What a wonderful and perfect response from Ted Klein to Ochieng on the
subject of how to handle the problem tutor.  I echo his thoughts 100%
after many years of teaching ESL and also training and working with
volunteers.

 

Sandy Jensen, Waterloo, Iowa

 

From: englishlanguage-bounces at nifl.gov
[mailto:englishlanguage-bounces at nifl.gov] On Behalf Of Ted Klein
Sent: Tuesday, June 17, 2008 8:43 AM
To: The Adult English Language Learners Discussion List
Subject: [EnglishLanguage 2655] Re: Problem Tutor How to Handle It

 

Ochieng,

 

You probably think that I'm a hard person for my reaction to Karin's
report. If you knew me, you would know better. I have been an ESL
teacher, teacher-trainer, consultant, manager, etc. for many years. What
comes with this is a strong sense of protectiveness and responsibility
toward students from other cultures. I am also an intercultural trainer
and have workshops on how to deal with students from other cultures. My
website describes this work. None of the recommended approaches are
harsh.

 

Once a pattern appears and it's not just an incident or two, I have
always diplomatically investigated and retrained, when feasible, so that
the problem is reduced. However, the differences are often cultural. You
come from a gentle culture that offers protection on almost all
occasions to persons who exceed acceptable bounds. The problem here is
that students are being hurt by persons with no concept of "face."
Within the American school systems, unfortunately there is often a great
deal of overt conflict between students and their teachers. The problem
is that when some teachers move out of this environment into "the rest
of the world," they are really very hard to change. Problem solving is
always the best way to fix things. However, it really doesn't work much
with those who are convinced that "negative reinforcement" is the only
answer. I would rather train a young teacher or tutor with NO background
in their subject than deal with some of the "old-timers," whose habits
are ingrained after years of dealing within their own culture. 

 

Lao Tse, the Chinese Taoist philosopher divided all human activities
into BEING, DOING and HAVING. We can change what a person has. Sometimes
we can change what a person does. We can't change what a person is. In
that situation, we are sometimes faced with the necessity of  moving the
person on into another environment that fits who they are. That can be
better for them and their students. 

 

Respectfully,  Ted

www.tedklein-ESL.com  

 

----- Original Message ----- 

	From: Ochieng kh <mailto:ochykheyr at yahoo.com>  

	To: The Adult English Language Learners Discussion List
<mailto:englishlanguage at nifl.gov>  

	Sent: Tuesday, June 17, 2008 2:27 AM

	Subject: [EnglishLanguage 2652] Re: Problem Tutor How to Handle
It

	 

	Allow me to observe that no nonsense approach to issues is
unilateral and always one sided. In life, there are two cardinal
principles of justice, namely, that one shall never be a judge in ones
cause and, that one shall never be condemned unheard. No non-sense
approaches defy these important planks of justice. Suffice it to note
that in everything we do, there is always a duty to society, meaning
that whenever there is a problem, it is prudent to seek proper solutions
as opposed to running away from the same because society need not suffer
either directly or indirectly from a similar problem again. In the
instance case, dismissing the tutor does not solve the problems, because
she will run away with the problem to another place and surprising
enough, she might not be aware of her weaknesses. Eventually society
suffers. The best way is to make her understand the issues and if
possible enable her overcome the problem. This is why investing in staff
development or human capacity building programmes is important. After
all if we were to live in a totally no nonsense society, we would all be
dismissed because noone is perfect! It is better to nurture a society
that believes in all and that each can be the best irrespective of
challenges and difficulties. When we live one behind, we are literally
hurrying to nowhere! Best wishes always, Ochieng
M.Khairalla-Nairobi-Kenya.   
	
	"tbeyene at juno.com" <tbeyene at juno.com> wrote: 

	Karin's suggestion would be lovely in a perfect world, say in
Kenya where they have this nice tradition of "Haraka, Haraka Haina
Baraka."  or Hurry, hurry has no blessings.  Lunch, dinner, etc....  I
don't know; who has the time and patience here in the states, Karin?  I
like Ted's no nonsense approach.

	-T. 

	
	
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	Dear Karin Johnsey,

	I suggest you broaden the horizon of both parties. Dismisal is
tantamount to running away from the problem or employing another tutor
could prove counter productive and time wasting. Simply engage both
parties in constructive dialogue. Have a detailed discussion with the
tutor concerned and explore her teaching approaches as well as
methodologies. Impress upon her that you had difficulties with earlier
experiences with other tutors and specifically refer to specific aspects
forming the basis of the current complaint. Equally impress upon her the
need to descend into the very arena of the student. It might be of use
to ask the tutor to have out door session with the student, say a lunch
session just to understand each other and to break the wall.
Communication is a cure to most of the problems. This could be followed
by a broader session bringing together yourself, the tutor and the
student, an evening dinner is important, at which dinner you will
generally intimate to both parties that the ultimate goal of your
project is to ensure the best services to both the tutor and the student
as well as generate a family bond in which each is a part of the other.
More interactions into the future is encouraged. Good day & best wishes,

	Ochieng M.Khairalla-Nairobi-Kenya.  
	
