Korean Job Discussion Forums

[dmbfan]

Hey gusy, I need some objective insight (insite) here.

I am a public elementary school teacher, as some of you know. I've paid my dues in the hogwan scence as well. In regards to my job now, I still enjoy it. However, I feel like I am doing this all wrong.

1. I don't wear the suite and tie to work. I usually wear a clean pair of cargo khakies, a sweater, or perhaps a soccer jersey.

2. I don't decorate the classroom in English materials (not yet anyway) because.........well, I'm just not motivated to spend hours doing all of that stuff.

3. I don't spend more than 1 hour planning my lessons. I teach each class only once a week, so there is no point pulling my hair out. Besides, I focus more on speaking and language points then I do with grammar points...........

4. I am hard on my kids at times. When I catch them fucking around, I am on them like stink on shite. When they sit there, refusing to answer a question (eventhough one of the rules in my class is to say "I don't know" when they really don't know), I keep at them until they give me something......even when a tear may come out from a student.

5. I don't constantly shower them with affection, nor do I spoil them. I give them praise when it is needed, but I don't jump for joy when they do something that they should be doing already.

6. I always have lots of ideas to utilize my classroom, but that goes back to point number 1. I would like to do the "wall of shame", "wall of fame", "word of the day", "phrase of the day"..."question of the day"..........but I just can't get myself to do it. I mean, I feel it is a wasted effort many times.

7. I enjoy the job, but I don't put up with as much crap from the kids as I used to. In fact, I don't mind the fact that some of them may be a little afraid of me........ I like the idea of keeping them on their toes.

8. I always pick on the boys, because for the most part, out of all the worthless ones, the boys make up the majority. I call them the "chicken drivers".............


So, am I wrong? Do I have any business in the classroom? I don't consider myself a "teacher", but more like an instructor. I feel I could do more, but I also feel it would be for nothing. At the same time, I WANT to do more, but I want my efforts to count for something.

Any advice?

cheers.

dmbfan

[blaseblasphemener]

Just my two cents, but for what it's worth:

-When teaching sucks, I find the thing that helps is to do something in your teaching that gets YOU excited. The excitement makes you a better teacher, a more positive teacher, and kids feed off of that. Just take one step to try something new in your classes. Bring in a movie clip. Start a blog. Do something you've never done, or the kids have never done. Kids really respond to unusual things. They just had boring things, and the kids that suck, hate doing the same things that have made them suck in the past.

-don't berate kids. For one, it doesn't work. Second, it wears the teacher down. The best Korean teacher I've seen never yelled. She was 100% consistent though, and any bad behavior meant being banished to the back of the class to do hands up or hands on toes. No drama, just a nod of the head, and they were gone.

-stretch yourself. You sound a bit bored, which happens to all of us. But, if you want out of that rut, you have to take the step to get out of it.

-stop with the uniforms. It's just not at all professional. It's like a big neon sign saying "I'm the clown foreigner, treat me differently". You don't have to wear a shirt and tie, but when I was 20 and working in a bank as a teller, but wore a shirt and tie, the customers just assumed I was the supervisor of all the 30 and 40-something women I worked with. And I look young for my age. Dress to Impress, if you want that.

Good Luck!

[twg]

I only consider myself a glorified babysitter, but....

[djsmnc]

[dmbfan]

Joined: 02 Nov 2006
Location: Killbox
Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2007 7:12 pm Post subject: Re: Am I doing something wrong?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I only consider myself a glorified babysitter, but....

dmbfan wrote:
1. I don't wear the suite and tie to work. I usually wear a clean pair of cargo khakies, a sweater, or perhaps a soccer jersey.

It depends upon your boss' desired attire, doesn't it? But if every one of your coworkers in in a tie, you should consider that a hint.

Quote:
2. I don't decorate the classroom in English materials (not yet anyway) because.........well, I'm just not motivated to spend hours doing all of that stuff.

Ehn, it'll take ten minutes to tape up some posters.

Quote:
3. I don't spend more than 1 hour planning my lessons. I teach each class only once a week, so there is no point pulling my hair out. Besides, I focus more on speaking and language points then I do with grammar points...........

If you got everything covered, then I don't see you needing to do more. I take something like ten minutes to prep, but I'm also working at a hagwon teach the same books I always have since I first got to Korea.

Quote:
4. I am hard on my kids at times. When I catch them *beep* around, I am on them like stink on *beep*. When they sit there, refusing to answer a question (eventhough one of the rules in my class is to say "I don't know" when they really don't know), I keep at them until they give me something......even when a tear may come out from a student.

