Teach English in Famen Zhen - Baoji Shi

Discipline in the classroom is something all teachers must face and deal with on a daily basis. The Latin word “disciplina” means to train, as in exercising the mind and the body in an ordered way of living, or in a body of knowledge. So, what does that mean for the average teacher in an EFL classroom? Discipline is simply a way to guide and manage a child’s behavior while in a classroom. A teacher should understand that establishing a daily routine and frequent communication is paramount to developing respectful and meaningful relationships which directly affect behavior and a child’s ability to learn. Effective discipline should be about positive reinforcement not punishment. Positive reinforcement comes in many forms: smiling, sharing a high five and giving effective praise during class time. Another way to have effective classroom management is to begin with planning the time available. Discipline problems generally occur when students become disengaged. To keep them focused, teachers need to plan for different blocks of time while in the classroom. This is where an ESA style of teaching can come in handy as well as proper lesson plan building. The best way to have good discipline in the EFL classroom is to have a good lesson plan that is active and encourages the participation of every student in the room. A student who is active will not usually be a problem student. That said, many students are not in the EFL classroom because they want to be. Many are there because their school or university program requires it, their employer requires it or their parents put them in the class. Parents sometimes even use language schools as a babysitting service. So, sometimes, problems can be expected. No matter what the problem might be, the best policy is for the teacher to keep their cool. In fact, the best advice is to always act on a problem BEFORE you get upset while you can still think rationally and calmly about solving it. Plan ahead for dealing with common problems. Make sure to set clear rules and explain them to the students the first day of class. Be serious about the rules and enforce them consistently, without showing that you are upset with them. Remember to Greet students by name at the door to get a feel for their moods/temperament. Engage students immediately with independent opening activities that also get them motivated to speak in English. Prepare the Physical Environment of the classroom so that the physical arrangement eases traffic flow, minimizes distractions and provides teacher(s) with good access to students. The classroom setup should assist with transitions between various classroom activities and limits distractions. One of the most effective of all techniques though is to catch children being good or in an act of kindness. Such as helping anther student with a sentence on a worksheet or when speaking in front of their peers. Teachers must treat all students respectfully and equitably. When students perceive unfair treatment in the classroom, whether they are on the receiving end of it or just a bystander, discipline problems can ensue. It is also important to provide students with specific feedback about their behaviors and social skills, especially after an incident. Classroom rules must align with the school rules. Revisit them regularly, and establish clear consequences for rule-breakers. Establish those rules that cover behaviors that specifically interfere with the learning and engagement of your students. Discipline is going to be necessary in an EFL classroom, but when done effectively, can make a productive learning environment for all students.