How to overcome naughty students?
By thinkbest
@thinkbest (209)
Indonesia
August 21, 2008 11:57am CST
I am an English teacher of a vocational school (here in Indonesia called as SMK = Sekolah Menengah Kejuruan). Most of them are boys, and sometimes they are very naughty. I feel confuse how to overcome their naughtiness. It is hard for me to teach English to them since English is our foreign language. I often tell them that when we are learning a foreign language, please don't use our own "kingdom" language - I mean our mother tongue language, since as I have experienced when I was in university, I used to use my mother tongue language - Javanese - then I felt hard to learn English. I used Indonesian language at least when we discuss to friends. And then, the next I used English as daily means of communication. What do you think of overcoming the students' naughtiness, everyone?
1 person likes this
3 responses
@thinkbest (209)
• Indonesia
24 Aug 08
Are you? Please be a good student Koolkate. God bless you. But, thank you anyway for reading my posting.
@leateagee (3667)
• China
21 Aug 08
Hi thinkbest,
How are you? How long have you been a teacher?
It takes a while to discipline students. But when you are able to control, everyday is a success. I am an English teacher too here in China. I am a Filipino. So basically I don't know the chinese language. How did I control my class? Its as simple as being strict and giving them rewards for good actions.
An example would be what is called "point system". In my school the point system is very effective. If a student gets a correct answer he gets one point and if a homework and other things that he needs to do and follow, and he was able to do that, he gets a point. If he was not able to meet the required responsibilities, no points. The rewards are pencils, erasers and stickers. How will they get it??? Simple, as you give points, make a mark that if a student reaches a hundred points he/she wll be given the chance to pick a gift from the box. Then points will be back to zero.
Little gifts from teachers. especially those that they worked hard for are meaningful to them. By the way, if they speak their mother language inside the classroom, it is a minus point. So the class is so quiet and students are well behave.
Try this suggestion and let me know if it worked. Take care and have hope, they will follow you 
@thinkbest (209)
• Indonesia
22 Aug 08
Hi, Leateagee. Salamat po. Am I right that salamat po means thank you? I have been an English teacher since 2004 (at least 4 years). Perhaps it is because of my discipline basic. I was a graduation of English Literature Department, not the educational one. I teach almost all the day long since 7 a.m. to 6.30 p.m.
Leateagee, the way you do have been done by one of my friends. He was an English teacher, too. It was effective. New knowledge. By the way, how long have you been in China? I am dreaming of being in China. My favourite actor is Jet Li. I want to meet them. Good luck Leateagee.
1 person likes this
@marquisdesade (399)
• India
21 Aug 08
You are right at imposing the rule on forbidding your mother tongue language in your class. It's always recommended to speak in all english when you're teaching or learning it in a class. The most common hurdle when learning a foreign language lies in adopting the language. So, the more you encourage them to practice, better the results will come.
About the naughtiness, you can try spanking sometimes. I guess it's not banned in Indonesia. :p
Jokes aside, I was a naughty student myself and I think the proper way to deal with them is to give them time. Distinguish them first, interact more with them and a try giving them a detailed view of your personality, especially highlighting the positive sides. That way, they will get to know their teacher more and if they love you as a person, they'll love you as a teacher. You can expect very good responses from them then on.
Happy Mylotting!
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@thinkbest (209)
• Indonesia
22 Aug 08
Thank you very much Marquise. I have tried the last one you've told me. And it works. Some of the naughty students are close to me. And, in the last semester I resigned from teaching then in this new semester I come again to teach them, and most of them ask me "Where did you go for 6 months? We do long for your way of teaching. Your substitute teacher could not run the teaching-learning process." Unfortunately, the new students here have known me well yet. They themselves that sometimes make some messes. Thank you for the opinion Marquis. By the way, are you a teacher too?
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