Hello Mehdi,

if in your country young people want to start work without English, it seems they cannot see the importance of communicating with others who don't speak their language. You can, of course explain them why it is good but it is up to them to decide (and they'll come back in a couple of years' time telling you you were right, after all).

My concern is that they (well, some of my students, sometimes a whole group) do want to be able to use English but are not willing do do much for it. As if a skill like that can come by itself. Motivated? Yes, they get involved in the activites, have a great time in class but there is very slow proress because back at home they do not open their books or vocab notes.

I have no answer to that.

Rita

Rita makes a really interesting comment, just thinking about this in the context of my own learning experience of another language. It's not that I am not motivated, when I am in class I fully engage and I leave with the best intentions to practise and do extra things to help keep learning. But it's hard to integrate my learning with my normal day to day routine and busy life. I'm not lazy (I don't think so anyway!), but it doesn't always stay top of my priorities. It's when I am reminded of my end goals of why I am learning that I usefully give my myself a good kick to get going again!

Emma

I think the teacher is responsible for that because if the students are lazy or let's say passive, this is because they lack motivation, but if you show then the greatest goals scored by a famous football player, they will pay attention. Could you tell me why?

     We have to know the needs of our students because they are our clients and we have to satisfy their needs.

hello Mehdi....thanks for sharing this kind of problem that most of us face during the lesson time, the first thing that i'm going to do with this kind of students is getting close with them,try to know what they want at class,what activity that they sure want to enjoy what topic that they love. if this way is fail then surely i'll tell some interesting experiences especially with smthing that becomes headlines recently...students love hearing a new story or experiences (as i've experienced in most of my class) but remember that when we start telling some stories to gain their attention first in class,make sure that our story is in line with the lesson's topic so students can give their attention to the lesson without even they realize it.

Ika

Counselling sessions with students are for listening, not just for giving advice. As you have discovered, when students understand that you care, they also begin to care. Counselling sessions take time but not all students need them. If we can begin to understand why students are lazy, we can help them to change their attitude and behaviour.

When you get close to your students, you can discover that they are interesting and pleasant people, not just pupils who must be trained.

Enjoy your teaching,

Nick