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've taught EFL / ESOL for 25 years + and still love it and your post about students being late made me smile.

Only today we had our end of year department meeting and the lateness of students was brought up again - always the Syrians in our case

Very difficult to teach varying levels together. I agree with pp about a quiz at the beginning and end of sessions. Kahoot is always good.

I did EFL classes previously and I found adults loved games! Why don’t you stronger students with weaker students in teams and design games like that. The other thing you can do is listening exercises that way the stronger students will get more from it.

It does feel unfair on the lower levels too. They can't access the same work at all, so it ends up being 2 different lessons with one

You could put a summary lesson plan on the board/wall at the start of the lesson so if they are late they can see they have missed the quiz/games linked to previous sessions.

I would not tolerate lateness and would be recording this, it's not acceptable and disrespectful.

I understand you don't get paid for prep, do you not get any additional time? How do you record progress/achievement of learning outcomes?

You mention that they like the male teacher and they are from Saudi. Are they men? Could it be that there is a cultural problem with you being a woman?

You need to take sth else into consideration, without being rude because I think this is the rule but it has its exceptions, students from the Middle East are not used to having a woman boss them around. So, if they're male they might try to get the upper hand and be the ones to boss you, which can be really disruptive, so be super friendly but don't be a friend because you need authority. Put your foot down, they need to respect you or they'll keep on trying to get away with things, which is cr*p particularly for those students who are in a class which is a level above theirs imho.
Send students down if need be, don't dumb down your classes.

That's a good idea, thanks.
I will make sure I implement these things next lesson!
I record it on the register, and it reflects on their final attendance percentage but doesn't seem to stop them.
I've always considered frequent lateness as a lack of respect for the other person, providing they don't have any cognitive issues.
No sadly, paid for hours in the classroom only!
Yes, all men, and only one woman!
It could be that, yes. Though a couple are always on time and very polite.
The other annoying thing some of them do is leave the room for 15 minutes to 'take a call'. Every lesson.

I taught ESL back in the day, when I could still spell, and we had a problem with students coming in whenever they wanted. The whole school had to be really strict with that. I told my students, you can be 15 minutes late for the first class of the day, after that you'll have to wait and come in after the break. If you have a problem talk to the DOS. It happened a couple of times, the DOS told them those were the rules and that was it. They stuck to it. I only allowed exceptions when it was beyond anyone's control like tube strikes, nothing else.
You need to talk to the DOS because you need backup. This needs to be for the whole school, not just for you. Where's your DOS in all of this?!

ESL teaching can be so rewarding when you get a lovely class, but if you don't time it can be so soul destroying. You put time, enthusiasm and energy into it, only to get entitled students who don't want to put the work in, don't take language learning seriously, are just doing it because they 'need the certificate', expect to reach the required level 'because they've paid for it' and then have the nerve to complain.
I would definitely take action over the lateness. It isn't fair to you or those who arrive on time.

My students would not be allowed to leave to take a call... As if!
My personal tip for you... Every now an then I'd say (always) in a jokey way and laughing, with a wink here and there... guys this isn't a democracy, it's a dictatorship and I'm like Fidel Castro! hahhah I'm the boss! haha! My way or the highway! haha! (wink wink)
Again talk to the DOS before because you need backup and it's always hard when you have to enforce these rules they bloody hate that were always ignored before or that weren't exactly a rule before.
Good luck because it's difficult to get a class under control when it's gone a bit pear-shaped already but it can be done. When you get a new class always cover the rules on the first day and stick to them religiously, with time you can be more or less strict as it suits you, but be strict at first.

I never thought it'd have to be like this with adults but apparently it is!

Just realised you said you've only been there a few weeks... Yeah, they're trying it on to see how far they can go. Talk to the DOS and then put your bloody foot down, they were testing the waters and now you're going to show them who's in charge. Don't worry about any complaints! The DOS has been in your shoes before so don't lose sleep over it.

Adults are a lot worse than children. Children are used to going to school every day, they're used to rules. They know if they break them, they'll be in trouble. Adults, particularly males, want to assert themselves, not to you but to their peers. Classes with only males are usually harder, particularly when they're all from the same country, because there's always 1 or 2 who want to be the leaders of the pack. That's why setting rules right from the get-go is so important. Better have many rules and drop them (depending on each individual class, you decide) than not having them, realising you need them and trying to change things in the middle of the game -when you're dealing with only male adults, this will be even harder.
This is my personal (& subjective) opinion, I'm sure others will disagree, but if there's one student leading the others (and you know who it is), this is the one you will need to set straight. Stop the class and tell this student if you don't want to learn, get out and go the DOS. If they keep doing it: here's the door, go to the DOS, now. But you need to talk to the DOS first, better not go it alone.

