I hate my students!

I’m just reading another great book by Adam Khoo, in it he talks about the days when some people think “whatever I do my students are terrible!” Here’s an anecdote from the book about a managing director, but it equally applies teaching:

One time the managing director and owner of a chain of boutiques attended my training program. He complained that all his staff were unmotivated, uncommitted and incompetent. He also complained that he kept getting clients who were prone to bargaining and had little purchasing power.

‘For some reason,the staff that we get are always lazy and useless, we never get the hardworking, ambitious type’.

I sat down with the man and asked him to list down the attributes of his ideal staff. He took about five minutes and came up with an incredible list of the perfect staff.

The person had to be highly motivated, responsible, have good work experience, strong track record, passionate… the list went on.

I took a look at the list and a look at the MD and asked, ‘Would this ideal employee want to work for you?’

Initially he was taken aback by my comment, but pretty soon, he was getting my point. I went on to say, ‘If you want to attract the best employees, you have to be the best company (in your field).’ ‘If you want to attract the perfect staff, you have to be the perfect boss.’ For things to change, he had to change first.

from Adam Khoo’s “Master your mind, Master your destiny”

What would your ideal students be like? What would you have to become to attract them?

Here’s a “fill in the blanks” exercise I use with my business students:

If you want the best staff, become the best …..
If you want the best children, become the best …..
If you want the best parents, become the best …..
If you want the best girlfriend, become the best …..
If you want the best boyfriend, become the best …..
If you want the best wife, become the best …
If you want the best husband, become the best ….
If you want the best customers, become the best …..
If you want the best friends. become the best …..
If you want the best teacher, become the best…

And just for you guys….

If you want the best students, become the best…

Grab a copy of Adam’s book, it’s only $20 for the pdf version and well worth it!

Richard Graham

I'm on a mission to make education Genki—fun, exciting, and full of life! Genki English has now been researched by Harvard University and licensed by the British Council around the world. The results have been magical! Now I'm here to help you teach amazing lessons, with all the materials prepared for you, and to double your teaching income so you can sustainably help many more students in the future!

2 Responses to “I hate my students!”

  1. Joy k.

    Hi Richard,
    Thank you for sharing a short anecdote.It made me think. I don’t have much time to answer the filling of the blank…. portion but, let me share my personal viewpoint in the question” > What would your ideal students be like? A) The one who always pay their lesson-fee 3 months in advance b) Always remember my birthday but forgotten my age c) Never give-up in times of difficulties in studying english the last but not the least d) the one who takes perseverance as the road to success.
    >> What would you have to become to attract them.
    My love my sincerity,honesty and my positive thoughts are good reasons to attract students and it will influence them to believe and accept me for what I am. In Japan, customer is God. so in short, my students are always treated like little saviors

  2. Kobe Kid

    “Always remember my birthday but forgotten my age”

    ROFL! that made my day….

Comments are closed

© 2024 Genki English.