Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Dan]

I don't get that at all. I mean they're kids. they don't know enough about life to know what is proper and improper. Ohhhh, those kids were happy when the WTC was attacked. so what, they don't know enough to feel sympathy.

I know a lot of you also hate the harpoon/kancho thing, but you know, in their own way, its a sign of affection. because they are saying they know you well enough to do something that nasty. not that i enjoy it at all, but then i only had that happen one time, and the rest of the kids ganged up on the kid that did it and told him how rude and gross that was.

and just remember, at least they're not bringing box cutters and .22s to school ^^

[eamo]

I agree.

Our kids say the most gross insults in a form of joking. Yet, it is a joke and they don't really mean it. After all, they are kids..

[Zed]

I think I'm offended at the parents when these kids say these things. Why didn't I say such things when I was a boy? Because I was taught what was and wasn't acceptable.

Dan: This has only happened to you once and the other kids told the student off? Are you in Korea? Or do you scare the excrement out of your students? If this doesn't happen to me 3 or 4 times a week I start to doubt my existence.

[Holyjoe]

But equally if they're going out of their way to communicate these "jokes" in another language then one could argue that they are aware it is offensive...

[Zed]

Right, that's why they don't say them to someone of their own culture ... like the Korean teachers. So then it comes down to a lack of respect for someone outside of their culture rather than a lack of knowledge of what is and isn't appropriate. I'm still pissed at the parents then.

[mongrel]

Zed, you're exactly right. The thing that can really annoy me is the fact that they wouldn't dream of doing it to a Korean adult. And also when Korean teachers just laugh and say " Oh he/she's so cute". It's not that bigger deal, but it's interesting that they feel that we're not worthy of the same respect as Korean adults. Also a fair indicator as to the attitudes of Korean parents towards us.

[Ilsanman]

Actually I often see kids here with exacto knives. I tell them to put it away, quite forcefully, but they don't seem to see a problem with having a knife.

I worry. These kids have proven they will cross the line that I never dreamed of crossing when I was young, that is, touching and trying to hurt a teacher. A few weeks ago, I got punched in the balls by some student, and he saw no problem with doing that. I don't want these kids having knives.

[Austin]

How do you present yourself to your students on a regular basis? Are you dressed casually, or are you dressed professionally? Do you manage your classes with an air of professionalism, or do you arrive late and unprepared? Can you understand your students, and can your students understand you? Do you pace your classes to perfection, or do you raise you voice and yell at your students every two minutes in an attempt to get them motivated and on task? Are you in control of your class, or is your class in control of you?

I only ask these things, because so many of the problems that have been listed in this thread can be associated with the points listed above.

If your students appreciated your ability and viewed you as an "awesome" teacher, I doubt you would ever encounter the things that many of you do. One only needs to reflect back on their days as a student to appreciate what I am trying to say. Can you remember the great teachers that you had? Can you recall the "bad" ones?

You figure it out!

[JackSarang]

No, its just disrespect plain and simple.

Learn a little Korean and you find out immediately the kids will say stuff to you that they would never dream of saying to a Korean teacher.

They have zero respect for foreigners, they simply don't consider foreigners as being people whom they need to be polite to and use polite forms of korean (chon dae mal).

My new school isn't so bad, but at my last school my kids called me every imaginable terrible korean swear word. And I'm not talking about "babo". I'm talking about being called the korean equivalent of a son of a biocth and a mutherfukker. They weren't joking either and these insults were in response to me simply telling them to do their work.

You know things like the poo finger are a joke, calling me a sshippalseki displays a fundamental lack of respect. If they even uttered that word in the presence of a Korean teacher, nevermind direct it at then, they would be beaten black and blue.

[Austin]

Sweeping statements do not paint an accurate picture.

Please, stating that Korean students have no respect for foreigners is plain silly. They may not have respect for you, but I have not experienced the kinds of things you were referring to in your post. However, I do not consider that my students are pleasant, because they respect me. They are nice to me, because they like me. The feelings are mutual. I love my kids, and I love to teach.

Just yesterday, I had one student in my class that was struggling to stay on task (he was talking with his classmate). I flashed the "yellow" card as a warning, so he knew what was next. Anyway, I could have moved him to another desk, and I would have if it had been an elementary class. However, since all I teach is middle school, I like to give my students a choice and a chance. He said he did not want to move, so I allowed him that choice.

After a couple of minutes he was back to talking to his classmate, so I had him take his chair to the back of the classroom and hold it straight out by the legs for five minutes. Do not get me wrong, all of my students know our rules. Furthermore, it was the first time all semester that a student has crossed that line.

After the five minutes, I asked the student to return to his desk. I walked over to him to ask him why he had been asked to hold the chair, and he began to cry. I got him some tissue, gave him a pat on the back, and let him know in Korean that it was not him but his behavior that was the issue. Again, do not get me wrong, I am very animated with my lessons, but I am very calm with the classroom management bit. The student was crying out of shame, as he had disappointed me. The rest of the period went great.

Right before the bell, I went over to the student and gave him a big "guy" hug to make sure he was fine. Granted, he was embarrassed, but he was smiling. He said he was sorry, and I told him that it was O.K.

Bottom-line, my students know that I care about all of them. The fact that I can communicate and interact with them in English and limited Korean is one thing, but having a great relationship with them is another thing all together.

[Zed]

Austin, I was going to ask you what ages you teach but you've answered that in your last post. I think with middle school kids obviously you wouldn't be dealing with the same physical assault issues that someone who is teaching 7-12 year olds is. I've never had that problem with any student in that age group but I certainly have been punched, kicked, had objects poked in my face (my eyes are one of the favorite parts of my body). I certainly understand another teacher being concernec about a student with a knife. You can't grow your eyes back and other damage would not be pleasant either.

As for dressing professionally, I don't wear good clothes to school because I got tired of replacing the damn things. It's a favorite pastime to come at me with a whiteboard eraser, markers that other teachers leave around, etc...Ties are ropes to climb on in the eyes of a kindergarten student. If I worked with older students I certainly would dress accordingly.

[William Beckerson]

[Gwangjuboy]

[Dan]

that is the stupidiest thing I ever heard Gwangju.

I never said that you should let the kids run wild.

Immature is when some kid says something and then the "teacher" comes here to b*tch about it.

What kids do is out of your control, what you do in response however, is completely in your control. If you can dictate the setting of a class, then you can command their respect by showing that you truly care for them, and thats not some big secret, thats true in education in any part of the world.

You can control a class through fear or through love. most people choose fear, but kids rebel at that behavior. or you can show them that you are there to work for their benefit, even if they don't want it, and they will respect you eventually.

[William Beckerson]

You forgot the part where they sing "To Sir, With Love" at you when you leave the school...