Stop doing it. If they can't be bothered to turn up on time they will have to wait for the next set of instructions while you work with the people who could be bothered to turn up on time. Just say 'I'm sorry you will have to wait as the lesson has already begun, I suggest you revise last week's vocab while you wait and turn up on time next lesson please.'

Sounds like you are doing really well. I did TEFL ages ago and found that all ages liked games. On the course to teach they suggested starting and finishing with a game and hitting the grammar first followed by a discussion using that grammar. Classes of really different abilities are really hard and unfair on the students so the school can hopefully get something sorted.

You start with an icebreaker, not a game. You can't do games every single day.

Am also an EFL teacher and worked in the Middle East for 25 years. These kids are taking the piss. They say in the ME there are two times. English time and ME time. Don’t stand for it. Late is late. Don’t let them in, tell them why, nicely and stick to it. They’ll start showing up. No mobile phones, or taking a call. EVER. You are going to have to stick to your guns on this one. In the end they’ll respect you more for it. Saudis can be polite, but they can also be great time wasters, and like to lay the blame elsewhere. As their teacher you have to lay down the rules and be tough, but fair. Good luck.

sounds like rude entitled men -tell them you wont tolerate lateness or leaving to take a call how bloody rude

Heyyy OP. I taught EFL for 8 years home and abroad and was a senior teacher, even as a senior I still got complaints - you just can’t please everyone. Mixed level classes are a nightmare, especially when beginners are involved. I never allowed lateness, I always adhered to the school’s punctuality policy and no one attempted to come in late to my lessons. You are doing the ones who arrive on time a disservice by allowing late comers in… and it’s just annoying.

Complaints are a kick in the teeth and a confidence bash. The summer months are notorious for younger students taking the mickey. It can still be a wonderful job though, some of my happiest moments have been in classrooms :-)

In that case, don’t. You’re just enabling their lack of manners. Keep them back afterwards and tell them that you expect them to be on time and if they’re not happy they can leave the course.

This.

Unfortunately, this is normal amongst some groups of students, where there are a couple of moany types and they drag the rest in to support them. And yes, it does seem to be women who are subjected to these types of nit picking, not particularly genuine complaints. This is also a disciplinary issue - if these students cannot be bothered to turn up on time and disrupt the lesson by turning up 20 minutes late, then there should be some sort of warning or sanction given.

I actually stopped part time lecturing at my local university due to a complaint like this. Its not unusual for people in my professional field to teach an afternoon or so a week so that students can have a qualified professional teach them, but after my first session, I got this kind of odd complaint. One of the complaints was that my background was "too dark" - I had closed my curtains to avoid screen glare. The real reason is that they just weren't used to me. They loved me by the end of the semester, but that was because they realised that they had to focus on the work, not the teaching style, individual presentation or background of the lecturer!

But I had to give up a couple of hours of my time to discuss the complaint over the phone - unpaid. And I wasn't properly remunerated for preparation either - when the students are as nit picky as that, you need to spend 3 hours preparation in my field to cover all eventualities, not the 1 (poorly paid per hour) that you are paid for. So I just stopped doing it.

Teacher? I thought you were a part-time carer?

I teach a mixed ability class, possibly entirely different than language but I find it helps to teach to the highest ability then downgrade expected outcomes from the lower ability.

Thinking of equivalents:

1. Write down in English as many excuses for being late as you can think of in 10 minutes, in proper sentences, then read them out in small groups.
2. In two teams using whiteboard name everything you can see on a picture, hand out pictures of a car / house / party etc. Extra points for adding an adjective for every word.
3. Read this text and write down in a simple list of what you need to do that you will explain to the group in your own words. Hand out copies of various letters; doctor appointment for newbies, University purchase order process or similar for more experienced.

I wouldn’t advise this sorry @Skodacool. It wouldn’t go down well at all with management. It’s for the DOS or Principal to say and they 99.9% of the time definitely wouldn’t.