It seems that a lot of my students just want to pass an exam as quickly as possible, and resist my attempts to get them interested in material other than the course books we are using. Most of them regard it 'a waste of time when they could be getting on with the book'. They're not that interested in the language itself at all! Are there any other teachers with the same kind of problem? Any solutions?
This question is from Jackie, Greece
Comments
joe
Mohamed Hassan, Egypt
This problem is common especially in the educational systems which give a great interest to the written form of the exam. From my own point of view this matter can be dealt through different measures which can be adapted by the teacher. Firstly, the teacher sould give the students the awareness of the language learning and how it may affect their life in the future. Secondly, the teacher should give a variety of creative, unusual and attractive activities from the start which make the students enjoy using the language.
Yassine, Morocco
I think that it's a serious problem that most teachers suffer from. I think that the problem doesn't lie in teachers techniques, but that the ministries have to lessen the importance of the final exam of English. Grading the students should be the teacher's responsibility - the teacher is with them all the year.
Girish Seshamani, India
A.K.Farrar, RomaniaThe mindset of youngsters today has been programmed to such an extent that educational results are often considered to be a building block on the road to success. The teacher should take up the role of mentor, and help the students enjoy the subject and make them realise it's importance.
Why should your students go outside the coursebook? If it is a good coursebook it will give all they need to pass the exam. If they are learning enough English and the sort of English needed to pass the examination - no other focus is needed for them.
It's important to try to absorb their point of view too - it is, after all, their right to learn what and how they want.