A Complaint Free Classroom

This classroom solution was inspired by #41 on Alex Case’s Cheat List for TEFL Bloggers: 101 easy TEFL blog posts

What complaints do you typically hear from learners?

I hate grammar.
I feel sick.
This is too hard.
I don’t understand.
I miss my boyfriend.

Is gossip a problem, too?

She smells.
He has bad hair.
She has poor pronunciation.
He never comes to class.
She has a crush on the teacher.

What complaints do you and your colleagues have?

I hate teaching grammar.
I have a headache.
My students won’t talk.
This textbook sucks.
I miss my boyfriend.

What if you and your learners weren’t allowed to complain, gossip, or spread negative vibes in the classroom? No, I don’t mean you should all tape your mouths shut. What if everyone in your class or school (including teachers) made a pact to at least try not to complain out loud?

I have just finished reading A Complaint Free World by Will Bowen, and am confident that the author’s bracelet program will work wonders in an ESL classroom as it is currently doing in my home (with 3 and 5 year olds).

The goal: To reduce “ear pollution” around the world by going 21 days in a row without complaining. (According to Will Bowen, it takes the average person 4-8 months to complete the challenge.)

The Basics:

1. Tell every class member to put on a bracelet (elastic bands, ponytail holders or dollar store bracelets are okay-even the author suggests alternatives to his purple bracelets, which you can buy for $1)

2. Switch your bracelet to the other wrist every time you hear yourself complain, gossip (anything you wouldn’t say to a person’s face), or speak negatively (thoughts are okay-not sure about complaints on paper)

3. If you point out that someone else has to switch, you both must switch (“You complained” is a form of complaint).

4. Each time you switch your bracelet to the other side you start over at Day 1

5. Make “complaint free” your regular way of living by reaching the 21 day goal (studies show it takes about 21 days to form a habit-good or bad.)

Though it is as simple as that, I recommend that teachers read the book. It will refresh you, and inspire you to challenge your students (or family members) to join you. You can read it in one or two evenings.

The Complaint Free World website also has 10 lesson plans that you can download for free. The lessons are designed for K-12 students but can easily be adapted to ESL to supplement your current curriculum. You’ll find things like idioms (silver lining), quotes, and discussion questions. This is a non-profit organization that accepts donations.

*Note: In my house we sometimes disagree about whether a statement is an “observation” or a “complaint”. As the author explains, it’s all in the tone. (A nice idea for practising intonation in the classroom.) There’s more great stuff about what kind of “complaints” are exempt in the book. Also, don’t worry about “drop outs” or those who don’t want to participate. Non-complaining rubs off on people almost immediately. Even those who say they aren’t playing probably are.