Was I unprofessional or what?

[Fleiss]

Hi..There was this foreign mid-40s man who started a complete beginner language class with me on Monday. (He wanted to learn my language, and came to class with his wife, who speaks the same language as me. She came to observe, and due to her presence maybe, l had one or two slips of the tongue..)

The first lesson focusing on introduction started with a dialogue in the handout, which we also acted out,  to be  followed then by two other oral exercises related to it. After this, I put the verbs "to be" and "to be named"  on the board, just to highlight the conjugation a bit, which would help him do one or two exercises afterward, and use them in speaking correctly, too.  (Unlike English, my language is pretty inflected.)

 At the end of the 60-min class, he said there was too much grammar. And that he wanted grammar only at the end of all lessons!   I responded saying that we either could just read the grammar section on the handout - without me putting it on the board - or ignore it altogether. But l also pointed out that every language book has some grammar incorporated, especially when it comes to beginner learners.

At the end, he asked me if l had pictures, l replied that I didn't at the moment, but they're included in the language material accordingly, when concrete concepts are mentioned, also pointing out that this cannot be the case with abstract concepts.

He also mentioned Duolingo. I told him I knew about it but never really used it, which is true.

I think his wife had the same expectations as him because when I pointed out that a bit of grammar is needed at his level and asked for her confirmation, she just gave me a blank look.

Anyway, l also told him that l would be flexible, proceeding just the way he wants it. We arranged to meet last night.

Yesterday morning I got in touch with his assistant and was told that we weren't going to have class together anymore. I just replied "Ok then". In hindsight, I know l maybe shouldn't have put the verb "to be named" on the board, but I just meant well.

Overall, do l sound so unprofessional that he decided to terminate the whole thing? Thanks.

 

Edited October 24, 2020 by Fleiss

[basil67]

I've been to a number of classes which for one reason or another, I didn't continue past a few classes.   The reasons were rarely about the class or the teacher.    But even if they didn't like your teaching style, remember that we can't please everyone.  

As long as you have other satisfied students, don't worry about the ones which don't mesh.

 

[Fleiss]

40 minutes ago, basil67 said:

I've been to a number of classes which for one reason or another, I didn't continue past a few classes.   The reasons were rarely about the class or the teacher.    But even if they didn't like your teaching style, remember that we can't please everyone.  

As long as you have other satisfied students, don't worry about the ones which don't mesh.

 

Thanks for the feedback. You're right.  One  on one classes usually are short-lived, especially if the student doesn't have a good reason to learn a foreign language. And I guess this man didn't either..

[ShyViolet]

I don't see anything unprofessional about your actions.  He decided that the class wasn't for him.  Don't interpret that to mean that you did something wrong.

[Fleiss]

3 hours ago, ShyViolet said:

I don't see anything unprofessional about your actions.  He decided that the class wasn't for him.  Don't interpret that to mean that you did something wrong.

Thanks, you're right. Maybe I should have asked him in advance whether to put these 2 verbs on the board or not.

Immersion to him meant no grammar at all even at his level and his circumstances, where English - not my language - prevails on his daily basis. I guess this was the misconception he had, and which I couldn't get him to do away with. 

Or the option of just learning a few phrases/ sentences by heart. In this case, he could well have bought a phrase  book and learn them on his own..

I am still confused. Apparently effective communication isn't easy at all. 

Edited October 25, 2020 by Fleiss

[Wiseman2]

It worked out for the best. He didn't like the class, wasn't getting anything out of it, and there was a poor rapport. So now he goes his way you go yours. What is the issue? Does he want a refund?

[jspice]

1 hour ago, Fleiss said:

Thanks, you're right. Maybe I should have asked him in advance whether to put these 2 verbs on the board or not.

Immersion to him meant no grammar at all even at his level and his circumstances, where English - not my language - prevails on his daily basis. I guess this was the misconception he had, and which I couldn't get him to do away with. 

Or the option of just learning a few phrases/ sentences by heart. In this case, he could well have bought a phrase  book and learn them on his own..

I am still confused. Apparently effective communication isn't easy at all. 

I teach a language too. Students can be very demanding, but I run my class. 
This guy is a beginner and for him to expect not even a “verb to be” on the board is ridiculous. If he didn’t need to know the two points you wrote down he would be beyond beginner. 
 

You were not unprofessional. Forget about him. 

[Fleiss]

1 hour ago, Wiseman2 said:

It worked out for the best. He didn't like the class, wasn't getting anything out of it, and there was a poor rapport. So now he goes his way you go yours. What is the issue? Does he want a refund?

There is no real issue. Sorry that it came across like this to you. And thanks everyone for the thoughtful feedback..

[Fleiss]

1 hour ago, jspice said:

I teach a language too. Students can be very demanding, but I run my class. 
This guy is a beginner and for him to expect not even a “verb to be” on the board is ridiculous. If he didn’t need to know the two points you wrote down he would be beyond beginner. 
 

You were not unprofessional. Forget about him. 

Sure.. And my point here was to have a professional discussion, and whether I overdid with these 2 verbs or not..

"....he would be beyond beginner" What do you exactly mean by this? He knew nothing in my language..

