Hello! I just started working at a kids’ eikaiwa, still in the initial training and observation phase. I will teach classes of 1 to 9 students. Most coworkers I see can be very loud and energetic, which of course helps to keep the kids’ attention. I am naturally soft-spoken and have a mild personality, and I don’t feel that I can change that without sounding super forced and be exhausted as a result. I’m also not the joke-cracking type (not meaning I don’t joke at all, but being able to find something to laugh about at any time to keep the kids entertained seems a little too high of a bar for me, though maybe it’ll come with experience?). I don’t dislike the job and don’t feel that it’s not for me (I like kids and used to work as a babysitter before), but I wonder what I can do to make my lessons effective and not boring. One idea I had is to rely on fast pacing more than being loud and super expressive.
I would appreciate any comments or advice!
12 comments
You might want to look into using a mic for classes so as not to strain your voice. Your gonna be using it a lot teaching kids. I
Best advice I got in the USA as a new teacher to develop my “teacher’s voice” was to sing as loud as I could when I was in my car. It worked well for me! I can project my voice quite well now, though I do tend to go higher in pitch when I do and some students will make fun of me for that, but hey, they always hear me!
Try to think of yourself performing for the students while also teaching them.
I recommend developing a ‘teacher persona’. I am naturally quiet and an introvert, but in class I smile a lot, use students’ names, laugh and joke around, and project my voice.
It’s a lot like acting, for 50 minutes at a time ^-^
You’ll get into it. You might not turn out the loudest or most “Genki” teacher but sometimes that’s not needed if you’re a good teacher.
Also, take this time to find your own style. Hand pick things you like from your trainers.
Companies (at least) that I worked for wants you to have a certain style. After a while I didn’t care and just did my own thing and it turned out for the better for me and the students.
Some people (read jealous and untalented)
were pissed and tried to get me into trouble but since I was so popular with the students, I broke the record for recruited students and had an excellent relationship with the parents so no one could touch me.
The higher ups didn’t say anything. Not even after One of my colleagues had made an “official complaint” that I didn’t listen to the teaching guidelines.
u/Aro-wanKenobi made a good point. Projecting your voice and being loud aren’t necessarily the same thing, so practicing with singing or “talking to the back of the room” is good practice for switching your voice over.
I’d add that fast pacing doesn’t always mean not boring. The only benefit of speeding up a video of grass growing is that it’ll end faster, but I won’t actually be more engaged. Go faster by all means if it helps you or feels right, but the higher priority for the problems you’re talking about is making sure the kids have something to be actively engaged in. Games, discussion, whatever is fine as long as the kids have some sort of non-passive role in what’s happening.
I mean you can smack the table to get attention, something I have to do sometimes.
I also have a relaxed and laid back attitude, but when you are with 0-5 year olds you need to have genki mode activated.
You don’t need to make jokes, but you can be a little silly. I call my climber boy’s little monkeys and they find it hilarious. And my students like it when I acknowledge them
Talk to the back of the room. Imagine you’re having a conversation with a person in the far back corner, ‘forget about’ the kids in the front row.
im also soft spoken and make only situational jokes when/if i see them. for kids, i try to draw silly pictures on the board, when i see an oppurtunity. Im the teacher so i make the situations as class progresses. make the games fun, and this is the only part i try to be overly loud and obnoxious. for adults, sometimes i draw cute pictures if need to describe something, think of a funny or ridiculous story to share, anything related to the class topic of course.
Eg. topic is recommending restaurants for a date. you could ask them if eating at mc donalds is ok. theyd most likely disagree, in which you could then ask them why as its delicious, cheap, and probably as romontic as sizeriya.
topic is talking about your worries, disappointments, regrets. you could say that you accidentally put out mc donalds as a suggestion while you’re all dressed up for the date. or you gave a power drill as a present for you gf, etc. etc.
Edit. Misspelled a word
Hi there, I’m a teacher and perhaps can help. What ages are the students you’ll teach? (I know you said the classes but I don’t know how old they would be).
Planning and pacing, as you mentioned, are the keys to keeping their attention. Plan lots of short activities, and have lots of routines in the class, so things they know mean when to be quiet, when to work etc.
Message me or reply if you want more info
Find your teachers voice. Or, even better your teachers look / silence. Students will notice you suddenly going silent and often times police themselves.
You don’t need to be loud to teach well- in fact you SHOULDN’T be speaking over the children as a rule. If you are teaching multiple children develop a routine to teach the children, to get them to stop talking or working (eg: a clap rhythm, or 321, or raising a hand). Then patiently wait for them to stop before you speak to them about their learning. If the content is engaging and you are kind this should work.
I’m a teacher too and have mentored teacher trainees so hope this helps!