Development - Rules | Delta Publishing - English Language Teaching

Rules

Monday 17 May 2010

Hi All

It has been a whirlwind couple of weeks. Many of the international students in my school have been doing foreign language oral exams, which I have had to administer. Rules for externally assessed examinations in the UK, like GCSE and A levels are quite strict and perhaps a little inflexible. Some of my international students find these rules ridiculous. For example, one of my students truly didn’t understand why he couldn’t just take his speaking exam on a day or at a time of his choosing, rather than when the exam had been scheduled by his teacher. Another said to me “But if I don’t take my notes in with me I’m going to fail. You have to let me. What’s the point of taking an exam if I am going to fail?” Another student arrived 25 minutes late, still expecting to be allowed to take his exam, even though he could see it was already in progress…. All these students had received both verbal reminders and paper timetables highlighting the day, date and time of each exam.

Let’s just say that it has been something of a challenge to keep my temper, remain patient and maintain the integrity of the examinations. I guess in this I am also betraying facets of my culture. If I bend ‘the rules’ I think I am cheating, though I know this sounds unreasonable to people who don’t adhere so strictly to rules and regulations.

So now I have a few questions for you.

For EFL teachers working abroad: Have you come across rules in the countries where you work(ed) that you find ridiculous? Do/did you comply/circumnavigate/refuse to co-operate/talk about the situation with a local/ accept the regulations because that’s how things get done there?

For non UK teachers: What rules/regulations do you find amusing/crazy/infuriating/nonsensical/incomprehensible in the UK (or anywhere else you’ve been)?

Please answer. I think it’ll make for an interesting discussion.

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