Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Lao Wai]

Hi,

I've written a few times about my terrible experience working in a public school in Hong Kong in terms of poor student behaviour and how I thought that students in Canadian public schools were much better behaved. Meanwhile, other Canadians made posts that stated Canadian children were horrible, drug using, rude, etc. I then wrote that once I returned to Canada to teach I'd make another post to see if I still believed that Canadian children were better behaved.

Well, I've been substitute teaching for about a month now at all levels (K-12). I've been working at schools all over the city. I have to tell you, the difference is night and day between student behaviour in Korea/Hong Kong and Canada.

We all know that substitute teachers do not get the highest respect from students. I have not had to yell at any class, even once. The elementary kids line up in the classroom, WALK in the hallways, use indoor voices and raise their hands. Why? Because these behaviours are drilled into them from Kindergarten and reminders are posted all over the classrooms! The 4-5 'bad' students in each class were more like my 'regular' students in Hong Kong and Korea.

Now, my high school teaching experiences are what really blew me away. These kids also raised their hands, were polite, and did their work all class. I could not believe it. They sat through an hour long class doing their work. The room was silent as some listened to their Ipods as they wrote. (I know they were working because I circulated around the room to check).

This is not to say all of the kids are perfect. Some of the kids who are on Special Education Plans (SEP) can be a handful but many of them have a Teacher's Assistant working with them. So, if they get to out of control they can be removed from the classroom until they regain control.

I should also state that I'm working in New Brunswick. Maybe it's not the same situation in Ontario.

On another note....when I was subbing in a Grade 11 English class I was doing the attendance when I came upon a Korean name. So, I read out his name. He said 'here' and then 'wow! you're the first teacher who has ever said my name correctly!'. I then told him that was because I lived in Korea. His English was really good...no accent really, just a few minor errors in his speech. I can see why this is the case. New Brunswick does not have many minorities (this is changing though) so most of the students in the school only speak English. I noticed when Jung Maeng (Korean kid) said the word 'fishes' two of his buddies immediately said 'Jung Maeng! It's FISH not FISHES!'. I guess there's nothing like social pressure in high school to make you learn English at an accelerated rate.

Anyway, I was concerned about substitute teaching because I had heard horror stories and I had remembered how we had treated substitutes when I went to school. However, I find that compared to my HK experience it has been smooth sailing. I just thought those of you who are considering teaching in Canada shouldn't be scared off by those that say MOST North American kids are awful.

[crusher_of_heads]

Substitute teaching in ONtario is a cakewalk-never had any problems.

Try teaching lower lever grade 10 bottom feeders every day.