Edited October 25, 2020 by Fleiss

[ExpatInItaly]

English as  Second Language teacher here; been teaching for 15 years. 

I would not think twice about this man. His needs and desires are not what the class offers, so he's better off somewhere else. He is being unrealistic to assume he won't need any grammar at all when he is an absolute beginner, so I would personally prefer he not do lessons with me as that is not the way my lessons are structured. 

Over the years, I have learned to adapt to meet learners' needs and objectives and unique learning styles - within certain parameters. I cannot perform miracles if they are unwilling to heed the advice I can offer and aren't willing to meet me halfway. Sometimes it's just not a match. 

[Fleiss]

2 minutes ago, ExpatInItaly said:

English as  Second Language teacher here; been teaching for 15 years. 

I would not think twice about this man. His needs and desires are not what the class offers, so he's better off somewhere else. He is being unrealistic to assume he won't need any grammar at all when he is an absolute beginner, so I would personally prefer he not do lessons with me as that is not the way my lessons are structured. 

Over the years, I have learned to adapt to meet learners' needs and objectives and unique learning styles - within certain parameters. I cannot perform miracles if they are unwilling to heed the advice I can offer and aren't willing to meet me halfway. Sometimes it's just not a match. 

Wow, you hit the nail on the head, my colleague! 

[ShyViolet]

6 hours ago, Fleiss said:

Thanks, you're right. Maybe I should have asked him in advance whether to put these 2 verbs on the board or not.

No, as a teacher you do not ask the students' permission before everything you do.   You just teach your class the way you think is best.  If this guy doesn't like it, then he can quit the class. 

[Fleiss]

11 minutes ago, ShyViolet said:

No, as a teacher you do not ask the students' permission before everything you do.   You just teach your class the way you think is best.  If this guy doesn't like it, then he can quit the class. 

That's true, but I am the one who likes to use the board, maybe also because I am a visual learner myself. However, I often ask them whether it's necessary or not, especially when it comes  to new structures etc. And they respond in the affirmative or negative..

I am just wondering how much we should use the board with beginners, especially when we teach our native language to a foreigner..🤔

[Acacia98]

31 minutes ago, Fleiss said:

That's true, but I am the one who likes to use the board, maybe also because I am a visual learner myself. However, I often ask them whether it's necessary or not, especially when it comes  to new structures etc. And they respond in the affirmative or negative..

I am just wondering how much we should use the board with beginners, especially when we teach our native language to a foreigner..🤔

It depends on the student. I'm a visual learner too, so I would appreciate your using the board from day one.

Regarding this guy, sometimes students have unreasonable expectations, and sometimes they just are not a good match for a particular teaching style. I don't know for sure which category this guy belongs in. But I'm thinking that if you want general feedback about your teaching methodologies, you could have your students fill in some kind of form or evaluation every so often.

[Noproblem]

His loss. I find people who refuses to learn grammar are the people who never learn the language well.

 

They live in countries for 20, 30 years and can't make a sentence at all because they didn't bother to learn basic grammar and basic rules.

 

Your teaching style has nothing to do with being professional!

 

I feel maybe it's a lesson for you to wait a few lessons before starting with grammer, everyone hates grammer at the beginning. My dad and mom are learning English and they prefer to learn conversations only.. 

 

Just teach them useful sentences first. Then after they come to your class 3-5 times, start introducing a bit of grammar!

Also, another advice I would give you: you should download Duolingo and also incorporate it in your lessons.

Like you tell Mr. X

Duolingo is a good app, but you can't gain its  whole benefit without attending our classes.

And you can even give them hw to learn Duolingo 5 minutes daily in addition to going over what you already taught them in your class.

 

Learning any language is about immersion, continuation, and constant exposure!

You gotta be familiar to what tools people are using to learn, so you understand their level and how to teach them accordingly! 

FYI: my mom loves Duolingo!

 

Edited October 26, 2020 by Noproblem

[Fleiss]

5 hours ago, Noproblem said:

His loss. I find people who refuses to learn grammar are the people who never learn the language well.

 

They live in countries for 20, 30 years and can't make a sentence at all because they didn't bother to learn basic grammar and basic rules.

 

Your teaching style has nothing to do with being professional!

 

I feel maybe it's a lesson for you to wait a few lessons before starting with grammer, everyone hates grammer at the beginning. My dad and mom are learning English and they prefer to learn conversations only.. 

 

Just teach them useful sentences first. Then after they come to your class 3-5 times, start introducing a bit of grammar!

Also, another advice I would give you: you should download Duolingo and also incorporate it in your lessons.

Like you tell Mr. X

Duolingo is a good app, but you can't gain its  whole benefit without attending our classes.

And you can even give them hw to learn Duolingo 5 minutes daily in addition to going over what you already taught them in your class.

 

Learning any language is about immersion, continuation, and constant exposure!

You gotta be familiar to what tools people are using to learn, so you understand their level and how to teach them accordingly! 

FYI: my mom loves Duolingo!

 

Thanks for the input. It didn't occur to me to totally bypass grammar.

Duolingo doesn't exist in my language yet, so this is no option for the time being. 

Thanks again everyone..