New tutor - unresponsive students

Censorsh!t

Hi guys.

I just started tutoring in college last week and I'm looking for some advice. I'm teaching a second year course, so everyone in the class is over 19 around, some are older.
My problem is that nobody answers me, except for about 3 nods out of 20 students. Even when I ask if they have finished writing down, they barely react.
I give them ample opportunity to tell me to slow down (I've asked them many times am I going to fast) to no avail, and then a few just say "I don't know" when I ask them a question.

I try make everything fun - I put in some jokes, I use some funny power points and stuff, to try take away the tedium of the subject matter (learning a language, so lots of grammar!). But I just don't know how else to grab their attention.

There are also two girls (they only showed up to the first class though) who come across very rude. They keep giving each other withering looks, and sniggering to each other 'secretly'. Both at other students, and I'm sure, at me.

I expected everyone to be a bit more into it - they are after all in their second years and chose to do this subject - it's not a common subject to do, so usually only those with an interest are likely to enrol.

Any advice is welcome! It's my first time teaching, and although I am shy, I think I am very approachable and friendly and am trying to make it as fun as possible. But their apathy is just a downer!

sunnyt

Hi OP,
I don't have a huge amount of experience at this but I have given a few tutorials/teaching sessions. One of the best tips I received was to count to 15 or 20 in your head before you give the answer yourself. Silences seem very long when you're sitting there praying for someone to answer and must tutors give the answer after 7/8 secs. The students need time to gather their thoughts and think it through.
Also you could try a mini quiz using the online programme called Socrative. I can't post the link because I haven't enough posts but if you google Socrative quiz you'll find it!
You put up the qus on the screen and the students log in to the quiz online using their phone (you give them the quiz ID). You can set it so you don't move on to the next qus until everyone has answered. I know you say they are 19yrs+ but regardless as humans we don't like to be wrong/vulnerable and this tool allows the students to answer anonymously. They will give you a breakdown of answers, 5 got it right, 3 got it wrong....and you can take the lead from there.
Hope you find that useful and don't be disheartened....it's hard to engage students!

Crazyteacher

No harm in checking with the lecturer if there can be a 10% participation grade from the tutorials . I know that encouraged people in my first year language tutorials. The silence can make you even more self conscious , show them how confident you are. To be honest I wouldn't even ask if they had the material taken down, tell them they have three minutes to take it down and then move on immediately when the three minutes are up.

Censorsh!t

Thanks guys.

I know the silences feel like they go on forever even after a few seconds, so I'm going to try counting in my head.

I wish there was marks for attendance, because it is very awkward if someone misses a class and then doesn't know what's going on. I can't keep going back over stuff for everyone or else we'd get nowhere!

I sent an email to the class yesterday to say that if classes are missed would they please try catch up in their own time. I also told them that anyone who found they were struggling, either to email me or tell me in class and that I don't mind going over stuff with them.

I think I'm going to try find some ways that they can do group activities - perhaps if they are all more comfortable with each other then people will be more willing to contribute.

ustazjoseph

this can be difficult. Do you know if the class are together in other subject areas? Have they had any induction or team building activities? Many young people move from close 2nd level classes where they know everyone to new groups where they feel isolated. Some lecturers /tutors "teach from the top " and do not expect participation. Being a third level or further ed student is no guarantee of self confidence , maturity or personal development (think staff training days !) .Depending on educational or cultural background some people dont want to be seen as being too enthusiastic or can be frightened to be wrong. It maybe that your class is a compulsory one but not their key area of interest. It can take time to build up sense of group unity and a culture of group work and participation. take your time, keep working at it .good luck

TheBody

Hi there.

I've given hundreds of tutorials at third level over the years.

At the start of the year, students are often quiet until they get to know you or the scene with the class.

When I ask a question and get silence, what works for me is:

1. Shout out, "Will ye be quiet, I can't hear when everyone is talking at once" (obviously joking) then maybe pick somebody if nobody volunteers.

2. Ask somebody to pick a number from 1- 20 and then pick that person from your class list to answer the question.

3. Say something like, "how about somebody answers the question and if you are wrong, we will all point and laugh at you" (obviously joking with them)

4. "I've bad news for you, I'm really patient!!"

With regards the students being rude, I would stamp that out straight away. Depending on how you feel about it, I would have a word with them after class and ask them with the problem is. I would insist that they behave in an appropriate manner or take a different tutorial.

It's really important to be friendly and approachable in tutorials but the students need to know that you are the boss in the classroom. It's a long time to June to be putting up with any crap.

Censorsh!t

Hey, thanks for the reply.

The class isn't compulsory, so at least a number of them are actually interested in the subject.

