How Do You Remember Student's Names?

[garro]

I was just wondering how other teachers remember student's names?

It is a new school year and I'm starting at a new school.

I have always been bad at remembering names.

Any tips?

[Niloc]

I bought a gross of cheap plastic name tags and made it a game for everyone to learn how to write their name in English, I then made it mandatory for everyone to wear their name tag!!

[withnail]

At my old school I taught some smaller classes twice a week and made a conscious effort to remember their names. To help we had a copy of all of their student photographs on a sheet with their names on.

With the larger classes I taught, seeing as it would have been impossible to remember them all, I didn't bother. Instead of this, I used their student numbers whenever we did any activity in class. This was fun as it randomized the students I was calling out and the students would hope i didn't call their number and start hinting at their friend's number.

I have also tried Niloc's idea with name tags/cards either in the form of a folded card on their desk or a card on a piece of string, however I found it to be very hit or miss. We all know what the word mandatory means in Thailand. True if you buy proper plastic ones like Niloc did this might work better but it could get expensive if you teach a lot of students.

[PeaceBlondie]

As withnail says, you really cannot be expected to memorize the names in large classes. If you can read Thai, their uniform shirt/blouse often has their name embossed on it. In classes smaller than 32, if I had them in class for 5 or 6 hours per week (was lucky to have that), I tried really hard to learn their nickname. You can use namecards on the desk for the first week or two, and a good seating chart (if they don't move around; write it in pencil). Force yourself to address them by name using the seating chart.

I got quite good at it, for an old man. However, the ones I never could remember (usually girls who were shy and not good students) often lost interest because I obviously did not know their names. But their name is important to them, so I did my best.

PS: Try to avoid the comedic urge to intentionally mis-pronounce names such as Sukaporn.

[paulfr]

Take a headshot photo of each student.

Then use Picassa or similar program to arrange the

photos on a page which mirrors their seats in class.

Put the names underneath each photo.

For classes larger than 25, it may take two pages.

Now it will only take a few weeks before you know

75-90% of theri names by sight.

[mrtoad]

Luckily I've always been pretty good at remembering names, and thankfully I teach the same classes five times a week, so it is a lot easier.

What I found to be a good aid last year, was a bucket with ping pong balls in, each had a number from 1-30. During the first couple of weeks, I constantly used the bucket with the balls. Student comes up, draws a number, so student drawn has to come up, answear a question. First question was always - What is your name? Followed by something relevant to the days topic. By the end of the second week, I reckon I could remember 95% of the names. The students also liked the activity of using the balls, and I've found it useful as it gets more students involved, rather than the usual suspects who will answear every question given the chance.

All to look forward to again in a few weeks.

[PeaceBlondie]

Take a headshot photo of each student.

Then use Picassa or similar program to arrange the

photos on a page which mirrors their seats in class.

Put the names underneath each photo.

For classes larger than 25, it may take two pages.

Now it will only take a few weeks before you know

75-90% of theri names by sight.

Maybe so, but I tried that for 3 classes of 30 that I had for two hours per class, each week. And at the risk of suggesting that lotsa people look alike, those same-haircuts, uniformed, black-haired, dark-eyed students in the same province resembled each other after six weeks. Cousins, maybe?

[garro]

Some good ideas.

I previously had mixed results with a seating plan.

The names on their shirt only seems to only work for me on the front row, as anyone else involves a lot of staring. I don't want to get a reputation as a pervert

The pictures are a good idea.

Edited April 30, 2008 by garro

[Ijustwannateach]

Student names are the single most disciplinary tool you have in the TEFL classroom- even if they won't understand anything you're saying in English at all- they will be able to respond to their own name.

How to do it, that's the question- it is inarguably harder when you're teaching, say, 15-20 different groups of 30-50 students, as many TEFLers in public schools do. I used to have pretty good success with seating charts, if you keep 'em small and neat. You can also keep track of bonus and participation points that way.

[geriatrickid]

Take a headshot photo of each student.

Then use Picassa or similar program to arrange the

photos on a page which mirrors their seats in class.

Put the names underneath each photo.

For classes larger than 25, it may take two pages.

Now it will only take a few weeks before you know

75-90% of theri names by sight.

Your suggestion works. Perhaps, my comment does not reflect the realities of the typical Thai classroom, but in our graduate courses at least 25% of the the profs asked us to make big name cards and then took our pics. In each class, we put our name card on the desk. Approx. 20-30 students per class. It also helped us as students because some of us only had a class with each other 1X week.

On the other hand, there is always a class clown. One cheeky fellow who looked "foreign" (and could do a mean Peter Sellers Indian accent) actually fooled the old coot prof with the name Anil Desaray. Reduced the class to giggles whenever the prof who was from Alabama or Mississippi would call upon Ane-ill. Unfortunately, the scam only worked for a week though as the prof did compare name tags, pics and the enrolment roster. Take that as an important lesson: If you go this route, check the info.

[PeaceBlondie]

geriatrickid, you reminded me of the teenage Sunday School class that had enrolled Freddy Frog, and gave as his address the city park. I dis-enrolled him.

[withnail]

I taught twins once who used to switch name tags.

[Scott]

My students all have the same name: "Hey you"! Actually, I don't have a problem with the good students or the bad students--they always stand out, it's the 10,000 or so in the middle that I can't get straight.

