Students like to tease me for my height and my english pronunication.
I’m neither angry nor embarrased so I just laugh along with them.
First, its because I have come to terms with it that I’m short and I like who I am.
Second, I agree that my command of english is not that proficient and I thank them for correcting me and improve myself through their correction.
Through the 2 reasons above, I realised that I’m totally at ease and there is no conflict within me.
Now how about applying this concept on students who are not performing.
If there is a student who is doing badly for a particular subject and you are always asking him
“Why are you so lousy at this?”
“Why can’t you get better results like who who who…?”
“It is so easy, why can’t you understand?”
“Why are you so lazy?”
When happens when a student is exposed to all these for a prolong period of time?
It will sink into him and he too will recognize that he is lousy.
So no matter how hard you talk sense into him to motivate him to work harder, its not gonna work.
Why? He will just tell you he is lousy. (he already accepted this as a FACT)
On the other hand, why not SHOW him and make him excel?! (yes, i meant MADE)
In the past, I do not understand this but now that I have a living example among my students, I finally got it!
There is this student who never pass his secondary science before.
1 week after he join me, he passed.
Subsequently he went for turbocharge, he is getting As for his Math and Science.
I asked him why he didnt perform in the past?
He said something like he didnt bother to study in the past. Now that he started and is seeing results, it spurs him on.
On the other hand, if a student has along been doing well and is confident of himself, suddenly he slacks (due to one reason or another), positive encouragement doesnt work.
I think you just have to hit him hard in the face and show mi the reality that he “SUX” (in layman terms).
Once he feels uncomfortable with your words, he is likely to buck up.
What I wanna put across is that DISSONANCE will result in change and it does change results.
I’m not sure if I have made my point clearly across. I just wanna share my discovery this week. =)
24/04/2009 at 10:20 am Permalink
Thank you for the wonderful sharing and insights! I can see that you are growing tremendously as a coach and mentor to the Lower Sec kids! This is what we meant by Sustained Motivation! Keep it up!
27/04/2009 at 4:15 pm Permalink
i have a vision.. Top Lower sec coach in HOT demand! selling like pancakes.. nothing can stop your child getting A1 with advocators, with advo Coach!!