Korean Job Discussion Forums

[blaseblasphemener]

I gave snacks to some of my high school students in my hagwon today, and didn't get one thank-you. I was put off, but not surprised. When I talked to my Korean wife, she says teachers at her hagwon talk about the lack of thank-you's as well. One reason for it I think is that K-kids seem to get things with strings attached; it seems like in most cases, people do things here to get something, not just to do something nice. For example, whenever my boss asks the teachers out for a "free" dinner, it is nearly always followed with a request for something. It's so transparent, it's funny. With the kids, some do say thanks, usually one or two. The rest act like they had it coming. Of course, if they were a little smarter, they would know that it'll be a looooooong time until I give out snacks again, but just a little common courtesy could have gone so far. Teachers do have memories like elephants, after all.

[Pak Yu Man]

Start taking back your snacks. I bet they'll shower with "teacher thank-you. Very very thank-you, I luv u so muchee"

No manners=no treats ever.

[ipsofacto]

[Qinella]

I'm not joking about this, but our students usually say thanks even whenever I hand out homework to them. It's pretty funny. A lot of the middle schoolers even bow to me when they see me, but, again, it's nothing I or the other teachers would ever have requested. Polite kids..

[leebumlik69]

[yingwenlaoshi]

And sometimes they thank you without actually saying it.

And Asian culture. They don't want you to say thank you sometimes.

And sometimes the students are just not nice.

[rocklee]

My kids battle each other to read. So one guy says "Rock Lee sensei!! You are bely handsome!!!".

He got to read.

[leebumlik69]

[kotakji]

Yeah, this one is just purely cultural. My wife (half in jest) scolds me often for saying thank you too often (like when checking out at the local mart etc). As she says, it can be embarrassing to the recipient if you say thanks for a small thing because doing so would require some sort of reciprocation. Saying thank you just has a slightly different meaning in Korea.

[jaderedux]

Part of my first class in my middle school is saying please and thank you. Miss Jade no pencil....1. Me: Interesting how will you take notes. Student: Give me pencil. I walk away.

buzzzzzzz buzzzzzzz Miss Jade give me pencil please. Not exactly perfect cuz I hate give me but may I borrow is a bit much for some. But there better be a please and thank you lest Miss Jade's wrath descend upon you and my students know that sucks.

In my class they are callled the magic words. Please and thank you.

Jade

[Bingo]

I was considering posting on this very topic yesterday. Gave some students tangerines and not one thank you. But it's pervasive throughout Korea. Open a door for someone, or simply hold it after you've gone through, and wait for a kamsa hamnida. Ain't gonna happen. I simply say now 'Chonmanayo' (you're welcome) to get some response. They just look baffled.

Just another example of Korean cultural and social sophistication at its highest.

[mnhnhyouh]

[doggyji]

[kermo]

I give stamps in my class for participation. Lots of my students (college age) say thank you, which is lovely, but every once in a while one of them will really toast my crumpets and whine for more. Argh.

[Yu_Bum_suk]

I find I get quite a few thank-yous from my HS students but please is hard to get through, as they think 'give me' = 'jusaeyo'. It was most embarrassing last summer in Canada when a couple of my (16-17-year-old) students ran up the waiter at a nice restaurant after a meal once some other students had empiet the candy jar saying 'Give me candy!' We had a little talk about please and thank-you after that.