Some of my students have complained about me

[Caribou1]

I worked in EFL teaching several years ago and I've started again a couple of weeks ago.
Back then I did it for just under 3 years, got generally very good feedback and only 3 'complaints' in 3 years, so hopefully I wasn't that awful.
Anyway I have a class of 12 students, mostly in their 20s, but we have 2 who are 18.
It can be hard as 4 of them have very limited English whereas the others are intermediate, so sometimes it can be a balancing act. I sometimes give the 4 some catch up work or if not they join in.
Anyway, they're never exactly bubbling with joy, but tonight I heard 2 or 3 complaining about me to our coordinator.
I've always found that students never come and talk to you if they have a problem, it will always be to someone else.
Anyway I heard them saying it was too easy, which I can understand as I try to cater for the low level learners too. I do think it needs to be two separate groups.
Then they stated that they want more games in the lesson, and that they're sick of answering questions.
Admittedly, I didn't think people in their 20s would be too concerned with games, but I will incorporate some.
They said they aren't benefitting from it and it's boring.
I admit I was hurt to overhear it but I shouldn't take it personally. I have 2 who said they enjoy it at least.
The students who complain are usually 20 minutes late too which is rude, but they keep doing it.
In the lesson today, we looked at the 4 skills, and I always try to generate discussions.
We looked at writing a letter or an email, formal vs informal, had a discussion about transport, did some listening and reading exercises then a sentence finishing game.
We have previously used YouTube videos and quizzes.
Would be grateful for any advice. Sometimes discussion is difficult as only one word answers are given back, which isn't their fault.
I feel a bit rubbish after hearing that, especially as I've only been there a few weeks, it's not a great start.

I’m sorry to hear that OP, that’s the last thing you need when you’re trying to get your confidence back up. I have no idea how many students you should expect to grumble about a class; I imagine there is always at least one though (can’t please everyone!).

Was it a formal complaint? Has your coordinator discussed with you at all?

It sounds like they’re getting their complaints in about you in so that they can justify their being late.

The coordinator is really nice and laid back, she just said she'll pass on the message (I overheard).
True you always get one. I could hear the frustration in their voices, which was hard.
It's put me off doing this job, I know that sounds incredibly over sensitive and pathetic but I just didn't expect this so soon.
There's a male teacher that they 'love', (though maybe he even gets the odd complaint, who knows?) But he always seems so much more charismatic than me

Organise the fun stuff, a game or quiz for the start of the lesson - first 10 mins, then set some harder stuff for the more advanced folks in the next 10 mins..

Then some easier stuff for the less advanced. Then flit between seeing who needs help... and when the late ones rock up you can pointedly discuss the bits they missed at the start of the lesson.

Then round up with another quiz that involves something you touched on in the first 10 minutes...

They'll soon stop showing up 20 minutes late.

Those are great ideas, thanks!
The level is so varied that it's people who can have fluid conversations vs people who can only tell me what their name is, but they don't currently have enough staff to split them into two classes sadly

I'm sick of having to re explain what we're doing 5 times each time someone else walks in late

If the complaints are fair, then take that on board and amend your lesson plans so long as you don't think they want to play games as a doss and actually answering questions is more beneficial to their progress. (My classes want to play games because it's better than actually doing maths, not because they think games help their learning). Set them harder work to do independently while you are working on the basics with the others.

If the complaints are not fair, then ignore.

Treat the lateness as a separate issue.

Gosh it sounds like you’re doing very well for a nightmare scenario. I think you need to stop repeating it. Can they wait for the activity to finish if they’re late?

I've been a TEFL teacher for years and even though most students are happy, it's still a punch in the nuts when someone complains 🤦 one thing I tell myself - things can get lost in translation/ misunderstanding. Cultural differences also play a part as they may feel it's beneficial to complain about something really minor, not realising we may feel mortally wounded by this 😅 what are the expectations for the class, is it general English or something related to a specific qualification? If you haven't already, find out what they specifically want/need and you can go from there. I always found myself fastidiously pinning down random architectural esl work/vocab or specific grammar points etc the students had requested, which usually hit the spot. Maybe not as easily done within your parameters but something to consider. It's tricky having mixed level classes too but if you can prepare extension activities for the more advanced students that may help that issue. And never too old for games, I've been known to employ a 10 minute filler for kids right through to elderly students, good to mix things up - I know I would struggle to listen to hours of foreign language lessons. Hope it goes well, it can be a challenge, for sure 🙂

At Uni we (students) started locking the class door 10 minutes in. If you were late after that you didn’t come in until after the break as it disrupted the flow of the lesson, wasted teachers time explaining again what was being done etc.

