Appendix 1. Are the following statements about Russian (or Ukrainians, Belarusians etc) teens generally accurate or not?. Appendix 2. Teaching Issues. Look at the following scenarios (for teaching teenagers). Is the teacher doing something wrong? Maybe ev

Appendix 1

Are the following statements about Russian (or Ukrainians, Belarusians etc) teens generally accurate or not?

1) Russian teens get praised and encouraged more than criticized by their parents and teachers.

2) Russian teens often start the day at 8. 30 am and finish at 8. 30pm.

3) Many Russian teens live with a single parent.

4) Most Russian teens are under no pressure to get constant 5s at school.

5) Teens will never hear the words “useless” or “stupid” from their teachers at school.

6) Some teens can get lower marks simply because the teacher doesn’t like them.

7) Russian teens are often given conflicting morals/principles by their teachers or parents.

8) Lots of Russian teens have ambitions: When I am older, I want to be…

9) Russian teens are very sociable: they invite their friends over for dinner, meet their mates most weekends etc.

10) Russian teens possess more knowledge than creativity.

11) Russian teens are much more mature than their British counterparts.

12) Not many Russian teens have hobbies.

Appendix 2

Teaching Issues

Look at the following scenarios (for teaching teenagers). Is the teacher doing something wrong? Maybe even something right? What could be the possible causes of some of the issues?

1) Ask Katya how her horse riding lessons went. Ask Dima how his plans to move to London with his family are developing. Ask Dasha if she was almost covered in soup again after another family row.

2) If a student is disrupting the flow of your lesson and is occasionally attacking neighbours, you can send them outside the classroom until they’ve calmed down and had time to reflect.

3) You gave Vlad several warnings for forgetting his homework three times in a month. According to your classroom rules, you’re supposed to phone his mum. Vlad reaffirms the fact that he’s preparing for his G-YA exams so you give him another chance.

4) Your class is playing up and despite numerous warnings the students just get worse. You fetch out your secret weapon; five photocopied pages of Murphy’s which shuts them up.

5) You prefer sitting down in your class of 10 students – all lesson pretty much. When it’s break time, you sift through your notes (your back to the class) making sure they’re in order for the second half of the lesson while your teens get their phones and books out. During pair work you try to listen from your comfortable chair.

6) The teens moan when you hand them a vocab test you promised two weeks ago which the class forgot. After the test you ask Masha where her FCE essay is. She claims she handed it in but you open your register to say that’s not true and her previous three essays are missing as well. You also remember to bring in your home-made list of collocations Anna asked for.

7) Your students love you. You play games to make them smile, you crack jokes, you compliment your students to make them feel special… They all fail their end of course test.

8) You have a mixed ability set and notice during a task that two students speak some Russian to each other whilst everyone continues getting on with the task at hand in silence. You ignore the Russian spoken and let the lesson continue.

9) Sasha has forgotten his book once again. Mikhail makes jokes at a new student. Anita drops her can of Coke all over the floor. You’ve had enough and want to shout! However, you speak calmly but sternly with eye contact saying “I mean business! ”

10) Pavel’s mum approaches you one day after the lesson towards the end of course having noticed that her sweet angel has in fact made little progress. You maintain that he was often late, rarely handed in homework, played up during lessons etc. Pavel’s mum asks you to prove it to which you reply “Emmm… errrr… emmm, how? Emmm…” and go red in the face.