I often give kids nicknames, which they seem to think is cute--like the shortest one is short-shooter and when he makes that big growth spurt--he becomes former short-shooter. As long as the names are derogatory, they seem to enjoy that and I ran into a student from years ago who said "hi, do you remember me? I am 'rag-boy'". He used to go and get the rag to clean the blackboard for me all the time!

[up-country_sinclair]

IME most students don't like sitting in assigned seats, but I ask my classes to keep the same seats for the first month or so.

I ask them to bring in a wallet size photo that I attach to the seating plan to help me memorize their names. Also, during that first month whenever a student raises his or her hand in class I reference the seating chart/photo and then state their name.

Using Picassa as paulfr suggest is a good suggestion.

As I said, it usually takes me a few weeks to a month (depending on the class size), and the most students appreciate the effort.

[Slip]

Sad though it may sound, I actually find taking a register at the beginning of each class does help.

It is also a useful classroom management tool in terms of having the students prepared and quiet for the start of the lesson proper.

[pumpuiman]

I'm not a teacher, but do have a method for remembering names.

I'm sure many of you have heard of mnemonic devices for use in recall of memory. One associates something with the name and person...for example...You meet "Tom" and wish to remember him..Tom has red complexion and reminds you of an American Indian, you imagine an Indian playing tom tom drums. The next time you see Tom...you will automatically associate him with his name. This really works.

When you are trying to remember someone's name, the first step is to come up with a mental image with which you will associate person, and perhaps even facts about him or her.

Once you have chosen the person's symbol, choose a particular feature of the person - perhaps a distinctive freckle on the cheek, slightly pointy ears, a long ponytail, or curly bangs. Hopefully the feature you choose will be both fairly permanent and unique for the individual whose name you are trying to remember. Now, picture that particular feature and associate it with your symbol for that person. Let's say Mr. Bird has a noticeable brown freckle on his left cheek that is larger than all his other freckles. Imagine that this freckle is a seed. Picture a bird swooping down to pluck the seed right off of Mr. Bird's cheek! Now it will be harder to forget Mr. Bird's name when you see his "seed" - I mean his freckle. Just be sure not to laugh!

Here are some names and ideas for associations.

* Blair - If Blair has black hair or blue eyes, the name should be simple to memorize -- take the "bl" from black and pit it with the "air" from hair!

* Brown - All you have to do for this is visually associate the person with the color brown. If he or she has brown eyes or brown hair, you're set. Otherwise, imagine the person being covered in mud.

* Gold - Imagine the person as a golden statue. This should create a vivid image to help you recognize the person.

* Johnson - Imagine the person jumping on top of the sun.

* Rosenberg - Take a characteristic of the person named Rosenberg and turn it into an image. Then associate that image with an image of an iceberg with roses growing on it! This unusual image should definitely stand out in your memory.

* Shumaker - Think "shoe maker" ... Picture the person making a shoe. If this image is not vivid enough for you, imagine the person inside a giant shoe.

* Smith - If you can picture the person as a blacksmith, great. If this is not affective enough for you, try visualizing the person as someone from mythology.

* Thomas - Is the person Catholic? If so, remember that they must go to mass! (sounds like Thomas) If not, you'll have to either associate them with an image that makes you think of Catholicism or come up with a different mnemonic!

* White - If you are unable to do the obvious (associating the person with the color white), try thinking of height (which rhymes with white). If the person is not already very tall, imagine how he or she would look if (s)he were six and a half feet (two meters) tall!

Some additional tips:

* Learn as much information about someone as you can before you meet him or her for the first time. (Gruneberg and Herrmann, 1997, p. 35-35)

* Repeat the person's name aloud after it is said to you.

* Comment on the name, or ask how (s)he got it or how to spell it (if appropriate, of course). This helps encode the information into your brain. People usually appreciate your interest.

* As you are leaving the person, say the name aloud again, "Good-bye, Heather. It was nice meeting you."

Combining these tips with the visual association work very well. It's okay to look for physical features or personal characteristics while with the person, but it's best to come up with your exact visual association after you have left the person.

[Ijustwannateach]

Useful tips, Pumpuiman, thanks!

[pumpuiman]

Useful tips, Pumpuiman, thanks!

mai pen rai khrap

(forum rules require translation I believe......"ain't nuttin' but a thang" or "fahgett about it" (with Brooklyn accent)

[keddy]

Useful tips, Pumpuiman, thanks!

mai pen rai khrap

(forum rules require translation I believe......"ain't nuttin' but a thang" or "fahgett about it" (with Brooklyn accent)

Just take a photo of the whole class holding up their names on cards and keep it on file.

[toptuan]

I opt for individual attention. Time-consuming but 100% effective.

I'm at my school for the long term, and have my students up to a full four years before they graduate. I make a point to spend as much time OUTSIDE the classroom with the first-year students to get to know them: class functions (parties, outings, etc.), eating lunch with 2-3 students at a time, lots of chit-chat when I see them on campus, etc.

I also interview each new student, privately, in my office, for about 15 minutes at the beginning of their study with me. This is so important to me, I cancel one or two classes the beginning of each term in order to accomplish this.

When you get to know students as individuals--their hopes for the future, their friends, their family situation, etc.--it's amazing how the names seem to stick automatically!

Previously, I've taught at the "big factories"--vocational schools (upper high school) where you have 15-20 different classes a week, with up to 700-800 students weekly. In this case, you certainly cant' get to all of them, BUT you can make a difference in the lives of 200-300 you CAN get to know!

[DaiHard]

I get my students to convert their names into phonetic text using the IPAthen I not only remember them but can prounce them too