Some things that I have changed include:
-Handouts in class with main points from lesson
-Skits instead of group presentations
-At least one game/activity per each 45 minute period (each class is two 45-min. periods)
-A midterm exam and a final exam instead of three short quizzes
-More general knowledge instead of very detailed/complicated information (some lessons on government, politics, history were simply too tough and I lost them)
-Work on simplifying my vocabulary (or at least explaining some of the bigger words more often) and slowing down
-Relate/compare topics to China (great advice from Zhen Zhen who said that if the students don't have something that they are familiar with to go on, they will be completely lost)
I came up with these changes by talking to past students who had taken the course (Zhao Min, Qin Chen and Zhen Zhen) as well as by reading my evaluations that previous students completed after taking my class last spring. Some of them are helpful and some of their suggestions are completely useless and/or cryptic (although keep in mind that they have to do them in their 2nd language). Overall consensus included a hatred of exams, that I should talk less and let students do more and the need for me to slow down and simplify things.
Here's a few examples:
What did you like about the class?
"playing games" "active atmosphere" "activities like listening to foreign music and learning to set a table are my favorite" "not very interesting but ok" "favorite activities is the small games during the class" "I feel freedom in the class" "it's very interesting and funny and can improve our English. My favorite topics must be music, system of government and scenery of country" "class is vivid but the content taught in class is so boring" "class is ok but I don't like the course because there are two books with a lot of words" "I like many activities in the class such as listening and singing songs, place setting and silverware and decorating the eggs" "Sarah's smile" "I like the group activities and cooperation in three or four people" "the teaching way, the atmosphere is very excited"
What didn't you like about the class?
"I didn't like to much quizs" "test- it makes me nerves" "something we learned is a little boring" "Wales - I have no interest in it" "we students were not very excited about it, maybe it is every Monday morning and we are too sleepy" "I don't like exams, students do not like it" "I think this class is not very interesting. We have to remember something about many different kinds of countries. It's hard. Because we don't touch these in our daily life. My favorite topics are food, fashion and culture" "We have to remember many places. And the names of the places are hard to spell and it's boring. What's more we should do a lot of noting" "the exam made me anxious" "the exam can be easier" "I don't like the exams because it is a horrible thing"
What do you think I should change about the class?
"maybe the presentation could be changed into a personal show" "slow down the speed" "I think you can put in a lot of famous topic in your class like the information about policy" "you can talk more about something interesting" "too many details to remember" "maybe you can speak slow when introduce the history, government of a country" "I don't know too many things about the West so when you taught something new to us I couldn't understand well" "this class is awesome and I like you very much, tip: for Chinese students you should remind them of taking notes" "more movies and less examinations" "go outside together and play some games" "I hope you can teach us less quick and say them concrete"
How can I be a better teacher for you?
"maybe it's good to make a concise conclusion at the end of each class" "to know what we really need" "no test" "a better teacher is gentle, friendly, just like our friend" "just do it like now" "give us some information we didn't know" "teaching us more about the foreign life" "you are very friendly, you always smile to us and I can feel you try your best to help us" "talk with us more often" "when we meet some new words I want you to explain for us" "help us more with new words" "teach us about the western life and culture that is attractive to us" "actually you are a good teacher, you are kind" "you are good enough" "communicate with us more" "talk more interesting things"
So far things are going ok and since I teach each culture lesson a total of six times it gets better and better each time I do it. In addition, I have a really great group of students this year and everyone seems to be very respectful, hard-working and interested in Western culture and practicing English. The attitude of the students really makes the difference and I think this semester is going to be a lot of fun.
Sounds like the changes you're making are good but I'd be careful about taking too much from those course evaluations. It can be helpful to know what the students are thinking but often some of the things they don't like are actually good for them even if they don't like it. I think more quizzes/tests are good. There has been some recent studies about how test really ingrain information into students minds and that frequent test with a lot of overlap can help them not only remember it for the test but after the class as well.
Aha, "you are good enough." That cracked me up. Also, yeah, I don't really care about Wales either. :)