(Author of the article – Nadezda Popova: EFL Teacher, Cambridge CELT-S Tutor; Cambridge C1 Advanced, C2 Proficiency, CELTA, TKT CLIL, Delta M1, Train the Trainer)
The teacher’s job is creative, exciting and truly rewarding. There is one thing, however, which I wish I knew before becoming a teacher: sometimes you won’t be enough. Students leave us, and that’s an inevitable part of any teacher’s life. But once in a while, they leave you. And…that’s ok? You can’t have a match with every single student you meet, even being the most professional teacher with tons of experience. Why do students leave and how not to take it too personally? Let’s try to find out.
A personality clash is a situation in which two people have very different characters and are unable to have a good relationship with each other. This might sometimes happen between a student and a teacher as well. Of course, a professional teacher can adjust their behaviour and teaching manner to provide students with the most effective classes. However, I was once told that I have a ‘too positive outlook on life’, which was annoying the student. Some things are just an integral part of your character, so there is no need to be harsh on yourself.
Sometimes it is difficult to plan ahead, especially when it comes to teaching adult learners. Things happen: they change jobs, move houses, take mortgages and have babies. At some point, English classes might not be their priorities. If you have been warned about the change of plans in advance, the best you can do is just let go. After offering to have classes online, if moving house is the case. At some schools, students’ dropout rate is calculated and teachers get fines or bonuses. If this is true for you, you might ask the student to explain their situation to the manager if it is appropriate.
There is another story that is quite common for kids and their parents. As there is a huge variety of language schools and clubs, there are some features which yours might not have. Students can leave to attend classes with a native speaker, or simply because another school provides a discount or opens an office just next to their house. Once, a student left because they wanted to have a Russian State Exam expert as their teacher. I could neither boast the qualification, not understand the necessity — the kid was in the 3rd grade.
The worst case is when students disappear. They stop answering the calls and just fall off the radar. A couple of months later you meet them in the street, but they put on their sunglasses and cross to the other side of the road. You are left to wonder what happened and what you have done wrong.
Even though the above-mentioned situations keep happening, there is something you can do to prevent students from leaving. Here is a little checklist for you to use:
All in all, if a student leaves, don’t give up! They probably have a good reason, and, most likely, this reason is not you. Even “We’d like to try a different teacher” is not the end of the world. Well, of course, if you don’t hear it once a day.