Failure is not an option

A lot of ESL schools have policies towards level advancement that seem inspired by the US Marine Corps: No one gets left behind.

Students who fail to meet the requirements of advancing to the next level (as set out by the school and teacher at the beginning of the term) may raise hell at the prospect of not being allowed into the same class next term as their friends.

It doesn't matter if they spent more time pockmarking their livers at the local pub or sleeping off an evening of carousing than learning in the classroom like their colleagues. Some will still cry foul to any agent who will listen to their rank tale of injustice.

Of course, there are some students that will attend class, do the required homework, study long hours and still have trouble making it through to the next level. These poor unfortunates have my sincerest sympathies, but also my firm guarantee: if they didn't make it this time, they will succeed the second time through.

A few words of advice to those teachers in the unenviable position of failing a student:

1. Tell the student up-front that they have failed the class. Most likely, the student already knows how things stand. There's no sense in keeping them in suspense, or worse, giving them false hope.

2. Explain clearly why this student has failed.
Eg. "You can see here from your attendance record that you missed alot of classes. Also, your quiz scores indicate that you learned English grammar from howler monkeys."

IMPORTANT NOTE TO TEACHERS: ESL students don't get sarcasm. Ever.

3. Explain what the student must do to improve.
Eg. "Less drinky, more study, kapish?"

4. Reassure the student that they will benefit from repeating the curriculum; they will be in a much better position when they do advance to the next level.

Don't tell them that their family and friends won't think any less of them for not succeeding - students can always tell if you're lying.

5. If the student's demeanor hasn't improved by the end of your conversation, recommend that the student speak with a counselor to discuss the issue. Possibly, administration will just bump him up anyway. That's fine, though, so long as the student's complaint is made to disappear.

Passing the buck is always an option when your job security is determined by monthly evaluations.

tags: failing students, ESL student placement, no one gets left behind, test, quiz