ESL Classroom Dynamics in Taiwan
ESL Classroom Dynamics in Taiwan
When you begin to teach English to Taiwanese students it is important to understand the typical classroom dynamic in Taiwan. It will be difficult to reach Taiwanese children academically if normal classroom etiquette is not at least acknowledged.
There is an old saying that "you must know the rules before you can break them". This is especially true in Taiwanese classrooms! In order to succeed in teaching English to Taiwanese students you must be able to build a positive atmosphere around the cultural complexities of Taiwanese children.
Building a positive atmosphere can be challenging to new ESL teachers simply because they are not aware or don't think to care about the cultural differences between the east and west.
Some new teachers feel it is there job to only teach efficiently and neglect any notion of a positive environment and the effect it will have on English learners. A strong teaching sequence as well a harmonious relationship between each member of your new class will be necessary to begin a successful teaching year.
Here are some starting points to be aware of in any English classroom in Taiwan.
Introductions.
Be sure to put an emphasis on acknowledging your new class. Learn the names of all of your students. Take note of the most outgoing students as well as the most soft-spoken students. When a new ESL teacher comes into a class the students will recognize immediately if the teacher has taken a genuine interest in them. Address each student in kind to set a fair and balanced tone for the rest of the school year.
Cultural Awareness.
- Children in Taiwan are sometimes under extreme burdens to do well in school.
It is important to be mindful of the pressures Taiwanese English learners endure. Some children can react very poorly to failure, even more so when the failure is in front of the whole class. Most if not all Taiwanese English learners are susceptible to parental pressures as it is very important to understand the concept of "saving face" and how that applies to the classroom as well as the parent, student, and teacher relationship.
- Taiwanese children separate socially between the sexes, boys and girls grow up in entirely different social roles. Although Taiwan is working towards equality between the sexes, the natural roles of each sex is based on thousands of years of cultural evolution. Some new ESL teachers make the mistake of forcing cooperation between the sexes. This approach is bound to cause disruptions in any Taiwanese classroom. Although cooperation between all the students is a noble goal in any classroom, cooperation between the sexes should be approached slowly and consistently in Taiwan.
- Most Taiwanese students are reluctant to make and effort or take the initiative because of the "rote teaching methods" in public schools. The public school system in Taiwan is based around memorization exercises for a barrage of standardized tests. More then likely a Taiwanese student will only be introduced to critical thinking activities in an English learning environment. New ESL teachers should introduce new critical thinking exercises in moderation so Taiwanese students don't lose interest or become reluctant learners.
It may seam like an uphill battle at first but teaching in Taiwan does have it's many rewards! So keep trying and remember bad teaching may be transformed into better teaching with the help of teacher training and resource books but a negative group atmosphere can have a lasting effect on every English lesson you try to teach!
Of course there are many aspects of the typical classroom dynamic in Taiwanese English schools. For some other classroom dynamic topics I will talk about what to do when the groups morale has been weakened by successively poor English teaching and techniques. I will also address the "indigestible student" by giving some suggestions on what to do with attention-seeking students.
As I continue with the ESL Formosa blog I will also include activities to create an enjoyable atmosphere.
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