Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Valora]

How many of you have cameras in your classrooms?

The school that I was at (Hello English near Migeum Station) used web cams to spy on their teachers.

These cameras broadcast both picture and sound to the director's office. This was rather pointless since the director only spoke about 5 words of English.

She would use the camera system to scream at the students and teachers in Korean. At first I was scared to death, I hadn't even noticed the camera at first and when she screamed at a student for sleeping I nearly jumped out of my skin. Eventually though I just talked back to the camera saying ' I'm sorry I don't speak Korean I don't know what you want' Then I rearranged my classroom and sat where the camera couldn't view me but could here my teaching.

Is this normal for hagwons? The director of this school was a real witch and frequently made things up to dock teachers pay.

Any thoughts

Valora

[Skarp]

I wouldn't stand for webcams or spying on teaching....

Once you're working in a place, well it's hard to change stuff.

But I'd always try to see round a place before signing anything.

I'm curious to see how many and which places do this...

Skarp

[Derrek]

My school has them, but as far as I can tell -- they never look at the monitor. It's on such a wide angle, I don't see how they could notice much anyway. Those cameras don't have very good resolution.

Of course, I have 3 Korean teachers in the classroom with me. They always handle the really tough policing.

[William Beckerson]

My first school had cameras in the classroom and the moms watched the video feed (no sound) through the internet.

Which meant that every time precious got tossed out of the room when they told me "Puk you" mommy would call up the school's director demanding why I was being such a meanie.

But everyone in Gangnam are wealthy scumbags anyway, and I'll never teach there again.

[justagirl]

Kid's Herald in Cheonan has a camera in every room, and all 9 tv screens are in the lobby! The parents can come in and observe everything. While I don't have a problem with parents observing how their child is taught, I would NEVER feel comfortable being video-taped every day in the classroom.

justagirl

[some waygug-in]

While I don't have cameras, I do have parents dropping by to observe my classes from time to time. Last week, I was repremanded for "sitting down" in the class. I had been playing a card game with the students.
Oh well, c'est la vie.

Once I had to do a special demonstration class, where the parents came to watch through the big glass windows. Yikes!! The classroom had no whiteboard, only half the kids brought their books. I tried singing some songs, nobody would sing. I tried doing some worksheets, they just all ran around taking turns ddong-chimming me. It must have been fun for the parents to watch!!!!!!! Finally, I did what any self respecting waeguk would do, I played BINGO

I was never asked to do a demonstration class again.

Cheers

[captain kirk]

if the camera feed was sent by internet to the homes of parents so mom can watch class, then i'd be 'concerned', i guess. but then again maybe it would just be something i'd get used to (and so would the parents watching).
i've never worked with cameras in the room until now, and have 'been observed' for seven months. nobody, nobody, really gives a damn. if i leave the room to make xerox handouts while the kids wait, i point at the camera and say, 'don't be crazy, i'm watching you on the 'om-ah' camera'. that is, and they know it's not true, the camera 'also feeds' to their mom's tv at home. while at the xerox machine, i can watch the kids on the tv in the staff room. and if they're too rowdy, i rip in and settle them. then get back to copying. it's really useful if it looks like a storm is brewing and two kids might, in that climate, insult/tease/somebody starts crying.
the cameras and management? the daughter of the boss uses the computer in the staff room to chat and looking left can see the tv. the tv switches from a three second view of my room, then to a three second view of the korean teacher's room. the korean teacher has been there for almost two years. i've been there seven months.
basically, i use the camera. and if it's not on i turn it on. to see who's waiting for class to start, if it's full yet, time to head in or not. and watch for yahoos when i'm out of the room. no problem.

[William Beckerson]

[The Lemon]

I *might* be ok with it if:

A. audio is also provided
B. a full-time, competent, English-Korean translator interprets what is said for each mother.

If either of the two are missing, no way. You're just setting yourself up for a fall.

[McNasty]

There are cameras in every room at my school.

At first I was uncomfortable with them but now it doesn't bother me.

There is sound as well and the parents(mostly mothers) watch the camera.

I know it's used to monitor both the teachers and students.

But as long as your teaching and not goofing around the management doesn't bother you.

Intrusive? Yes.
Does it keep parents from peeking into the classroom window? Yes.
As long as it keeps nosey parents from gawking through the window, I'm happy.

[Corporal]

I wouldn't work with cameras watching me.

On the other hand, I rather liked it when I caught parents and other students peering through the windows. I simply stopped talking and stared at them. Everyone else in class then looked where I was looking. The peeping Tom usually disappeared pretty quick.

[bucheon bum]

i've had cameras in the classrooms at both hogwons I've worked for. Hasn't been an issue at either one. I forget they exsist 99% of the time.

[Gord]

[The Lemon]

[Corporal]