From conducting groups, I see that some students are confused by basic concepts, and though the size is 10 instead of 27, those who are struggling, I believe, hide their confusion out of not wanting to have others perceive them as falling behind. I might need to make time to speak with some of these students (or maybe I wont if the test grade tells a different story) and offer to work with them one-on-one.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Week four
At the moment, I have seen little student interest in meeting with me to discuss grammar issues. I assume that this is partly a result of unawareness of where their own issues lie, coupled with possibly the sense that with study all that which is now confusing will be made clear. I am curious whether come results of the first exam, students become more willing to make contact. We will certainly extend the invite, but how many will take that opportunity?
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Garri,
ReplyDeleteSo far, two students have come to talk to me about their perception that they are not doing well. They are good candidates for after-class tutoring sessions. They are both women, which is not surprising. Women are more likely to ask for help and to accept offers of help that are offered.
Some students will meet with a teacher or tutor outside of class. But this can happen only after a clearly structured invitation has been extended. It needs to be written down and distributed to all students during class and students will decide at that time if they want to commit to attending. The invitation must contain days, dates, times and classrooms already scheduled. If you want to commit to tutoring after class on Tuesdays, we can set this up. I can reserve a graduate seminar room on particular days and at particular times.
It is extremely difficult for most students to attend a session either before or after class because most of our students are already enrolled in classes at both times or one time. Notice that I have to give the make-up Exam #1 during class time because one student can not take the class anytime at all on Tuesday or Thursday due to her class schedule. The other student also has restrictions timewise.
So to reach all students, you would have to set something up both before and after class. If you want to set something up, why don't you speak with Elham about it? Maybe one of you could meet students before class and the other could meet students after class? Choose specific dates that you are willing to commit to (1, 2 or 3 dates). And determine specific times (30 minutes, 45 minutes, or 60 minutes). I will then go to Yana and ask to reserve a graduate sem. room on those dates and at those times.
Now that students will have received their first exams, they will have a clear understanding of that they need to work on. They might also be motivated by a grade that they are not satisfied with. In any event, if you want to do this, write down a plan and email it to me and I will then find out if I can reserve a room. I prefer that we do this in a graduate conference room, where it will be quiet and no one will be interrupted. All cell phones must be turned off. That is the only ground rule that I'll set up. People can come late or leave early. But they can't talk on cell phones during these sessions. They need to devote their attention to learning while they are in the tutoring session/workshop. BG