groupwork, Problem students, Speaking, Staging, Teaching low levels, Teaching teenagers, TEFL, TEFL blogs | Comments Off on Pairwork: "It started with a kiss…"*

I’ll believe in technology in the classroom when…Part Two

Posted on 05/08/2007 by alexcase

“I’ll believe in technology in the classroom when… …teachers really do have eyes in the back of their heads” Anyone other ideas for a “I’ll believe in technology in the classroom when…”? Comments below please:

Posted in Classroom management, pre-school/ kindergarten/ very young learners, Problem students, Technology, TEFL, TESOL | Tagged | Comments Off on I’ll believe in technology in the classroom when…Part Two

Authentic Materials and Student Motivation

Posted on 28/07/2007 by alexcase

Not a big enough problem to worry Auntie Alex with, so will deal with this reader enquiry myself: Some good-looking internet resources on said topic, have no more than skimmed them myself but the sites they are on are well … Continue reading →

Posted in ELT publishing, Learner motivation, Linguistics, applied linguistics and SLA, Problem students, Teaching teenagers, TEFL, TESOL | Tagged | 3 Comments

Older = wiser = wider vocab??

Posted on 25/07/2007 by alexcase

It seems not just the population but also the chimps in Japan are suffering from rapid ageing, something else in which we also lead the world. (First time I’ve said ‘we’ meaning people in Japan there!) As the baby boomers … Continue reading →

Posted in Learner motivation, Problem students, Teaching English in Japan, Teaching low levels, Teaching older students, TEFL, TESOL | Comments Off on Older = wiser = wider vocab??

What do you do when you're number one?

Posted on 25/07/2007 by alexcase

No, not TEFLtastic- Toyota. Now that Toyota is top of the world, it seems all some analysts can see is the inevitable decline. Understandable in a way, but it is not as if the Japanese gave up their number one … Continue reading →

Posted in Learner motivation, Problem students, Teaching English in Japan, Teaching low levels, TEFL, TESOL | Tagged , | Comments Off on What do you do when you're number one?