These are adults and should be able to manage timekeeping. Locking the door helped massively.

how long is your lesson?

our lectures were 2 hours long with a 10/15 break.

can you give them handouts to cover the session-and next weeks content?

OP first of all don't worry. They're turning up late for class repeatedly which means they're not that motivated. Far easier to blame the teacher for your own inadequate learning than pull your socks up.

I like the suggestion upthread of a game in the first 10 minutes! They're often done in the second half of classes so I'd be inclined to switch that up. Can the game focus on cementing what they did last class and/or be related to any homework?

How far into the course are you? Is it possible to do a kind of evaluation - again at the beginning of the class - to see if there are things students are wanting covered in the rest of the course? Something along those lines anyway.

I'd also take the nationality into consideration. I've done years of language learning and live in an international environment. Some cultures are more inclined to making complaints than others, it's just the way things are done and not complaining, even about something not that serious, is a very strange concept.

I was once in a beginners language class where I was one of the more advanced, by virtue of having studied other languages and being able to write Latin script. The class wasn't the most fun but the teacher gave some of us extra exercises in the book to do while we waited for the others to finish the primary task. Some times it's just not possible to teach the class as a whole and that's not the teacher's fault, but the school itself.

However, multiple students turning up consistently late and disrupting the other students' learning is deeply disrespectful. I would be inclined to announce that due to the disruption to other students of multiple late students that you won't be repeating each time what has been missed, because it's hindering the learning of other students.

I find that teachers of adult students are always very very nice but when you're the student who bothered to be there on time it's really grating to have others turning up late and then the teacher pandering to them. What incentive do they have to come on time if they don't actually miss anything? An advantage of a game at the start is that you can just carry on playing it while the latecomers arrive. You don't need to explain the rules each time one arrives, you just make them wait. And you can say that you only have a certain amount of class time available for it so you don't have time to explain it. It's not that long they'd be waiting anyway but they'll soon start arriving on time!

Thanks for all the replies!
The students are Arabic speakers mostly.
They know they are to arrive on time. Technically the reception staff are not supposed to let them enter the classrooms after 15 minutes.
I do need to be a lot stricter on it though, but you're right that if they were so studious and motivated, they wouldn't be 20 minutes late constantly.
I will stop explaining and just let them sit and wait.

Stand your ground. Feedback in education is one of the most horrendous things out there. Who is the professional in the room? Not them. They are not qualified to provide any feedback other than about their subjective experience. It's impossible to please all the people all the time when taking subjective experience into account. So structure the lessons as you know how to do, given your training which is based on objective facts (hopefully) and then say you'll take their opinions into account if the professional work you've done allows for it. Be strong. Xxx

Is there a possibility to have the levels evened out a bit more? Is the coordinator an actual DoS or an administrator? Would it help to talk to them and point out that it's not your fault that the levels within the class are so diverse that the higher level students get bored. (There is a general thought in this business that you should "teach to the highest level in the room" and then help the lower levels by differentiation but it's not always easy to do.)
Are you following a specific course/syllabus or just being left to your own devices as far as planning goes?
(Sorry, that's a load of questions- I'm a DoS over the summer months and they're the questions I'd be asking of the organisation rather than the teacher iyswim)

Been there too and it was horrible. I think there will always be a small % that just don't enjoy your lesson/style. Many will want a charismatic and funny teacher but even then a few will think the teacher is a clown and not serious about improving their English. You cannot win sometimes.

The late arrivals will screw up your lesson for sure. Make sure you feed that back to them and your manager knows.

Mixed levels also suck. Only thing I tried that I can advise is that whatever the lessons target grammar/vocab is make sure there is a couple of more advanced/colloquial language in there that you know even the most advanced will not know.

