The Joy of ZEP
It's been a real learning experience for me, working this last month and a half in a collège in a "ZEP" or "Zone d'Education Prioritaire". Don't get me wrong, I like working with kids, even the ones who have problems or who aren't at all interested in my subject, English. The momentary obstacle of dealing with exotic names faded into the background quickly enough, but the very real problem of maintaining a sufficient level of discipline to get a smidgen of work done remains.
It seems counterproductive, in a language class, to be constantly calling for "quiet". After all, if they don't talk, how can they be expected to communicate?But some of these little angels are so hyperactive that I can't even hear myself think. I'm sure Dickens or Thackary would portray a teacher in my predicament in some suitably humorous way, but I'm very rarely laughing at it all.
How to maintain interest and plough into new pastures of syntax and vocabulary while Jawed is spilling Moustapha's pencil case onto the floor and N'mahawa is shrieking with laughter? All the good intentions in the world, wanting to help the disadvantaged youths get on with their education and all, all that doesn't help a bit if a certain critical mass of attentiveness can't be reached.
Yeah, you're right, guess I'm just moaning. Some days it works, and some days the mayonnaise goes off before I've even begun mixing it. Any suggestions (short of cliff-jumping) are welcome.
Cheers, --- Phil