Korean Job Discussion Forums

[joshuahirtle27]

So I'm sitting at my desk in the teachers room minding my own business when my Co-teacher says, "we need to talk about 'Richard', his mommy complained that he doesn't think Wonderland is fun because he doesn't have any Dallants (that's wonderland Dollars for those at home and pronounced Talents for reasons) and the Teacher hates him." I was also told that I don't treat him the same as the other kids which makes sense... save some small facts.

Now this kid is dumber than a sack of hammers, and pays about as much attention in class as a vegetarian does to a nice thick steak. His traditional look is that of a deer in headlights and you couldn't coax an answer from him if he were to be given it to memorize and his only task was to spew out answers in numbered sequence. Thus his class participation marks are crappy.

I don't hate him and I treat him the same as I treat every other kid. The only difference is, he is bad all the time so he is rewarded less. He can't put the pattern together that if he's good in class and does his homework he wont lose Dallants.

So mommy complained and I had to talk to the overlord about this "problem". The solution we came up with was an award for "most improved student". We printed up a certificate and gave him some "money". The problem is he knows that mommy said something to the teachers so now I have to deal with a child who will not pay attention and doesn't have to for the sake of the all mighty dollar... or won.

It's a bit discouraging that I have to bend over to make this child happy... if one is happy the other ones won't be. It's an annoying cycle. Why is it that the parents don't question why the child gets rewarded less? Do they not understand the concept of reward and punishment? I can't wait until I'm a teacher back in Canada. At least I will be the one in charge of my classroom rather than someone else's mommy.

[Kimchieluver]

That reminds me of my former hogwan days. Whenever I disciplined this one kid buy taking away a yellow rabbit (and this kid was extremely bad). The director would give him 10 rabbits worth of stationery supplies. Not 3 or 5 rabbits worth but 10 rabbits worth. Finally I just started giving him yellow rabbits for nothing every now and then. Then the dink would trade them for actual toys from other students. However, the director, his mom were happy and so were the other students. Later he got pulled from the hogwan because his mom got his public school report card and did not like what she saw. The kid failed almost every subject. This is grade 4 we're talking about. His sister was smart though, but her parents pulled her too.

[yingwenlaoshi]

Reward systems are stupid.

[Whistleblower]

Korea, the country where black is white and where reward systems are useless and are not used what they are really used for.

[Tobias]

Sigh. Love those complaining parents. Or even students themselves.

There are people out there who've lost their jobs in these situations. At least you still have yours.

[yingwenlaoshi]

Do what I do and hold your hands over your ears and yell na, na, na, I can't hear you.

Talk to the hand. Not that anyone complains to me much, but it happens from place to place, time to time.

I don't want to hear it. Thankyoubye.

[joshuahirtle27]

I also have a kid on one of my classes who can't read Korean let alone function in an English classroom.

I just think it's funny that the only parents who haven't complained are my bosses who have a daughter that I teacher. Like I don't see how it is that they have nothing negative to say about me but dumb ass kindergartner parents wank on about how their little crotch spawn isn't getting rewarded for being a moron.

[Tobias]

If the offspring of the owners were to complain to their parents about you, the parents would lose face. This is because they hired you, after all. They'd look like idiots, and the offspring know this. Yes, they already know about face at their young age.

[moosehead]

with all due respect -

as long as you kowtow to the parents and the director and the kid - why are you on here complaining? if you can't stand up to them and explain that indeed, YOU are the teacher and this kid needs to shape up and grow right - well, really now, what do you expect?? honestly??

so people get a little upset - so the F what?? let them know this is not acceptable behavior - he gets treated the same as anyone else - you are the TEACHER - aren't you ? or not?

make up your mind already - it's YOUR decision you know -

[PaperTiger]

You care too much and actually think that you're going to make a difference in the Borg Collective mind-f8ck of Korean education...give the kid the damn points and call it day. Make a difference by making customers shut up and be happy. Buy yerself some beers and call it day.

[Tobias]

PaperTiger is right. I learned early on in my 'career' not to get too wrapped up in my students' affairs. So what if one isn't sucking the knowledge titty enough and will forever be a runt? It's not my worry. Besides, if you help such a student, it's not like he's going to send you Christmas cards each year for life. He won't give a *beep* about you.

Just do your job, don't get too emotionally wrapped up in your learners, and let 'em come around in their own sweet time. This is Korea, not the USA. What I mean is even if the kid does become an intellectual runt, he will be taken care of. These people watch out for, and take care of, each other, unlike we idiot Americans. Intellectual runts have job security here, unlike what we see back home. Shit, even veterans find themselves homeless in the land of the free.

[crescent]

That kid, if he's lucky, will have enough grade power to go to a low tier university. There, he will study freshman introductory English which is about the same level he is learning at right now.

In uni, he will have a spotty attendance record, no participation, and more than 2 chances to write each his exams. The excuse "I overslept" will be valid in exchange for one of those chances. "I missed my bus" will be another.

When he fails both exams, he'll plead for a better grade from the administration; a grade that better reflects his 'effort'. And, the administration will grant his request silently with no consultation to you.

Spoken from experience, (instructor, not student )

[bassexpander]

The best thing the school could do in this situation is say, "This institution rewards students for XXX reasons. We don't just give out rewards because the child is sad and feels left-out. The best thing may be for you to send your child to another school."

Then again, this is wonderland.

[joshuahirtle27]

Ha, I posted this on a Live Journal community. They assumed cause I'm annoyed with one of my students I don't make a good teacher. Well that would explain why ALL of my students (save the before mentioned Richard who has only improved marginally) have had their marks go up.

Just because I use some colourful language to describe a student on a RANTING website doesn't mean I'm a bad teacher it means I'm annoyed. Besides it's not my job to diagnose Korean kids with ADD (which isn't commonly diagnosed here like in NA)

It's funny that North Americans try to understand what other people are doing based upon their misconceptions and such. It's nice that a lot of them work menial jobs like McSlave or Wal-mart "employee". There's only one person on there that I've seen who has a real job.

[Rob'sdad]