Korean Job Discussion Forums

HamuHamu · Joined: 01 May 2003 Location: Seoul

So the other day the 2 new guys showed up at our school, and of course, were sent to various classes to observe lessons. Yes, I know this is boring, having done it myself.

BUT anytime I have had to observe other classes, I have sat quietly off to the side and KEPT MY MOUTH SHUT. If the teacher involves me, I participate in the way I have been included. If I have questions, I either wait until the end of the lesson, or at an appropriate time during the class (the teacher has given the students time to work quietly and come to talk to me, or whatever).

Anyway, these two IDIOTS who came into my class the other day, sat down, and as soon as I said hello to my students, before I even had a chance to say "These teachers here are new at the school, say hello..." ETC, they started talking to each other LOUDLY. Now, I'm not in a large classroom, and they were sitting RIGHT THERE behind the students, and just started yapping to each other. ("So..how was your flight...ohya....I know, my meal sucked too!" "What about the apartment, is yours as much of a dump as mine?" "I wonder what the vacation schedule at Lunar New Year is like at this place?" and on and on). Regular talking voices, no attempt to be quiet.

I didn't say anything, (I honestly didn't know what to say...I was mostly just shocked, and didn't know how to handle it politely....I figured if I opened my mouth, something rude was bound to escape) -- but a few dirty looks were fired at them by me when (A) one of them LAUGHED out loud at a student who made a wrong answer in class, and (B) in a second observation lesson, he leaned over and gave a student the answer to a test question. Fortunately, he also had the decency to get up 10 minutes before class ended and make a bit of a scene by leaving, telling the students and I that as much as the material was fascinating, he felt his time would be spent in a more productive way.

What is with these people? Have you ever experienced this, or is it just my luck that the two rudest, most disrespectful loser teachers are now working at my school?

Daechidong Waygookin · Posted: Thu Dec 30, 2004 12:06 am Post subject:

Tell them to shut the beep up or get out.

And remember, give the the wrong advice on pupose. Mess with their lives in Korea. Tell them stuff that is guaranteed to get their lights punched out heheheh.

manlyboy · Posted: Thu Dec 30, 2004 12:31 am Post subject:

Compartmentalize. People who would act like that obviously don't get that some people actually like to take their craft seriously. They probably wouldn't even understand why you got angry with them in the first place. All hagwons have got people like those two guys. Doesn't mean they're necessarily bad people. In fact, I find those types more interesting to hang out and have beers with than your serious types who want to talk about work all the time. And remember that their shortcomings as teachers will make you feel a lot better about yourself! Wink

Yu_Bum_suk · Joined: 25 Dec 2004

Were they Westerners or Koreans? If they were Westerners I'd just let someone else teach them life skills the hard way and avoid making friends.

chronicpride · Joined: 16 Jan 2003

The Lemon · Joined: 11 Jan 2003

Simple. Like many (most?) people working in English classes in Korea, they're not teachers. When schools don't hire professionals (however you care to define that word), we can't be too surprised when those who do get hired act unprofessionally, as those guys did in your class.

They're in Korea for the one-year "see the world" lark. This isn't news.

mindmetoo · Joined: 02 Feb 2004

Are you that much of a wet noodle? Is it so hard to say "Guys, shhh." If they talk again, say "guys, get out of my class." If they refuse to move, find your director.

turtlepi1 · Joined: 15 Jun 2004 Location: Abu Dhabi, UAE

OP: not to slag you, but I agree. Why didn't you tell them to shut their bloody yap...I'm all for making the new guy feel welcome but this sounds like it went on for more than one class.

mithridates · Posted: Thu Dec 30, 2004 1:56 pm Post subject:

If somebody were to laugh in class and I were feeling testy I might do something like this:

The council members _____ their authority to go to war in spite of opposition from the peace-loving population.

A)Arrogated
B)Abrogated

Ask the new teacher which one is right, and to make a new sentence of his own with the correct answer. If he doesn't know the answer I would explain that that's likely what the student felt like when he didn't know...

Or maybe a French question for a Canadian. Depends on the teacher. That's usually more effective than just scolding them. However, if I didn't feel confrontational or was a bit tired I would just tell them to be quiet.

manlyboy · Posted: Thu Dec 30, 2004 6:01 pm Post subject:

schwa · Joined: 18 Jan 2003 Location: Yap

One new guy I had observing slept soundly throughout. (No, he hadnt just flown in, & honestly my classes arent that boring!) Should I have woken him? It was some months before he had a clue how to run his own classes.

eamo · Joined: 08 Mar 2003 Location: Shepherd's Bush, 1964.

One guy yawned and looked out the window a lot while observing me. He had a BA. Education from New Zealand and thought he had nothing to learn about teaching.

2 weeks later he's in big trouble for tipping an 11-year old boy upside-down and sticking his head in the trash can.

phaedrus · Joined: 13 Nov 2003 Location: I'm comin' to get ya.

chronicpride · Joined: 16 Jan 2003

manlyboy · Posted: Thu Dec 30, 2004 7:41 pm Post subject: