Tips for English Teachers
Here are some tips to help you on your teaching experience:
1. Dress right
Jeans, sneakers, and just-out-of-bed hair may be okay for teachers in
the U.S., but in many parts of the world, a neat appearance counts far
more than credentials. In Korea dark clothes lend an air of authority.
Red is to be avoided at all costs. In Morocco female teachers don’t wear
pants, sleeveless blouses, or short skirts.
2. Behave appropriately
When it asked 250 students at the Sichuan Institute of Foreign Languages
in China what they liked and disliked about native speaker
English teachers,
the students’ main gripe was the informality of foreign teachers, who
often seem to undermine their own authority by acting in undignified
ways. In the U.S. teachers go on a first-name basis with students, sit
on their desks, sip coffee, and even bounce off the walls without
causing student discomfort or losing prestige. But these behaviors don’t
export well.
3. Don’t worry if students seem unresponsive at first.
Americans are used to participatory classrooms with plenty of
teacher-student dialogue. Elsewhere, students are often trained to be
silent, good listeners, and memorizers. It’s disconcerting to stand in
front of a sea of blank faces, but expecting it reduces the shock.
Introduce new concepts, such as discussion and role-play gradually.
You’ll be surprised at how students will come to embrace the change.
4. Choose topics carefully.
There are still many countries in the world where people are hesitant to
voice opinions because of a fear of reprisal. If you’re conducting a
classroom debate, remember that there’s a distaste for Western-style
argumentation in Middle-Eastern societies, and in Japan it’s offensive
for an individual to urge others to accept his opinion.
Certain topics may be taboo for cultural reasons: Most Americans don’t
want to discuss their salaries or religious beliefs; Japanese may be
disinclined to talk about their inner feelings; the French think
questions about their family life are rude.
5. Don’t ask, “Do you understand?”
In China and Japan, students will nod yes, even if they’re totally lost,
in an attempt to save face for the teacher. Even in a country as far
west as Turkey, yes often means no.
6. Avoid singling students out.
Our society fosters a competitive individualism which is clearly
manifested in our classrooms. American students are not shy about
displaying their knowledge. In classrooms outside the U.S., however,
showing solidarity with classmates and conforming to the status quo is
often more important than looking good for the teacher. In Turkey and
Montenegro students told me they disliked volunteering answers too often
because it made them look like show-offs and attracted the evil eye of
envy. If you want to play a game, make the competition among groups
rather than among individuals. If you need to discipline a student, do
so in private.
7. Be aware of cross-cultural communication styles.
French students appreciate wit. Venezuelan students like boisterous
rapid-fire exchanges. In Japan, where debate is not as valued as in the
U.S., students appreciate long pauses in discussions and silent “think
time” after you ask a question. “Hollow drums make the most noise” goes a
Japanese proverb, and Japanese students are uncomfortable blurting out
the first thing that comes to mind. American teachers, who are
uncomfortable with silence, tend to anticipate the student’s words or
repeat their original question—both irritating interruptions for the
Japanese student.
8. Present a rationale for what you do in class.
Your pedagogy is going to be very different from what students are used
to. They’ll conform much more eagerly to new classroom content and
procedures if they understand the benefits.
9. Expect the best of your students.
They’ll be serious about learning English because their economic advancement often depends upon mastering it.
10. Relax and enjoy yourself.
Happiness in the classroom is contagious.
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