Korean Job Discussion Forums

Darkness · Joined: 12 Oct 2006

Ok, so I have a couple conversation classes, and I have been talking to the kids about news, events in Korea etc. So I guess mothers have been complaining, fair enough, they're paying for this.

So I asked, what do you mean by conversation?

This is the response:

"you know conversation, repeat, then repeat to each other student...you know conversatoin"

"They only talk in Korean to each other, they dont speak in English and they dont listen to me, half the time"

"well just do conversation with them, ok"

"uh....ok..."

WTF?!?!?!?!!?

grainger · Joined: 21 Sep 2006 Location: Wonju, Korea

Try making up scripts of common social situations and having the kids practice memorizing them and work on their pronounciation. This should make the mothers happy.

Plus, just speaking about current events will have you speaking with only those kids that want to talk well the others goof off. This makes them all talk.

Darkness · Joined: 12 Oct 2006

Great idea.....I'll get them to memorize stupid crap! Then they can prove they learned something....

THANK YOU!!

I'll search the net for talking, and print it off....

Boodleheimer · Posted: Thu Feb 22, 2007 5:09 am Post subject:

a good summary of English education in Korea!!!

but maybe to make it less Confucian, you could test them in a creative way where they actually have to think critically... if possible.

Darkness · Joined: 12 Oct 2006

Well I try to get them to think, I ask them all sort so probing questions to stir up emotions, ie: Japan, abortion, gay marriage, etc....

NOTHING....

I'm not losing my job over these kids, so if the mothers want memorizing, that's what they'll get.

Not my job to change this society into a free thinking, free speaking like other countries....I neither have the time nor the patience for it.

rothkowitz · Joined: 27 Apr 2006

Your job is to be weiguksaram.

Darkness · Joined: 12 Oct 2006

amen brothah!!

chachee99 · Joined: 20 Oct 2004 Location: Seoul Korea

The mother obviously thinks all English speakers talk the same. Typical Korean logic. "Hey, we can memorize English, can't we?"

I do take her side about kids speaking Korean to each other. She has every right to be upset about that! It sounds like you have some difficulties keeping the kids in English. Yes, I admit it is difficult to handle at first, but use some sort of positive motivation to keep kids speaking in English. Reward those who do and other students will follow. Make a game of it. Korean kids love to compete with one another.

Using scripts is a good idea. Also, I am not entirely against them memorizing them either. However, if kids do memorize scripts I expect them to actually to use some acting skills and put some emotion into what they are saying. This bland, mono tone, there i said it, doesn't cut it in my class. I want them to sound as real as possible.

Don;t worry you will get better with time. Good luck.

Darkness · Joined: 12 Oct 2006

I have had zero teacher training....I have NO idea what I'm doing.

I'm just going to find a couple text books for the conversation classes... was getting paranoid of getting fired.

What does it take to get fired anyway?

chachee99 · Joined: 20 Oct 2004 Location: Seoul Korea

Darkness · Joined: 12 Oct 2006

I thought that was a compliment....

chachee99 · Joined: 20 Oct 2004 Location: Seoul Korea

Then tell him he looks Japanese.

Darkness · Joined: 12 Oct 2006

that would do it....

seriously though what does it take to get fired?

chachee99 · Joined: 20 Oct 2004 Location: Seoul Korea

Seriously?

Break every clause in your contract. Come to work smashed.
Teach kids how to use the "f-word".
Greet your boss with the middle finger each morning.
Be late for class.
Take long lunch breaks.
Miss the toilet when you take a whiz.
Scratch your genetals before shaking hands with the parents.
Bad mouth the school in front of your director. (This works best when a parent is signing up their kid)
Hit on Korean women working there. Better yet, make up a rumour that you slept with her.

Getting fired is easy.

You just can't use them as a reference. Plus you can kiss your home ticket good-bye and possibly have to pay for your arrival ticket.

Darkness · Joined: 12 Oct 2006

Well I meant aside from the obvious, I mean from a teaching perspective...

If mothers keep complaining would they fire you etc? I'm not looking to get fired, just I have been getting ragged on lately with nothing but neg comments, NEVER a postitive one which Iheard is normal.

So I was just wonder what it would take to get fired....that's all