It's part of the english course, so with first year english being over 300 students then they most likely don't know others in the class. A few people, I can tell do know one or two other people - and funnily enough, these people are the ones less inclined to talk - perhaps because they don't want to be embarrassed in front of a friend? I'm not so sure.

I know how it feels being a second year student and not wanting to stand out in a class full of people I don't know, but some of these students just appear to be so apathetic. A few appear interested but just not wanting to out themselves out there, but others do not make any effort.

Censorsh!t

TheBody wrote: »

Hi there.

I've given hundreds of tutorials at third level over the years.

At the start of the year, students are often quiet until they get to know you or the scene with the class.

When I ask a question and get silence, what works for me is:

1. Shout out, "Will ye be quiet, I can't hear when everyone is talking at once" (obviously joking) then maybe pick somebody if nobody volunteers.

2. Ask somebody to pick a number from 1- 20 and then pick that person from your class list to answer the question.

3. Say something like, "how about somebody answers the question and if you are wrong, we will all point and laugh at you" (obviously joking with them)

With regards the students being rude, I would stamp that out straight away. Depending on how you feel about it, I would have a word with them after class and ask them with the problem is. I would insist that they behave in an appropriate manner or take a different tutorial.

It's really important to be friendly and approachable in tutorials but the students need to know that you are the boss in the classroom. It's a long time to June to be putting up with any crap.

Thanks for the advice - I like the third option there, as I think I'm a bit too quiet to shout!

Regarding the rude students - thankfully the tutorials are only until December, but if they do show up again (who knows, they might not!) I will make sure they get their turn in answering questions I ask - if they are still rude after that, maybe I'll have a word with them.
I've been told before that both my best and worst feature is that I am too nice. And as approachable as I want to be, I don't want to be a doormat either!

TheBody

Censorsh!t wrote: »

Thanks for the advice - I like the third option there, as I think I'm a bit too quiet to shout!

Regarding the rude students - thankfully the tutorials are only until December, but if they do show up again (who knows, they might not!) I will make sure they get their turn in answering questions I ask - if they are still rude after that, maybe I'll have a word with them.
I've been told before that both my best and worst feature is that I am too nice. And as approachable as I want to be, I don't want to be a doormat either!

The unfortunate reality is that some people are dicks. I've had plenty of students like the ones you have described. Sometimes you have to let them know that you simply won't entertain it. I would advise you to do it earlier rather than later.

f3232

Have you thought of doing group work and asking members of each group to give responses out to the whole group?

Maybe be less didactic in your approach and put a bit more pressure on the students to respond at the end of each group work session.

Carson10

I would highly suggest you break the class into 5 groups of 4 and do some role plays. If they are learning a language or give them a project to do. Then you can call around on the groups and see how they are getting on and get to know them individually and then ask the group to stand up and the top of the room and present their work etc..

Is it English you are teaching or a foreign language? are your students all Irish or is their overseas students etc...?

mickstupp

I had a rough first year with lack of responses in class. Second and third were much better, but there's always going to be the odd group that make you feel like you've really earned your money. I start off the first day making it clear that if lecturers are correcting exams and they ask me about a particular person, it'd be good if I can say that person participated and was very interested in class. I also give the rule that if I hear no answers within five or six seconds (or whenever I get bored) I'm going to start calling random names off the attendance sheet. So far it's worked... but in my case anyway, I've found you have to start as you mean to go on.

It generally gets better as the people in the class get to know each other and start becoming friends. Don't get disheartened yet.

I think part of it may be that some people spend their time in school being told, basically, to sit down and shut up. And maybe a lot of the time, even if they have work done or know the answers, they're careful not to draw attention to themselves for whatever reason. You get a room of dead eyes even though chances are they're more or less on top of the material. How to get them animated is a conundrum...

Censorsh!t

Thanks for the replies.

I'm teaching Old English - so a foreign language basically. And there's only one foreign student - she's german so is getting the hang of it better than the rest of them

I think splitting them into small groups is a good idea. Get them chatting amongst themselves.

I think I've got a bad bunch, cause the other girl got all the erasmus students and said they're very into it.

Carson10

Well by splitting the class into groups you are instantly taking the attention away from yourself and you should feel more comfortable in the class rather than 20 people staring bored at you.

With students working in groups they are focused on each other with you essentially only a background voice.

Videos aswell are an excellent way to grab the attention of students. I have often used youtube videos in the class - (I teach business & IT) say for Career planning skills or how to build code on a website etc.. In todays world of ifones and technology its the only way i feel nowadays to grab the attention of students.

Get them to type an essay rather than physically use a pen. They will be far more interested.

Book a computer lab if available and ask them to design a Poster or somthing in the language they are studying etc...