Lana Learn instructor office hours at Unit 871 in Hanoi ensure students get the most out of their learning experience.
The Lana Learn team in Vietnam have set instructor office hours built into the Unit 871 English language training program schedule. Offering office hours is a common practice in higher learning institutions in the U.S. as it gives students a chance to schedule time to speak to their teachers about any questions or difficulties they might be having.
I noticed that my students haven’t been taking advantage of this resource, so I thought, “Why don’t I schedule regular personal meetings with each student during my office hours?” I want to give each of my students my undivided attention to talk about any issues or concerns they might have.
One way to make sure that my students get the most out of their meetings with me is to help them prepare. I’ve created a simple questionnaire for students to complete which allows them to consider the various aspects of their learning experience. For example, students can think about their strengths, areas of opportunity, teaching methods they enjoy, teaching methods they find difficult to follow, etc.
Therefore, in a matter of a few weeks, I will be able to talk one-on-one with each student in my class about his/her specific learning concerns. Then, I can schedule follow-up meetings to discuss progression and any follow-up questions/concerns.
One thing I’ve realized while living in east Asia is that it’s considered good manners to tell a teacher, or any other perceived authority figure, that everything is going “fine.” This can allow student struggles to go unnoticed. As an educator, it’s my job to give my students the opportunity to get the most out of their educational experience. Student concern for decorum won’t detract from learning in my classroom.
