Do you think you've made a difference at your school?

[Driver 8]

I wonder if this article should go in the thread about teaching character.  It seems to be addressing problems in the secondary public schools.  What exactly are you saying?  Are you saying that this mentality of some students continues at the university level?   Why did you post the article  in response to my question?

I  think it's strange that freedom to have different hairstyles and fashion are mentioned in the same sentence as cell phone use in classroom.  Those are completely different things!   Do students have the right to sleep in the class?  I suppose you could argue that is their human right, but classroom rights are arguably not the same.

[jurassic82]

Without a doubt I think I have made a difference at my school. I think it is hard to see the improvement of the students after just one year. I have been at my school for three years now going on four. During that time I have seen students who had no interest in English go on to show a considerable amount of enthusiasm after I started teaching them (with the help of awesome coteachers). It is easy to become negative as many of our students won't improve. We have to remember the same students probablly won't improve in other classes as well and we shouldn't feel so bad. Again, I think it really depends on the school you work at and the support from your adminstration. I have been really lucky and got a good public school that allows me to do what I want as far of lesson plans. I have heard horror stories from others. Anyways, that's my two cents 

[Damien]

I have seen a larger impact on my school over the past year. I noticed it during the graduation ceremony at school, I miss them. I don't think I have made a huge dent in their English ability. I think the difference is more in their interest in English and their comfort level speaking English. I teach at a technical school, so their grades aren't really the issue. It's more keeping their interest in English and getting them to actually speak English. With that in mind, I think I have made an impact.

[nardthefox]

I have to believe I make a difference. If not entirely in English understanding, at least in foreigner comfort levels and willingness to make mistakes in order to improve. At least I know I'm learning how to deal with children and how to transfer information and teach a skill.

[jejucity]

Not yet, but I hope to make a difference for a few students at least!

[Cereal]

I have clearly made a difference with most of my students. They greet me and try a little bit to speak, even if it is simply parroting the phrases from the book. A handful come to my desk and ask for a private talk, but that only may be to add another sticker to their book! However, they do try a bit.

It helps I'm starting my 2nd year with them, thus we don't have to get to know each other.

I also believe it helps that they are primarily country-side kids: children of farmers, fishermen and small business owners. It has been my experience that country-side folk tend to be friendlier.

[korr]

I don't think I've necessarily improved their English any, but I think I've made them less scared of it and more willing to speak it. I've had kids go from refusing to say anything in English class to trying to ask very complicated questions, and I've had other kids tell me they don't hate English when I teach it. For me that's a bigger deal than how many vocabulary words I've taught them.

[liv]

Some days i feel like this =  and then every now and again I see light bulbs going off in class and I realise I've done some right. So I think I've made a difference just not sure it is enough to improve the overall ability of my students but I still keep trying

[ytuque]

Every time you hear a young Korean say "English-ee" there's a native speaking teacher somewhere who made little or no difference. 

[thsalexander]

My first semester at my school was all about trial and error. I had no idea what I was doing and I felt insignificant.  I had a very strict traditional co teacher that I greatly respected as a person but would have preferred having another co teacher because of her teaching philosophy. My second semester I was given one of the most understanding people I've ever met. We worked well together and made a great team. She was passionate about her career and took me under her wings and taught me everything she knew about teaching. We were chosen among our district to conduct an open class where approximately 80 teachers (NSET and Korean teachers) attended. Soon after this I was awarded NSET of the year award from SMOE. My point is that sometimes it takes a specific person that enables a gift that you yourself didn't acknowledge or recognize. It also takes time, growth and errors.  Currently, my students are extremely enthusiastic and I feel like I have definitely made a difference in them being more comfortable in expressing their feelings using English phrases. 

[qkds]

I think it's possible to make a difference, no matter how small, just by being there. If you show a positive open side to being an 'English speaker', then the students will remember that it's not actually that scary to go up and say 'hello' to a native speaker. I think people forget how important it is just to get the students to feel they can say anything at all to someone in a difference language, and for them to be understood.

[Slurgi]

Every time you hear a young Korean say "English-ee" there's a native speaking teacher somewhere who made little or no difference.

Eh? There are lots of important things to focus on, not pronunciation exclusively. A lot of my students still say "English-ee", but I see about 350 high schoolers per week and some are either embarrassed to change their pronunciation or are too lazy to. Many people are in the same boat I'm sure.

I feel like I've made a huge difference for many students, so I'm quite sad that SMOE is cutting my position come August

[gepikteachers]

I think I may have actually turned many of my students off of English and foreigners forever.
Apparently there have been problems with cultural differences (or so my Korean coteachers tell me) and many of my students think I am crazy. They can't quite articulate why I am crazy though.
Is it because of all the music videos I play in class? David Bowie? Lightning Bolt? MGMT? Public Enemy? Klaus Nomi?
Is it because of that time I wore a skeleton costume and brought a Jack-O-Lantern to school because it was Halloween?
Is it because I've taken classes on impromptu field trips to the noraebang and made them sing Rob Zombie songs with me?
Is it because I skip the lessons and make the kids read comic books instead?
Is it because I brought my laptop to school and had students talk (via Google+ hangouts) with friends of mine in the U.S.A? My black friends? My gay and transgender friends?*

Whatever. They're just jealous because they can never be as awesome as I am.

Some of the kids do like me though. Some of these kids even want to go to America now. Those are the kids that make me proud.

*Oh wait. I haven't done that last one yet. But I should. These kids need to learn to interact with a variety of different people.

nah, even I think you're crazy.

To be honest I think You're a SPACE CADET.
Be Gay and be Happy LOL