June on the TEFL Times has been set aside for a series of articles from Sharon K Couzens de Hinojosa, the creator and writer for TEFL Tips.

Often something’s that both newbies and old hands struggle with is maintaining discipline in the classroom. Rowdy students can distrupt the lessons and making teaching difficult for even experienced teachers. But if you keep a couple of tips in mind, you can make classes better for both you and the students.

● Be consistent. You have to be consistent in what you say and do both throughout the lesson and throughout the course. DOn’t change rewards or punishments.

● Positive Reinforcement. By punishing only the bad tings that happen, you’re only fighting half the battle. Rather than concentrating on the bad behaviour, look at the model students and praise them for their behaviour. And when you see a difficult student doing something well, be sure to praise them as well for their hard work.

● Start strict. Most teachers agree that it’s easier to get more lenient throughout the course than become more strict. So lay down the rules on the first day and stick to them.

● Play games at the end. Tell students that if they behave well, you’ll play a game at the end. It doesn’t have to be a long elaborate one, short games work as well. Anything from Simon Says, Hangman, Seven Up, or 20 Questions can work. Your students might be able to teach you some common games they play in their culture as well.

● Provide things to do. Not all students work at the same pace. And often students get out of hand because they have nothing to do. Keep a couple of extra exercises, worksheets, books, or games for them to do when they finish. If they’re busy, they’re less likely to make trouble.

● Don’t shout. First off, there’s probably no way that you can shout and be heard when many students are talking. Second, you’re not really fixing anything, you’re just adding to the noise. Try clapping your hands, or ringing a bell to get their attention.

● Follow through. If you say that you’ll play a game, do so. Likewise if you say that a student will be punished, you’ll have to follow through on that. And don’t make promises that you can’t keep.

About the author

Sharon K Couzens de Hinojosa is the creator and writer for TEFL Tips, The LA Job List, and The Ultimate Peru List. She enjoys answering people’s questions about TEFLing and Peru.