Korean Job Discussion Forums

[nicholas_chiasson]

-today my 1st grade high school class hit a new low
-Pointing to male student in a co-ed class
"Is he a boy?"
No answer
"Is HE a boy"
No answer
"IS HEE-HEE a BOY! A BOY OR A GIRL!?
At this point...my co-teacher seeing I was going to eat one of the students alive jumped in and said something in Korean...
Entire class replied
"A boy!"
--What have they been learning in the last 10 years of English class?--I could answer that question in 5 languages...
On another note...what would the level of students be who had trouble with such a question?

[nomad-ish]

^ i bet 100,000W a few knew the answer, they just didn't want to "stand out" of the group by answering you.

[LostinKSpace]

Sounds pretty typical, if you had used male or female well you would still be there now.

[Saxiif]

I have 6th graders who read Steinbeck
And understand it

[Hank the Iconoclast]

[ardis]

I feel you. Yesterday, I was explaining a worksheet. It was simple, straightforward stuff, and my previous MS 3rd grade classes had been fine. But this one class just didn't get it. They stared dumbly at me and then at the paper, then at each other in confusion. They've taken English for how long and they don't understand the phrases, "Write the number", "What is next?" and "Work with a friend"? The co-teachers always jump in and explain everything. The K teachers baby these students way, way too much.
It's like when I ask if they have any questions at the end of each section. They stare. Then the K teacher asks if they have any questions in Korean. Then they all go, "Aaaaahhhh...." They don't even know the word "question"?? Gaaaah!!!

[Hank the Iconoclast]

[ardis]

[Yu_Bum_suk]

I'm not lying when I say my students range from genius to retard. Today I was teaching my new grade one HS vocational class. I was going over the simple past, present, and future of 'to be'. After reviewing conjugations I gave them:

Complete the following:

1. In the future, I __________ older.
2. Most of my classmates _____ 18 years old.
3. Yesterday my teacher _______ happy because we studied hard.
4. Next year we ___________ in grade 2.
5. You _______ always so kind.
6. I like X-men. They ______ so funny.
7. When we were 10 years old, we _________ in elementary school.
8. _______ you happy last Christmas?
9. Right now, we _______ all together in our classroom.
10. Next year, a Korean ___________ in outer space.


At least half of them had no clue whatsoever even though I had gone over every conjugation, written them on the board, given them a sheet of past, preent, and future conjugations, and done the first few questions with them as a class. They're in their sixth year of studying English at public school.

This morning one of my academic students who graduated in February emailed me asking to correct this:

University is different from high school system. First of all, unlike high school, there are majors in the university. If anyone is interested in literature or language, he or she can major in Korean literature, English literature, Russian literature, or French literature. Also, if anyone is interested in law, he or she can go on to law department. So, students can choose the major according to their interest, and they can concentrate on that subject. Additionally, Unlike high school, students have to make their timetable by themselves in the university. High school students need not make their timetable by themselves. Because, teachers make their timetable instead of them. So, they have to follow teachers' decision. But university students can do by themselves, provided they have to take more than 15units, below 18units. Of course, a unit limit is different every university. To sum up, university gives more freedom to students and equally responsibility.

How do you teach a class that has students like her, who can write better than the Korean English teachers, sitting beside others who have given up years ago? Welcome to the world of English education in Korea.

[KYC]

4th grade Gyeonggi lesson 1 "Nice to meet you"
the CD shows minsu introducing his mother to his teacher, Mrs. Green.

Me: Minsu introduces his mother to Mrs. Green. He said, "mom, this is my teacher, Mrs. Green."
Me: Introduce me to your homeroom teacher
them: "mom, this is my....
Me: MOM? Your mom is here???

[mrsquirrel]

I have been having one of those weeks as well.

Had a few plus moments.

I am now having to travel to different classrooms in the school rather than waiting in the EZ.

Twice now a group of students in 2-6 class have tricked me into going into their classroom and setting up. They all had their English books out waiting. Then of course the science teacher comes in and looks as confused as I did.

First time they just grabbed me and dragged me into the room.

2nd time the did a dance = mrsquirrel, mrsquirrel time to teach english. - it had arm movements as well.
Thought that I must have misread my timtetable again and foolishly went in and setup.


Also had a great moment when one of the naughty boys in class tried to insult one of the girls

he stood up and shouted out "Teacher" then pointed at a girl and then shouted " I am gay"

Poor fucker. All the kids looked at him and burst out laughing and start pointing at him calling him gay.

Oh to be a retard.