I'm pleased you can help me this week, too, Writeacher.
Just a few things.
1) I've just had a parent-teacher meeting today. Some of my new students, whose grammar is very, very low and study very little complained about their bad marks in English. They are in their last year of high school (they learned their grammar in the first two years.)
2) They can even make six grammar mistakes in a sentence and fail to cover the ten lines when writing their paragraphs (they usually write 5 lines).
I spend a lot of time checking their grammar mistakes (as well as their mistakes in the word choice).
3) However, they never do the correction of their tests at home and keep repeating that they had top marks in English the previous years. They don't seem willing to change their minds and never study the vocabulary on literature at home. They are not interested in reading or writing (even in Italian!).
4) I always give them summaries of what dealt with in class, examples of cohesive paragraphs and a lot of fill-in-the-blank activities to let them practise the vocabulary on literature.
Other parents, however, praise my work and keep saying that I'm perfectly able to motivate them! They are enthusiastic about me.
I'm not going to give up hopes. What do you think?
As long as you know that you're doing everything you can for these kids, and that many other parents are happy with your work, I'd not worry too much about the lazy students.
One thing I would absolutely do, though, is to make sure YOUR supervisor (the headmaster??) knows all the details you have listed above. As long as you keep your supervisor totally apprised of what's going on and what you do and why you do it, you should be fine.
There are always going to be lazy kids, no matter what age. Do your best with them, but don't "beat yourself up" about them.
It sounds like you are facing a challenging situation with your new students and their low grammar proficiency. It can be frustrating when students do not seem motivated to improve or take responsibility for their own learning. However, it's great that other parents appreciate your efforts and believe in your ability to motivate the students.
Here are a few suggestions to address the issues you mentioned:
1) Communicate expectations: Clearly explain to your students the importance of grammar and how it affects their overall English proficiency. Emphasize that their grammar skills are crucial for success in their last year of high school and beyond.
2) Individualized support: Consider offering additional help to students who are struggling with grammar. You could provide extra resources, assign targeted exercises, or even offer one-on-one tutoring sessions. By providing personalized assistance, you can better address their specific needs and help them make progress.
3) Encourage self-correction: Instead of always correcting their grammar mistakes for them, encourage students to identify and correct their own errors. This can help develop their self-editing skills and promote a sense of ownership in their learning. You could also provide them with answer keys or allow them time in class to review and correct their tests.
4) Make learning engaging: Find ways to make grammar and vocabulary more interesting and relevant to their lives. Incorporate authentic materials, like excerpts from books or articles, that are connected to their interests. Encourage them to read and write in English by suggesting books or articles that match their reading level and preferences.
5) Celebrate progress: Recognize and celebrate the improvement and effort of your students. Positive reinforcement can motivate them to continue working on their language skills. Consider rewards or incentives for reaching certain milestones or goals.
Remember, change takes time, and not all students may be receptive immediately. Nevertheless, by consistently implementing these strategies and maintaining a positive attitude, you can make a difference in their learning journey. Keep trying, and don't give up hope.