Every week I teach various english classes.

My favourite class to teach is the one for professionals who are going overseas. They need to work on their english so that their time overseas will be of the most benefit. Some of them have a very low level of english, but they are interesting to teach because they are highly motivated to improve. They have chosen to be in the class and see it as an opportunity.

Another class that I enjoy teaching is a class for third year university students. They are also highly motivated. Their english is already pretty good. They do pretty much whatever I ask them to do- get into groups, discuss A,B or C, make sentances using the verb "to putter." They are pretty fun. They often try to use long words, or phrases without the correct grammar- that can get a little messy.

And occasionally I get something like last week I asked them what they thought "A penny saved is a penny earned" meant. One guy stood up and said, "To earn is the best way of saving, of course we all know that the best offense is to attack, that's all." and then he sat down. He also tagged something else on the end there which I can't remember right now because it was so random, but what do you do with that? What does that mean?

Anyway, they try hard. They've worked hard to be in University, and they want to use the opportunity to actually learn. It makes them fun to teach.

My least favourite class is the one that I taught this morning. And I'm usually not a play favourites kinda person, but these guys.... not so enjoyable to teach. Why you ask? Well, because they aren't motivated in class.

They are all planning to go overseas to study, so they need to get a diploma that says that they finished this english course. You'd think going overseas to study would be a motivator to actually learn the language there, but no.

It's a conversation class, so my job is to get them talking, and as a foreign teacher to listen to their pronunication, grammar etc, and help them with all of that. But the most important thing is to get them talking.

Half the class are ok. A few of them are so- so in the motivation department, then there are a few that just don't do much of anything. I assign them something to talk about but they don't have the personal maturity to actually put much effort into it. So they do it for 30 seconds (if that) then chat with their neighbour or whatever.

I can usually enjoy going and teaching the class, as like I say, most of them are ok. But this morning, I got 3 extra hours of teaching tacked onto my schedule with them, during a time that is usually time off for me. I found it more difficult to be patient with them.

I read them the riot act when I came in at first... here are my expectations.. blah blah blah.... this is conversation class... blah blah blah... if I ask you to talk about something, I expect you to do it. If you don't like it you can leave.... etc. I said all of it very matter of fact and quite nicely.

But then later, after I was getting irritated with some of the little things done in class that short circuit the learning process (ie- people always whispering the answers to each other so there's no thinking going on ) I read the riot act #2.

Which was basically: Your english stinks. You are smart enough to do this, but you aren't working hard enough. And if you don't put more effort in this you are going to be in big trouble when you go overseas.-- I said it in a nice but matter of fact way. And then I gave them homework. I don't usually give homework. All I usually ask is that they work hard IN class. And dude I didn't give them any second break because some of them were gone so long for the first one. I wanted to introduce them to the term "Royal Butt Kicking" because I felt like they needed one, but I decided to save that for next week.

I'm am a little afraid for these guys. I mean they are going to be in regular University level classes when they go overseas. (Not learning english classes) They are going to be studying economics or business or some such thing. You'd think they'd be motivated.

You may ask why are they not more motivated? Well, I'm told that for most of them their families have money, so they think they don't have to study as mom and dad's money will get them through.

I guess in some ways, going over abroad and finding yourself in a class that's way over your head might be a good thing, especially if there's no opportunity to buy better marks or a degree. Welcome to the real world.

On tap for next class? A discussion involving the terms "taking responsibility" and "it's your own fault."