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.

Students in the wrong class will always be a pain. Maybe it's not about you giving extra time but about having a chat with the DOS and sending them to a lower level. Students in the wrong level will always cause chaos.

I do lack confidence even though I'm qualified and experienced.
I had some students move up a level as they'd made good progress with me, so surely I'm doing something right.
I just don't have a massive and charismatic personality and I'm not one who likes reeling off funny anecdotes about myself or stuff like that.
Part of me just wants to quit but i shouldn't.

I am a TEFL trainer. Also have mixed ability classes as students ( adults) self assess and sign up for what level they think they are. I try to get the stronger students to help the weaker by pairing them for exercises etc. Currently have a class where the strongest student has started voluntarily meeting with the weakest at the weekend to help her keep up.
Try not to take criticism too personally or let it wreck your confidence. Students can be very critical if the lesson is not exactly to their liking but is impossible to prepare something that is perfect for everyone. I’m sure you’re doing a great job

Can you talk to the disruptive ones, acknowledge that they are doing well but highlight that in order to progress they need to do x y and z, which includes turning up on time and showing that they are serious about their studies. Perhaps when they have a plan for moving on they will be more focused in your class.

I teach EFL from beginners to C1. I hand out bits of paper after the second lesson, and at the beginning of the penultimate lesson, asking them to fill in what they liked, what they didn't like and any suggestions anonymously. I feed back and address any comments. Works very well. I've had one difficult (bloody bolshy!) group and I addressed the problems head on. I also involved my manager when dealing with the problem group.

Yeah...I've taught that cohort before. It's very common for them to complain. I wouldn't mind, a lot of the time they are being sponsored so make sure their sponsors know they are late or absent.

And don't repeat instructions for late comers. Ask a student to explain next to them...in English. It's a good way to check they understand the instructions and British Council love it.

For stronger students....give them extra tasks with the tasks set. For example spelling tests. They have poor literacy so that will always be a problem. And get them to create questions from the task (all these are extra ideas where THEY do the work, not you)...they will never get the questions right first time so then you bring them down a notch by saying, 'see even you have something to learn here'.

I might sound like I hate students....I love them but I know their tricks! :)

Thanks for this. I will try to garner feedback and give out questionnaires.
I had one of the males specifically tell me he enjoyed my lessons so hopefully I'm not that awful!
Pairing them up sounds like a great idea.
Some are sponsored but some are self funded and paying a lot so I can imagine that they believe it should be exactly to their liking.
I am thinking of when I learned A level French, I don't think we ever played any games really.

I've always found that students never come and talk to you if they have a problem, it will always be to someone else

Yes I had this problem too in my teaching days and agree with you that the ones who complain are the ones that do the bare minimum and fuck around. I find it totally unacceptable that students complain to somebody else;if they have a problem say it to the teacher but it is worse that the other staff member listens as it is very undermining and kids can bend the truth. Also don't underestimate young 20 somethings-they can be as bad as teens.

I used to have a head of department who would listen to outright lies from the kids about my lesson-usually lies that would get them out of work and make me look bad. Example there were booster lessons in the eveing for their exams, they weren't attending so I rang the parents to notify them. The kids went back and told head of dept I said the lessons were compulsory to the parents which I didn't.

I saw them reporting to her and she comes back and lies and says the parents rang her when I knew they didn't. I told her the truth and she didn't believe me. I can't offer you advice here but can totally emphasise with you. It's a big part of why I left teaching in the end after years-too much of that bullshit and too many colleagues would rather get in with the kids or run back to mgmt rather than stand by their colleagues. There's a reason why they can't get teachers anymore and what you point out is 1 of the problems.

I do a task where I write a response and tell them to come up with the question, but apparently they're bored of questions.
I will include spelling tests too!

I have 2 40 year olds in the class who are taking it very seriously!

They sound like a rude a disrespectful bunch of students. I don’t know how you put up with them rolling in late and then being rude. It isn’t how they’ll behave in the workplace. Are your students mostly male?

All male yes, I have one woman! And she is never late.

In fact, she's always early

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

plenty of English students do that too

I don't know much about Saudi culture, but from teaching/living in a few European countries, I've found that Brits are much less likely to complain than some other nationalities. As a British person, I always took complaints personally or thought that the complainers must be very disappointed. But in some cultures, it's expected that you complain about any small problem and receiving complaints isn't seen as an issue at all.

While it's not your fault that you have such a mix of abilities in the class, I do understand why they complained. If I were paying for a class in order to reach a certain level for work/study, and the school mixed me with people who only know a few words, I'd be annoyed too. As well as the suggestions PP have given for extension work, I can only suggest that you make it clear to the students that you're not in charge of the class lists.

Some boys are brought up to believe they are little princelings (not just Saudis) and they overestimate their value in the world. Maybe a woman making demands of them isn’t welcome.

I taught EFL for many years and the late arrivals were a pain in the neck. My line manager told me to put a sign on the door, in the L1 if necessary, saying that the class has started and to go and do self-study in the library until break time. No problems after that.

I would start the lesson

Game - based on previous learning to add confidence in their ability.

Reading - Start with some phonics - then look at whole class reading - use an IPad and go through one chapter - highlight interesting words, use the dictionary function to understand words, highlight something you’re working on, personification, metaphors, etc - look at speech marks or emphasis etc

During these lessons, you read, next lesson they read a bit each, then look at the text and ask them to high light interesting sections, write a list of words that are new - ask the better ones to research each word and use them in sentences. Other ideas available! Even a question sheet for the text. Better ones can get one, you help the lower ones.

Move on the a grammar section - or sentence structure - similar sounds etc

Finish on a question and answer session, you find if you ask ‘how did you do’ they’ll give feed back - or ask for a thumbs up or thumbs down - so you can check their understanding next time and it gives them a voice and shows you’re listening.

Some boys are brought up to believe they are little princelings (not just Saudis) and they overestimate their value in the world. Maybe a woman making demands of them isn’t welcome

meh it's human nature more than a gender thing. I've seen umpteen girls do similar to what op describes as I have seen female colleagues cause similar trouble too. Just certain people both male and female in all workplaces you have to look out for.

I just can't understand how you can be consistently late. I'm not that sort of person and I'm only late in a genuine emergency.
I don't think they collectively have severe organisational issues, I just don't understand how anyone who's a decent person can think it's ok to be frequently late.

I find it really odd that adults expect you to be providing games and entertaining them in class. These are not kids who are being dragged through compulsory education - they've chosen to be there, and should be motivated to engage in the lesson, even if it feels dry at times (which pretty much any lesson will, surely)

I've had Saudi/middle Eastern students (post-grad aswell as other courses)
and mine were never shy to complain, I wouldn't say it was personal. One thing I had to consider was that some of them had overcome massive obstacles to get where they were, even leaving behind families and sinking all their money into their studies, so are under immense pressure to learn and succeed. I know it affected them greatly and it could be projected outwardly. Pretty crappy that you don't get paid prep time, I don't blame you for not spending hours on that. Hopefully you'll be able to locate/put together some solid fail safe resources as you go along.

I can totally understand if they're under a lot of pressure. However why arrive 20 minutes late if that's the case, they could come on time and get the most out of their money.

I've only had 5 lessons with them so far and have used games once or twice, online quizzes and such.

I’ve done a few language courses over the years and have never played games. What sort of games do they want to do?

it sounds like they are trying to intimidate you, definitely put the fun stuff at the start