In August 2012 I took a position to teach English to three courses at a certain school. Some students (at the fifth course) are difficult to get along with.  They�ve been hard since I met them.

At the beginning of this year, their head teacher told me that the previous year the group was unsatisfied with a teacher and they harassed him until he quit. (He wasn�t a teacher really. He didn�t have a degree.)

The atmosphere has been tense since March (beginning of the school year) Eight of twelve students do classwork. The other four student only work when they are willing to.

Last Thursday, a video lesson couldn�t be finished because the classroom wasn�t dark enough and because I spent some time arguing with the students. They said they should see the whole movie not just some segments. I�m really tired of their attempts to take control.sWhen the time of the lesson finished, I had to carry the projector back to the library because nobody was willing to collaborate.

My next lesson is on Tuesday. I�ve already booked the projector so that we can finish what we started last Thursday. However� what should I do if they aren�t willing to fetch the projector and some clothes to cover the window panels? Should I give them a test I had announced previously? Will I manage to survive until November so that I can keep the post?

Thank you!. 

P.S The above mentioned students are 16/ 17 year old

Hello! Thanks for your help. About talking to disruptive students outside class, I have a little problem. I commute to work there so I arrive to school, deliver lessons, have a break of 10 minutes (it �s not usually a break since there�s a lot of paperwork to do) deliver lessons and then I leave. I never meet those students in a peaceful context.

Doot: When you say you tell the students you will not be bullied by them  What do you mean? Is it that even if they continue bullying you won�t abandon your job or the way you do things in the classroom?

When students behave badly, I generally give them the option of behaving properly, or leaving the classroom (going to the principal�s office/or other place for more discipline, as arguing with them in class merely wastes the classes� time.). I remind them that my job is to teach, theirs is to learn. If their behaviour is getting in the way of others� learning, they should get out, so the class can get on with it. I would warn the principal or whomever that this will be happening, so they know ahead of time. Or, I�ll give them a quick call on my hand-phone to fill them in on the details, after the student leaves. The consequences for the student are, first, they are embarrassed, and not enjoying the attention of their fellow students. Next, if they are not in the class, they don �t get passing grades, or even pass the class. If they don �t pass, their parents are called, they lose their student visa, etc. As i �m the teacher, I make the rules.

That being said, that �s the last resort, as there are other ways to get kids to behave properly. Give them choices. They then get the feeling of having some control, but in the end, the choices you are giving them are yours. You are still in control. Take their suggestions to heart, but remind them that you have a lesson plan to follow and a schedule to maintain. If they are making sense, then by all means make a change, but if they are merely trying to bully you, continue on with the lesson. They will grumble, but just keep on going. Then if you have to, pick out the ring leader and use the previously mentioned method to deal with them. Once you have that example set, the others will not want this to happen to them and will usually fall into line. If not, send another out... and so on. It�s not much fun, but it sounds like this is a class from hell right now anyway. Better to suffer through a few days of stress and get things back under control, then to continue on like it is now.

It sounds to me as if this group has gotten good at bullying teachers. Check out this book, as it has many good ideas on teaching, and dealing with discipline problems.

The Reluctant Disciplinarian http://www.amazon.com/Reluctant-Disciplinarian-Management-Eventually-Successful/dp/1936162156