	Project CARE <ProjectCARE at morton.edu> wrote:

		
		I have a tutor who is a former high school teacher. She
is retired now. She has been with our tutoring program for three years.
		
		There have been multiple complaints about this tutor on
behalf of his/her students. The most recent example has been brought to
my attention in the past couple days. It is the most extreme yet!
		
		According to the student, this tutor uses negative
reinforcement..ie do you really want to learn? Uses inappropriate
materials...ie not related to everyday life (she was a biology teacher,
so she teachers biology to students), or material too hard for the
student. She makes the student feel bad about his/her level of English
knowledge, making them feel frustrated and ineffectual. Luckily the
student told me about this. I am going to talk to the student more about
the situation. Obviously the student doesn't want to continue.
		
		Do I formally dismiss this tutor? Or, do I just say that
I dont' have any students for the tutor at this point and that his/her
current student is too busy now with his/her new schedule, With the
intention of never giving this tutor another student in the future? I am
leaning toward the latter right now.
		
		Which course of action do I take and what is most
effective for everyone involved. I don't want to make the student feel
bad or have the tutor call him/her asking what happened? The tutor is
very two-faced. Plus, they live in the same community, so I don't want
them to run into each other again and have a bad experience. I want to
protect my student, who I will try to find another tutor.
		
		Thanks in advance! Any techniques for how to handle this
inappropriate tutor and/or breaking up the tutor/student pair will be
very helpful.
		
		Karin Johnsey
		
		Project CARE
		Morton College
		Cicero, IL 
		708-656-8000 x383
		
		-----Original Message-----
		From: englishlanguage-bounces at nifl.gov on behalf of
Jlbogdan
		Sent: Thu 6/12/2008 4:15 PM
		To: The Adult English Language Learners Discussion List
		Subject: [EnglishLanguage 2627] Re: Best Listening,
Bilingual, Online Test,& Video Site
		
		Hi Kate,
		If you are at school and that comes up it means that
your network IT is blocking you from reaching the site. You could
request from IT that they allow access to the site. They should check it
out and get back to you with a yes--and allow the site to come in or
no--and usually explain why they won't.
		If you can't get then you can try from home. 
		Hope it helps.
		Joyce
		
		
		----- Original Message ----
		From: Kate 
		To: The Adult English Language Learners Discussion List 
		Sent: Thursday, June 12, 2008 1:57:15 PM
		Subject: [EnglishLanguage 2626] Re: Best Listening,
Bilingual, Online Test, & Video Site
		
		
		Hi, Steph-
		
		If I tried to go on the Internet using the wireless
access, but I got the "Page cannot be displayed" page, does that mean
there's something wrong? Or is it just that I was in a place where I
could not get a signal?
		
		Kate Diggins
		Director of Adult Education
		
		GuadalupeSchools
		340 S. Goshen St.
		Salt Lake City, UT
		84104
		
		work: 801.531.6100 (ext.1107)
		cell: 801.440.7519
		
		www.guadalupe-schools.org
		
		________________________________
		
		From:englishlanguage-bounces at nifl.gov
[mailto:englishlanguage-bounces at nifl.gov] On Behalf Of
LaFerlazzo at aol.com
		Sent: Wednesday, June 04, 2008 5:49 AM
		To: englishlanguage at nifl.gov
		Subject: [EnglishLanguage 2602] Re: Best Listening,
Bilingual, Online Test,& Video Site
		
		
		Hi, Everybody,
		
		Here are a few more "The Best..." lists:
		
		The Best Online Video Sites For Learning English
	
http://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/2008/06/03/the-best-online-video-sites
-for-learning-english/
		
		The Best Listening Sites For English Language Learners
	
(http://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/2008/05/28/the-best-listening-sites-f
or-english-language-learners/)
		
		The Best Multilingual & Bilingual Sites For Learning
English
	
(http://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/2008/05/25/the-best-multilingual-bili
ngual-sites-for-learning-english/)
		
		The Best Ways To Create Online Tests
	
(http://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/2008/05/22/the-best-ways-to-create-on
line-tests/)
		
		Part Seventeen Of The Best Ways To Create Online Content
Easily & Quickly
	
(http://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/2008/05/26/part-seventeen-of-the-best
-ways-to-create-online-content-easily-quickly/)
		
		Larry Ferlazzo
		LutherBurbank High School
		Sacramento, CA
		
		
		
		
		
		________________________________
		
		Get trade secrets for amazing burgers. Watch "Cooking
with Tyler Florence" on AOL Food.
		
		
		
		
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