An assessment of the kids that come through our EV's

We start the assessment of the kids the exact moment that we see them. They might not know that they're under close surveillance from the moment that we see them but they are. It's their job to see us and react to foreign teachers but it's our job to see how they react. How they react to us shows a lot about how they are and what they're like. Then we'll figure out how our classes will go and what kind of kids we get to teach.

Like most things there are 3 groups of kids that come to our EV. We have “smart kids,” “so-so kids,” and then you have the “dumb kids.” So you have those groups but then within those groups you have subgroups. They are things like the dumbfounded, the repeaters, the understanders, the used-to-it, and the cute kids.

Introduction is the first place that we get to actually talk to them and see what they’ll be like. It’s easy for them to fool us before introduction but as soon as we’re in front of them introducing ourselves we can pretty much nail what kind of kids we’re gonna be teaching. The kids normally have a personality as a school and that’s pretty easy to guess. You just observe the kids when they’re seeing you for the first time.

Okay so now to explain them all:

The “Smart Kids” –

You can tell by their name that they’re the smart ones in your class. They normally know a lot of English and try not to be or act stupid. They can usually translate most of what you say. Every once in a while you’ll get a kid that will understand if you teach him some grammar.

These kids are the ones that will help you translate for their classmates. A lot of times they’re bored because the teacher (in this case one of us) is using baby talk to try and make sure that their classmates also understand.

They normally consist mainly of the understanders and the used-to-it. The understanders are obviously the kids who understand what’s going on and help you explain. And the used-to-it are the kids who understand what it’s like to have an American teacher and don’t have a heart attack when they see the American teacher.

It’s very useful to have at least one of these in each one of your classes. They are normally so helpful! These kids are very easy to spot also; he’s the kid who all the other kids look at when you say a hard word they don’t know.  

The “So-so Kids” –

It’s a lot harder to spot these kids than the smart kids. Their English level varies so much so it’s rather hard to figure out who fits into this group. The things that these kids understand are so random so it’s pretty hard to tell how good their English actually is.

At introduction (and even sometimes in class) these are the kids who you see sitting there paying close attention and hanging on every word you say to see if they understand it. When they’re in your class they sit there and listen really well, sometimes, they’ll even help you translate.

When you teach these kids make sure that you use words that they know so they’ll feel confident about their English and that way you don’t lose them. Once you lose them don’t expect to get them back.

They have a mix of all of the subgroups in this class. There’s not really one group that stinks out.

The “Dumb Kids” –

These kids aren’t technically dumb. In fact, they could be really smart in science, math, Chinese, history or anything for that matter, but when it comes to English these kids are morons! Most of the time kids are in this group is because they don’t try very hard at all. They give up really easy and don’t care.

They are the biggest distraction to you when you’re teaching. They’re the ones that sit there and talk to their friends and play with the props that you have in your room. They don’t care and don’t want to have to sit there so they talk and distract.

When you ask them a question they do one of four things. One of the most used is just sitting there giving you this not so innocent smile. The next one is they give you this face :? it’s like I have no clue what you’re asking so I’m gonna sit here like an idiot or I’m gonna say something in Chinese you don’t understand. The last thing they resort to is looking to the smart kid and asking him what we said. Or fourthly they sit there and just repeat every single word you say.

This class is definitely full of the dumfounded kids. The dumbfounded kids are the kids who when they see you for the first time they freak out! They start waving and nudging their friends telling them that there’s a “wàiguó lǎoshī” (foreign teacher).

In this class if that’s not bad enough you have the repeaters. Like I said previously those are the kids who sit there and say what you say. “How are you?” “How are you.” “Very good.” “Very good.” This is actually really obnoxious.

The “Dumb Kids” are definitely the worst kids to have in your class. If you have a whole class full of them you better be praying for patience.

That’s my assessment of the kids that we have come through the EV. Pretty much every kid fits into there somehow. When you see that most of your class is full of the “smart kids” you know that’ll be a great class.

Anyway, sorry it’s been so long since I’ve posted. Just nothing seems to be super exciting….and I haven’t taken many pictures so I can’t even post those.

Hope everything is going well in the States (or wherever you are!)
~D2