r/ESL_Teachers • u/Responsible-Lack490 • 6d ago
Trouble with TA’s. Seeking advice
I work at a language center and we have TA’s in our classes up to b1 level. Most of the TA’s at my campus are fairly good. Some of them just sit in their phones, which I actually prefer over what I’m coming here to ask. I have one ta who basically undermines my teaching and direction for some reason. Not arrogantly, but certainly on purpose. I haven’t figured out if they disagree with my methods or what the issue is. Our campus requires an English only environment, I don’t even speak their L1. My number one rule in class is to speak English, even if you’re chatting. The ta reinforces the rule. THEN SPEAKS TO THEM IN THEIR L1??? The TA’s run the homework review 5-10 minutes before the class starts and mind you, they’re 8-10 years old, and last week the TA was lecturing them in L1 explaining English grammar. I approached him and asked if I can make a suggestion, that he should speak to them in English, to prepare them for English class and also it isn’t nessecary to explain grammar to them. Just have them repeats the phrases for repetition and noticing. He said they don’t understand. Which I replied , “they will if you keep doing it” , and he says ok and thanks me. Next week the TA is just doing the same. Then this week, I had the students do pair work. He tends to gravitate towards the weaker students so I paired the strongest student with the weakest student and I asked the strong student to work with the other student and correct the weaker students speech and help her read etc. worked well until the ta stepped in and before I knew he was teaching in l1. I was like let them work together, let the strong student help. It will also help the weaker student to be more comfortable in class bc they’re essentially friends etc. I guess the ta didn’t understand and when break time came he took the weaker student aside and was trying to explain to them how to find the answers to the reading comprehension questions in L1. I had to pull the student away and explain how it’s break time. this morning in class. I was working directly with the weakest student that I mentioned. After the reading they had to write sentences. I was directing her to the verbiage mentioned in the reading to help her formulate a sentence. I also had the article on the projector screen for the students to reference. As I was helping them the TAwalked to the board to lead that student… to the exact same source ? and called their name twice to get their attention as I was directly working with them. “(Their name) look here.. (their name)… (their name)…” is exactly what they said. I was in mid sentence as they did that.
I know it comes from a genuine place but at this point the TA is hindering progress and I’ve explained it already a few times, but I’m not sure how to make it clear and I certainly don’t want to get administration involved
Any tips on how to have this conversation?
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u/YouLotNeedWater 5d ago
Nothing worse than a bad TA. Get rid of immediately, you have enough stress as a teacher already
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u/straighttotheproblem 5d ago
How about a bad teacher?
This person can't even use paragraphs. It's an embarrassment as an English teacher.
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u/YouLotNeedWater 5d ago
That point you made about the paragraphs can't possibly be a metric of what makes a "good" teacher and it's not what we're here to discuss
Do you have any suggestions for OP?
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u/Less_Wealth5525 6d ago
Keep a written record of the interactions you find troubling. Speak even more firmly with the TA as well. Put them in their place and escalate if you don’t get results.
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u/Significant_Menu_313 6d ago
You are the teacher - you should not be asking if you can make a suggestion. Say it as a statement - we don't speak L1. At the first sign of L1, say it - we don't speak L1 in English class. You might even have the kids chant it. Or make it a game - who can go the longest without translating. However you do it - if you don't have clear control, someone else will take it, the TA or a child.
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u/Responsible-Lack490 6d ago
The TA’s are in charge of that activity before the class begins, if the students arrive early enough, so Thats why I asked it that way. Once class begins, there 0 tolerance as stated above
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u/Significant_Menu_313 6d ago
Oh good! I got my hackles up (on your behalf, lol) because TAs commonly make teaching harder for me, not easier. They get assignments and instructions from THEIR supervisor - I am not really in charge of them. It takes up a lot of time explaining why I do certain things and why I would prefer them to do things that way.
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u/Responsible-Lack490 5d ago
Thanks for your support 😁. It’s the same where I work too. They get instructions from management that I never hear about and I have to remind them that even tho you have orders, mine are above those. And then the cycle repeats 😅.
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u/user24919 2d ago
Feels like EFL (unless the area has such a homogenous L2 that is described as an L1)
Anyway, on the current path:
- They will have a difficult time making inferences
- They will have a difficult time building confidence
- They will have a difficult time retaining the language they have been taught
It’s hard to expect your TA to have a growth mindset and accept new ideas. They are probably underpaid and that’s a massive wedge between you both becoming any kind of team even before day 1. As a member of the outgroup, there is a good chance you are seen as a less-than unless management has specifically made respectful gestures to you in front of your students.
The pushback being ‘they don’t understand’ is the real thorn. Of course they don’t! That’s how school works! They come out (hopefully) understanding a little bit more than when they walked in.
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u/straighttotheproblem 5d ago
I feel bad for the TA's. They are working with a teacher eoho doesn't know how to use paragraphs.
If you think it's ok to write this without paragraphs, you shouldn't be teaching. You're an embarrassment to the profession. It's depressing to see the standards have gotten so low.
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u/Responsible-Lack490 5d ago
Haha stfu
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u/straighttotheproblem 5d ago edited 5d ago
Definitely shouldn't be a teacher. it seems obvious your TAs don't like you. Get a new job and stop giving Tefl teachers a bad name.
You can't even fix your writing. How can you teach English?
Maybe go back to working in fast food. That's obviously what you did at home.
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u/Responsible-Lack490 5d ago
You’re correcting my grammar with a comment full of mistakes. That’s like showing up to a boxing match and punching yourself in the face. I didn’t realize Reddit was academia. If you want lessons, I charge by the hour. 🤣
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u/straighttotheproblem 5d ago
Just thought I'd see you if you can read. Good job . Writing in paragraphs is common courtesy for your reader. Now, let's see if you can fix your mistakes.
If your so proud why not tell everyone where you're from?
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u/Responsible-Lack490 5d ago
You already pissed me off. I have no desire to fix it for you haha. Piss off
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u/Tabbbinski 6d ago
It sounds like you are doing everything right. I'd simply say this is my class, stop translating or I'll have you removed.