I quit in the end. I just don't think I was cut out for it. Sometimes I would spend loads of time planning what I thought was an amazing lesson and it would just fall flat. Other times the lessons I winged a bit went surprisingly well. Depends on the energy in the room too and if there is none it is exhausting to try to create that.

Also, Avoid asking yes/No questions too. Use and get them to use 'wh..' questions to extend the dialogue.

Good luck.

I’d suggest tackling it head on. Arrange a class meeting and address their concerns. Explain what you will do to improve their learning experience (you could, for example, set different skills groups different tasks, or get them to deliver presentations on a relevant topic, etc.) and also discuss attendance and punctuality, saying that in order to ensure that everyone has a positive experience and you don’t waste time having to explain everything over and over, they are to arrive and be ready to start on time - not 5 minutes or 20 minutes late. Tell them they won’t be allowed in if late because it ruins the class and wastes everyone else’s time.

I used to teach teenagers EFL, sounds like this group are quite young adults so perhaps some things would be similar.

We used start by playing a game- it was often loosely connected with the theme but not essential. The main thing was to break down barriers and encourage them to get talking!

Then I’d teach them something new and they would have to work in pairs.

Then we’d do a bit of written work. This would have an easy, middle, hard version.

Then we’d do a role play on the topic.

Ah...are they Saudi? they will not consider themselves late. And it is in their culture to complain...it is to pass on responsibility. They will never say it to your face. Try not to take it personally.

I was called Margaret Thatcher when I taught EFL. I refused to allow lateness, phones or them speaking their language...even at beginner. They respect that eventually but a tough slog initially. The majority would love it by the end.

Plus students can smell fear and will play on your weaknesses. Confidence is a huge thing and that's probably why your male colleague has them eating out of their hands. Try to get on board with the Alpha characters and the others will toe into line.

Get the stronger ones to do a lesson on a grammar point for 10 minutes. That will soon make them realise how difficult teaching is.

Don’t let in latecomers, that’s incredibly disrespectful and they know they can get away with it. Speak to Reception and tell them to stop them, it’s not on to keep having to explain, it is very boring for the punctual students. If you want game ideas, pm me, I’m a language teacher in secondary.

Thanks again everyone. Paid per teaching hour, prep isn't paid so I'm simply not willing to spend hours planning, I do plan but only around 10-15 minutes for a 2 or 3 hour block.
I remember in a previous school having what I thought was an interesting discussion lesson which was engaging, then a lady complained to the school that I hadn't given them enough grammar exercises.
Indeed you can't always win, I can see that there are a small number who do enjoy the style of the lessons, like to note everything down and always turn up on time.
I will try to tell them again that the levels are just far too different. Hopefully if new staff come in this could change things.

Yes they are pretty much all Saudi, and the ones who aren't are from the Middle East still! I notice that it's the oldest students who seem to enjoy the lessons the most.

You will be finding your feet with this group and knowing there level. Throw it back at them. What do they want from the course, how are they going to achieve it? Maybe if your primary target is teaching them English - you could do a game like whose who? They could make the questions up or try the film game? Games are fine but your right it’s an occasional thing - it’s not a game

Most of them want it to complete Postgraduate study or to find a job where English is required.
Those are good ideas thanks, I'll take them on board.

I am retired and did a maternity cover. I used to be a HoD and have always had good feedback. We had a day where the HoD at the school where I was covering took my GCSE class to garner feedback. It was horrible. She asked leading questions that led to several disgruntled students saying that I was ‘nice’ but …. She basically annihilated my teaching, quoting what were a minority of students, and made me feel like a piece of s**t. Anyway, I decided to speak to the class as a whole and said that I had taken on board their criticisms and they should tell me in future, if pace etc were too slow. It had a galvanising effect and, every lesson, I would ask them for a show of hands re pace and fulfilling the LOs. When I left, every student in the class queued up to individually to thank me for my hard work. Do not get upset is my advice. Speak to the students concerned. Mention their lateness and make it clear that it is disruptive.
Turn a negative into a positive. Nowadays teachers are always being appraised, by students and their colleagues. I felt that my maternity leave HoD was hostile to me, partly because I had to be persuaded into taking the job in the first place. At least your HoD is pro you and unconcerned.