Korean Job Discussion Forums

[IncognitoHFX]

There are some students in my hagwon that are just... well, I've said it before. Unbearable. I'd give myself headaches, migraines, god knows what else trying to get through to this kids. I'd literally do songs and dances, bribe them, try to befriend them even, just so they'd get a crumpet of information out of my class (any class; this isn't a localized problem: they're at my hagwon because they were kicked out of all the major hagwons in the area and we don't kick kids out).

Anyway, I have kids that just won't stop doing bad things... I have one kid who is bordering 14 years old and he just marches up and down vandalizing things and being a problem. He has no respect or concern (or regard even) for any one around him, and does not fear any disciplinary tactic I can unleash. Sometimes I just flat out give up on him, and he leaves me alone... it's only when someone stops trying to teach him that he behaves himself. He's a smart kid too, just doesn't want to learn.

I have another kid who just sleeps all the time. He won't do any work, just plops over and sleeps pretty much everytime he's asked to do something. I usually spend all class waking him up, trying to teach him something just to have him fall asleep again. It gets a little ridiculous... and I have about four other little "problem children" I don't have the time to talk about.

So, I'm beginning to burn out. People keep telling me to focus on them more, to be more energetic, to prepare more, to do this; do that, et cetera. But as it is, I'm teaching for nine hours a day and prepping for 2-3 (I want more but I limit myself as I like my sleep and free time), and I simply don't have enough energy within myself to keep doing special things for every individual kid I teach in the run of the day. I want to just lay back and let the bad classes be bad classes without popping a blood vessel trying to get them to sit down and listen every day.

Some kids don't want to learn, and while I will still try with the youngest kids, the good kids, or the kids I simply like/think are amusing, I think some kids are just a lost cause and I'm already sick of trying so hard to meet up with them. Its just too taxing.

I just want to focus my energy on the kids that participate.

Am I in the wrong here? Has anyone else had a similar experience? Is it okay to give up on kids who honestly deserve to be given up on because of their behaviour?

I know in certain contexts this is perfectly acceptable, but I can see many parents complaining that their kid isn't learning at my hagwon and I can't exactly tell them that "your kid is an a-hole and I've completely given up trying to get through to them".

[crusher_of_heads]

I did so back in Ontario-best thing I could have done both for myself and ohter students in the class.

[Yu_Bum_suk]

I did when I worked at a crapwon, but at the same time I was making plans to get a real teaching job asap. In certain contexts I think it's perfectly legitimate when your not so much giving up, but no longer willing to tolerate teaching in a context where it's pointless.

[Morton]

I would suggest not to give up on them but not to tailor your lessons to them. Just stick to your lesson and if they don't want to participate, as your post explained, then don't force them.

Good luck.

[Katchafire]

I know how you feel. I've certainly had a fair share of 'those' kids in various classes too.
What I did (and you have probably already tried this yourself) was to come up with a reward system. But I turned it into this HUGE deal. At the start, I showed the kids that if they got 10 stars/points (whatever) in a lesson, they could choose one present from my Treat Box (which was a fancy looking cardboard box with a lid). In it I had filled it with cheap toys, cool pencils, a little candy, NZ bits and pieces that I have sent over now and then, etc etc. At first I gave kids points for just about anything that I was happy with, and would stop teaching now and then and 'Oooo n Ahhhh' over the points building up .. then stop at one or two who didn't have any yet (my target kids) .. and would sigh and say "Oh no" .. and genuinely look disappointed that they might not get to choose something. I swear - once those target kids saw their classmates (usually there were quite a few for the first few weeks) getting to choose something from that box that sat in plain view within the class ... I got a LOT more participation from them.
Eventually, I made it harder and harder to get 10 points - but the minute those target kids did something - even as simple as opening their book when all the other kids did ... I made a big deal of adding points next to their name, along with one or two others so it wasn't obvious that had been my intention all along.
As well as that, I would usually have 3 or 4 popular games to play at the end of a lesson ... I'd let one of the kids choose the game we'd play ... and I'd usually find SOMETHING that one of those 'target' kids had done so they could choose.
It starts out a bit costly paying for the gifts .. I'd spend about 20 - 30,000w a week .. but it was worth it to save my sanity!!

[htrain]

LOVE THE CHILDREN !!!!

[SeoulShakin]

Last year at my hogwan I had a sleepy student. It was my boss' son. He was in middle school, and slept all the time.

The best investment I ever made was in a little powerful watergun. Filled it up before class, and whenever he dozed off I sprayed him in the face, or in the ear, etc. He woke right up, was embarassed, the kids thought it was hilarious, and his father (my boss) said it was a brilliant idea and I should spray his son more often haha.

Not sure if it would work for you, but it did for me.

[ABC KID]

Op, I understand your frustration totally.
You ask whether you should give up on the kids that give you most trouble...
Some people will probably tell you that you should NEVER give up on kids and in a public school (in any country, not just Korea) I would say there is a strong case for agreeing with it. Probably if these kids have problems, others will already have given up on them. These kids sometimes become society's big problem of the future. Decent people (Teachers, parents etc.) should keep trying and trying whenever possible.

However, you work in a hagwon, where all bets are off and logic goes out of the window. They are run for the profit of the owner and anything goes. The odds are too heavily in the favor of the kids and their parents. If the kids do not want to learn, you cannot force them. You worry that the parents will complain if the students do nothing. Just argue that the kids have improved their listening skills by being in the same room as a foreigner!

Most students provide their own challenges. Bad behavior gets all the headlines but low ability students, high ability students, special needs students etc. all provide tests for the conscientious teacher. I think if you have problems, one of the best ways to approach things is to focus on minor things, little moments, small victories etc. Take things a step at a time. Some students suddenly turn themselves around (including their behavior) when you're least expecting it. The following thread gives a bit more of an insight into what I'm getting at, although it hasn't really dealt with behavior yet...

http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?p=1373477&highlight=#1373477

Hope this all helps a little...

ABC KID

[Ilsanman]

I did something similar and I got severely scolded for it.

Some kid kept dozing off so I warned him if he did it again, I would thow water on him. Just a 500 ml coke bottle cap's worth. Barely any at all. Well he threw a hissy fit, complained to his mom, etc.

[htrain]

[KYC]

[htrain]

[crusher_of_heads]

Water balloons work.


Also, blow up the balloon and walk around the class wit it. If kid continues to be a donkey, pop it right by his ear or face.

[OiGirl]

I once, about 2/3 of the way through the university semester, identified the two lowest students in the class. I targeted them for special attention, checking their work over BEFORE they handed it in for a grade, making sure they understood everything 100%

One bloomed and ended up with an A in the class.

The other came in late every day and got zeroes on the assignments I had planned to help her with. When I passed out grade sheets with letter grades 2 weeks before the end of class and hers was an F, she never returned.

Some you can help and some you can't.

[Young FRANKenstein]