An ESL Teachers Guide to Disciplining Students

It's never a fun thing when we have to discipline our students. But the reality of the situation is that discipline is inevitable. However, if you find an effective way to do so then not only will it become something you are more comfortable with, but it will also be something you do less frequently.

Before I begin, let me say that when I first began as an ESL (English as a Second Language) teacher, discipline was not my forte. In fact, it was something I tried to avoid completely. I later realized that this did me more harm than good. After speaking with ESL friends and my co-teachers, I learned that disciplining students is a tricky matter all around.

1.) Avoid Corporal punishment (even if it's legal in the country you work in)

It's not uncommon for Asian schools to employ corporal punishment at their schools. That does not mean you should partake. In fact, it's been proven through research that corporal punishment is not an effective way to discipline students. If your co-teacher uses this technique then there is little you can do to change her ways. However, suggest that she let you take care of the discipline part of the classroom and show her some alternatives.

2.) Utilize your class-clowns

There's a fine line between the class-clowns who go overboard and those who are simply class-clowns because they are bored with the subject matter. I've learned that you can often use them to bounce things off of while teaching (figuratively, of course). Yelling at them to "be quiet" might work every once in a while, but if you can use them to your advantage then you might as well.

3.) Use "commands."

It's very important to have "commands" in your classroom to get students to listen up. The more you have, the better. This not only teaches your students more English phrases but it also saves your voice and makes things go smoother. Here are some of my favorite commands that work. Remember that it's important to take the time to teach your commands before you begin to use them.

-I say Listen, you say Carefully! (When the students are loud, I say 'LISTEN!" and they respond, "CAREFULLY!"

-When I need the students to look at me, I say, "Eyes on Me!" and they respond, 'Eye's on you."

-If the students are being too noisy, I'll say in a quiet voice, "Clap your hands 1 time if you can hear me." A few students will clap their hands. You may need to do this 2-3 times before everyone hears you and claps. This will quiet them down.

Try your own commands. And remember - they are necessary. Any teacher will agree!

4.) Don't embarrass your students

Avoid embarrassing your students by making those who weren't listening stand up and answer questions. While it's easy to prove your point, it makes English less fun and that's not the goal of an ESL teacher.

5.) When things get out of control...

If things get really out of hand, here are some tactics that I employ:

-Writing English sentences (have the students copy/write English sentences and their meanings in their native language - your co-teacher can check these).

-Impromptu tests/quizzes (always have 1 or 2 prepared for these situations).

-Clean. That's right. Have your students clean their desks if you are at a loss and have no materials prepared for a quiz, etc.

-Have students who repeatedly misbehave stand in the back of the classroom.

-Move the students' seats around if you have a group/pair that keeps talking and interrupting class.

-Hold students who misbehaved after class. Let them go when they have about a minute left of their passing period.

Good luck! If you want more ESL advice or lesson ideas, check out my other articles here at Associated Content.