Korean Job Discussion Forums

Alyallen

This is at a public elementary school. Apparently the student suffered a head injury in a traffic accident. Currently, I have limited information about his aptitude and current class curriculum. And on top of it, it's uncertain if he will come to class or not on a regular basis or infrequently.

I worked with Autistic children in the past, so I think I could set up a program for him if necessary but does anyone know if the Korean public school system provides programs for children in this sort of situation? Has anyone been in a similar situation? What did you do?

Many thanks,
Alyallen

spliff · Joined: 19 Jan 2004 Location: Khon Kaen, Thailand

I have a few in my classes. My school has a program for them. They have spec ed teachers for them and they also try to immerse them into regular classes. Many don't respond or do anything in class but, I think they enjoy being there w/ the other students.

Alyallen · Posted: Sun Mar 04, 2007 9:05 pm Post subject:

kat2 · Joined: 25 Oct 2005 Location: Busan, South Korea

I have several in my classes at Elem. school. We have about 8 or 9 total at the school. There is a spec ed teacher, but they only spend a few periods a days with her. In my class, some of them participate as best they can. Some don't. I don't put any pressute on them, but do encourage them a lot when they do participate and always include them in activities. I don't call on them in class, but do expect them to participate in group activites.
In my classes, the best indicator is hwo the otehr students treat them. Some of the students, are given special treatment by the students and treatd like a baby or something different. Some of the students really aren't, and are always included and treated like any other student. I take my cues from this.

Cohiba · Joined: 01 Feb 2005

Alyallen · Posted: Sun Mar 04, 2007 9:29 pm Post subject: Re: Wait

kat2 · Joined: 25 Oct 2005 Location: Busan, South Korea

I think the best thing you can do is just be nice and supportive. All of my kids ,even the severely mentally handicapped ones say hi to me now (In english!). It always makes me smile and I really love teaching them. You could always talk to his homeroom teacher or the spec ed teacher. He may be able to do some parts of English well (like reading), but others not so well (like speaking) or vice versa. I would see if they have any advice.

Alyallen · Posted: Sun Mar 04, 2007 9:50 pm Post subject:

lowpo · Joined: 01 Mar 2007

Alyallen

ChuckECheese · Joined: 20 Jul 2006

I've never taught mentally impaired students, but I worked with many mentally impaired colleagues, staff members, and bosses.

pest2 · Joined: 01 Jun 2005 Location: Vancouver, Canada

In High School, I had a class with a mentally impaired English teacher. Well... psychologically...

One day, while discussing MacBeth, he stopped the class, pointed his hands at 45 degrees and 100 degrees, and said, I am a compass. Then, he started asking everyone in the class what direction he was pointing. All the students, who were completely lost, got the wrong answer (only a place inside his mind knew the right answer, at that point). Then, he just started shouting at everyone something fierce; asking them why they dont study geography more and English less... someone ran out of class after 5 minutes of this shouting and got the principal who came and took him away, still shouting.

harvid1 · Joined: 24 Jul 2006 Location: NY

My school doesn't have a program for them yet, but is looking into it.
For the most part it is an integrated classroom. I feel bad because they are put at the front of the classes and don't get to participate in much.

I try to encourage stduents as much as possible. As a result i've gotten quite the following. One boy comes into the office and tells me the english word he learned "black...... Pen." I tell him good job and he runs away. It's kind of funny.

Anyways this semester I have one class where one student just yelled at the top of his lungs randomly if no one was standing near them. So that took me by surprise. The co-teacher said the other Korean teachers just usually ignored him and kept on teaching. So that will be interesting...

Pa Jan Jo A Hamnida · Joined: 27 Oct 2006 Location: Not Korea

Yes. When I was at &^% and the academic supervisor and manager did not handle it well.

I had a young man in his early 20's who was mentally retarded. He disrupted the class by shouting and singing and his classmates were obviously angry and upset. I suggested that I teach him on a one to one basis but it was a no go. His parents paid and he was there for the month. It wasn't fair to the rest of the students, to myself or even him. He could not learn in a group setting.

Alyallen · Posted: Mon Mar 05, 2007 5:21 pm Post subject:

I still don't know if I will have him as a student yet but my coteacher did mention something to me. Apparently the school is building a room for this student which seems like a good idea, but I couldn't help but wonder why they they are building it NOW instead of doing it during the vacation. Korean planning, I suppose Rolling Eyes

In my own memory, I don't remember having a class with a mentally impaired student. I know that some (in the U.S.) are integrated into the mainstream classes but usually there is an assistant (or at least a plan in place) there to help but guessing by comments made by lowpo and harvid1 this isn't (always) the case.

Is this a situation where the students do or don't get services based on the individual schools? Wouldn't this sort of situation be important enough to establish some sort of overarching policy at the provincial or national level? I guess I'm asking too much....