There's not letting them get away with *beep*, and being a jerk. If you're an their asses to the point they're crying, you're slipping into the jerk realm. But if they don't want to talk, try to cajole them, but be friendly about it.


Whoa, hang on there. Don't put words in my posts. I keep at them by repeating the question until I get an answer. When students want to play the game of wills, rather than just say "I dont' know", I keep repeating the question.............that does not constitute being a jerk. My students know that rule.
Quote:
5. I don't constantly shower them with affection, nor do I spoil them. I give them praise when it is needed, but I don't jump for joy when they do something that they should be doing already.

Saying "Good job" or "great" after they do something wont kill you. It's kind of polite.

Yeah, no shite. But, I dont' constantly give a "Good job" for something they should already know.

Quote:
6. I always have lots of ideas to utilize my classroom, but that goes back to point number 1. I would like to do the "wall of shame", "wall of fame", "word of the day", "phrase of the day"..."question of the day"..........but I just can't get myself to do it. I mean, I feel it is a wasted effort many times.

Then don't

Quote:
7. I enjoy the job, but I don't put up with as much crap from the kids as I used to. In fact, I don't mind the fact that some of them may be a little afraid of me........ I like the idea of keeping them on their toes.

8. I always pick on the boys, because for the most part, out of all the worthless ones, the boys make up the majority. I call them the "chicken drivers".............

Uhhh... maybe treating them like *beep* isn't the best motivational approach. They're kids, not army recruits.

Again, putting words in my posts? Who said anything about "army recruits"? Who said anything about treating them like shite? I dont' teach at a private school where I only have 10 students in a class......I have no less than 35..........there is a difference in classroom managment.

Quote:
Do I have any business in the classroom?

Judging from your post, I'm going to guess that you don't think so.

I asked for objective advice or thoughts, not to have someone put words in my posts, or to make assumptions.

[xtchr]

[quote="dmbfan"]
2. I don't decorate the classroom in English materials (not yet anyway) because.........well, I'm just not motivated to spend hours doing all of that stuff.

Any advice?

cheers.

dmbfan[/quote

YOU don't have to spend hours decorating the classroom. Maybe make it a project for the kids to do, and little by little put their work up on display around the room.

[twg]

I'm not interested in some ego contest with you, but...

[trinity24651]

Learn how to use the quotes!!

[dmbfan]

I'm not interested in some ego contest with you, but...

Quote:
I asked for objective advice or thoughts, not to have someone put words in my posts, or to make assumptions.


No assumptions or additions to your post have been made. These are responses to your own descriptions of your classroom activities.

But if you don't like the advice given to you, next time you just tell us what you want us to say to you. Easier for you that way



What? Nobody is trying to have an ego contest with you. I realize that my post was and is open to different sorts of responses, but not invalid assumptions. You chose to make up your mind that I treat my students like shite, but that is not the case. I don't know what hippie compound you grew up in, but holding out until a student gives some sort of response does not constitue being a jerk........it means that he/she knows the rules of the classroom, and simply sitting there is not going to cut it.

Yes, you did add somethings that were not mentioned........"Army reqruits".

Look, I don't claim to be some ESL armchair general, who knows all and sees all. And as far as your comment of But if you don't like the advice given to you, next time you just tell us what you want us to say to you. Easier for you that way[/b]......................

.........dude, **** off. You did not really give me straight up advice, without snipe comments and assumptions. Clearly, you must be the perfect teacher, right?

dmbfan

[Junior]

You sound like a fairly Ok teacher. And refreshing for you to expose your methodology to public scrutiny.

you sound probably better motivated than myself. I'm hardly committed- i just do it to make money and travel. Although at times I am outstanding, I generally don't put in the commitment I should out of laziness. If kids act up I either make them stand in the corner, confiscate things or shake them by the ears. I don't make them cry if they don't know an answer, although I will force them to pay attention in future.
I'm a kid at heart so I probably set a bad example by acting up myself a bit much. having fun at work is more important to me than getting my kids "A" grades.

I respect those who really want to teach and apply themselves to improving constantly though. But for me, its a case of doing this while I prepare my route into doing what I really want to do. Cutting down on hassle is a priority, so i don't go the extra mile much.

[dmbfan]

[PimpofKorea]

As long as the money is flowing in......everything else is secondary.....

[ajgeddes]

[ajgeddes]

[PimpofKorea]