Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Kiddirts]

My hagwon director has me teaching 12 and 13 year olds...but here's the deal...I have 13 of them in my class. It's packed, I can't control it....and worst of all, my hagwon director prides himself on this being a strict hard-working academy with no games and no-nonsense...so I can't have fun with the kids. I have to work them hard and test them repeatedly. They hate it and they hate me. They are kids for christ sake...they come out of 7 hours of regular school and don't have the attention span to deal with a foreign teacher who speaks no korean. So they misbehave like crazy, constantly talk over me, and I'm constantly yelling throughout the entire class, it's insane...they ARE TERRIBLE. 13 kids in a class!! I try to talk to my director and he doesn't understand. Worst of all, the kids will lie to their parents and the secretaries and complain about me when I have to disipline. I CAN'T WIN and I am HATING it. What can I do? Trust me, teaching this class ain't worth 50,000 won an hour...and that's more than twice what I'm actually getting...HELP!!

[steroidmaximus]

percocet / demerol in the cool aid

[ulsanchris]

Get the biggest meanest kid to be the class monitor. Let him get the other kids into line. Never done this myself but it might work.

[itaewonguy]

just give them 5-6 pages to do of work..
set the work then just sit back and watch them..
dont worry about buring through the books so fast..
at least it will keep them busy.. and if they talk and stuff..
SO BE IT>.. just let them..
its not your school and the kids will like you..
WHO GIVES A @#$~~ if the director is going to be a !@#$ then show him a !@##

[VanIslander]

Ah ha! We get to the heart of the matter. It was hard to sympathize when you wanted to up and quit over fluctuations in your working schedule, but it's easy to empathize with your situation now. Man, you got it tough, like others of us do, but more intense. No games? That's insufferable.

Okay, you feel like it's so bad that you may quit. Well then, tell yourself the director can go to Phuket and use games anyways, guerrilla tactic style.

Make a game out of appearing not to be playing games. Let the students in on it. Give points for various activities that seem like straight work, like repetitive pronounciation exercises, and let the winners get first dibs on candy at the end of class. Tell your students they are "games" but tell your director they are "review exercises".

Be a good teacher instead of a good employee, if it's impossible to be both.

What have you got to lose?

[rapier]

If i were you, write down all the problems you're having, and the some suggestions for a workable solution. get a korean friend to write a translation and give it to your boss. at this stage, it sounds like the best means to clear communication and an improvement in your situation. You obviously need smaller class sizes straight off.
Then give some time for steps to be taken, worthwhile support, and positive changes. It sounds like at the moment all your boss cares about is filling classes and getting money. he needs to relise that a workable programme requires good communication, mutual teacher- director support.
If that doesn't work, give your notice to quit. Its amazing how this gets them moving. If you're still unhappy, leave and find a new job.

[jajdude]

Any chance you could give them "word search" puzzles? Or maybe play "Bingo" as it does involve some English? Well, maybe not much. I guess having fun is out of the question even if they'll actually learn something! Crazy ideas regarding kids and learning a foreign language. Thank you enlightened hagwon "educators" everywhere!

[captain kirk]

really, usually if you just follow what the boss says and ignore your own instincts which are screaming in a full bore howl from day one...but you don't; get pushy and rammy and hysterically corner the boss and spell it out in bold, capital, flaming tatters of phosphorous. it takes enormous energy blowing out setting his highness on track, because he thinks he's the boss and teachers are retards, or something. he has a lot to do and, maybe, concentrates on APPEARANCES; "this hagwon is serious, and where every parent gets their money's worth". the only course is to do what gets some interaction in english. the boss will have to catch up later. because students will leave. and then he gets irate. and it's the teacher's fault. go figure!

[jajdude]

You know,

Kirk has a point. Just do what you want if you hate it anyway. What could happen? Oh you get fired? Maybe good! Then asshole boss may not provide release letter. Man you'd think they'd understand keeping the kids a bit happy is important.

[Arthur Fonzerelli]

welcome to hogwans korean style....

[Kiddirts]

so if i do what I want and get fired, I may not get a release letter...to do what...sign with another Hagwon, Korean Style...what's with the release letter anyway, always wondered about that...does that mean I can skip around dodgy style and make 4-5 million a month doing part-time gigs and fly to Thailand every 3 months like some other people I'm a bit envious about.

[Homer]

Oh no, the fabled people who make 4-5 million a month and take vacations every 3 months...
Hey, K-dirt...ever hear of fishing stories?

[Saxiif]

drink more beer
beer always helps

seriously, don't let the creeps get to you just fantasize about the torture that is awaiting them in their two years of national service...

[ratslash]

13? ah, bless. try 20.....

[K-in-C]