Korean Job Discussion Forums

[wanderingsalsero]

I'm moving on from my present high school in December to a middle school. I've been to the middle school and met some of the kids and I also interviewed at another middle school and met those kids too. And in both cases I was silently amazed at how different the middle school kids seemed from the high schoolers.

They were obviously younger but they didn't act so silly and stupid like lots of my high school kids act. They actually seemed, in both cases, like they were interested in having me there.

I couldn't believe I was in the same country because the kids seemed so different in attitude.

Could somebody give me some pointers, advice and/or their experiences working with both levels of kids (high school vs. middle school)?

Thanks,
Art

[Xuanzang]

Third grade of middle school can be bratty or very academic - depending. The kids working their butts off to go to foreign language high schools or the best high schools might be your best students. The kids bound for technical high schools and know it - your brats. The first grade still has some enthusiasm left from not being tested to death yet. I think it depends on the area and many other things

[ardis]

Your middle schoolers didn't act silly or stupid? Mine certainly do, and with good reason (they're in freaking middle school).

Anyway, first years (if you get them at the start of the semester) might seem fantastic. They're fresh out of elementary school and many are quite determined to do well. They volunteer and need little urging to participate. However, as the year wears on and they become accustomed to middle school life, they can turn into little monsters. This is especially true towards the end of the year, when they are about to enter second grade.

Second years...I don't often teach. I'd say they're the worst in terms of attitude, since they're kind of like the stereotypical unloved middle child. They break the rules more than the first years and aren't as serious as the third years.

The third years can swing two ways. There are those who are fantastic, since they are trying to get into very competitive high schools. They'll take notes in class and try to get your email/phone number so they can practice their English outside of class. When their classmates get too rowdy in class, they'll shout for everyone to just "shut up and listen!! The teacher is talking!" Alternatively, there are the ones that don't give a crap, will go to the local high school without attempting anything more ambitious, and will try to sleep their way through your class.

Even with the negative aspects, I prefer teaching the third years the most. While they may still be really silly and immature, they are a LOT more mature than the other years. They've also shown that they are more aware...as in...they realize that my family/friends live across the ocean, most of the teachers at my school don't speak English, adjusting to Korea is hard, etc. Many have been really thoughtful about it, which is something I rarely see in the second and first graders.

[sonicmatt]

i would have to agree about 3rd graders are good to teach, they got even better when I told them if they were bilingual they could make more money.

[Xuanzang]

Some of my best and former favourite students came from that cohort but then some of the lower level classes made me want to rip my hair out.

[VanIslander]

I agree with much of what's been said in this thread. For the last couple of years I've taught one class a day of middle schoolers at my hagwon, the last class of my day, the first of their three classes for the night at the academy, divided into high (A) and low level (B) and indeed 3A works hard and are wonderful to teach, 3B is a lot of fun and more relaxed, tailoring lessons to be more fun than serious. 2A and 2B are HELL, irresponsible, late, inconsiderate, just a bunch of don't care yahoos with some soul-crushed zombies thrown in.

I disagree somewhat with one characterization on this thread though, and that's the first year's. Keeners? Every single bloody past grade six elementary school hagwon student of mine has morphed in under a year into 1A and 1B middle school non-keeners. Sure, they are actually MORE polite and well behaved, but they obviously have lost their elementary school passion and lost-in-the-momentness, and are heartily in the goofing-off and joking with classmates phase. I am amazed at how much my students have changed, and not in a good way. Middle school must be absolutely awful based on its effects on my students. Then again, it could just be adolescence. Teenagers will be teenagers.

I live as a teacher in the joys and successes of my elementary school aged (grade 3 and 4 mostly) hagwon classes. They make my day every day. Dunno how you guys can teach teenagers all the time. Different strokes.

[Yu_Bum_suk]

It depends on whether you're talking academic or vocational / technical high schoolers. The smartest kids in a typical middle school class will be much smarter than any students in a technical high school. But there will also be a lot who are much lower. They won't be able to do many things you can do with academic HS students but generally won't be so worn out or sleepy, either.

First grade MS students are almost all enthusiastic but many start giving up in grades two and three. Grade 2s generally misbehave the most but are still fairly correctable. Some grade 3s really start developing a bad attitude towards school. All in all, if you have good support at your school MS students can be a lot of fun but if you don't it can be hell. You do have to be a hardass sometimes if you want to make things work - much more so than with academic high schoolers. You also have to plan lessons that engage students of a wider variety of levels. Students have more time for extra activitites so you may also have the chance to put together some interesting after-school or CA classes.

Oh, and if you think they don't act silly you're in for one major surprise.

[pkang0202]

Just to put it into perspective, Grade 6 Elementary students are absolute hell.

Maybe they calm down in 1st year middle once they realize they aren't at the top of the social ladder anymore.

I woud LOVE to see my grade 6's go to Middle School, goof off and have an introduction to the disciplinary teacher.

[Seoul'n'Corea]

[n�fara]

Not having taught high school, I can't really compare the two levels. But I have taught at a number of middle schools and I'd say it can really depend on what support you get and what your co-teacher(s) is/are like.

A positive outlook is important. Whatever happened last class stays in the past. Because middle school students change so much over the three years they are in school, it's important to develop an ability to relate to the students and understand that whatever moodiness they exhibit is more from them turning into teenagers than purely a reaction to you, your class and your teaching.

In the beginning, 1st years can be quiet and shy (that'll change, either for good or ill depending on how they are handled in class). They can be excellent students with the right guidance. They may not know as much as upper year students, but they may be willing to take more risks and have fun in class.

Some of my best classes are with 2nd year students. Sometimes you'll find students with a bad/negative attitude, but if you don't react to it or let it bother you, the students become more respectful and display less attitude because you didn't try to change them.
They can be very creative, able to use English in a more advanced way, and since they are not fully focused on studying for their high school entrance exams they can be more relaxed in class.

The 3rd year students I've found, in general, to be very tired. But maybe that's because I've usually only taught them in the second semester. With a good class atmosphere, they can be really fun to teach, since their level of English is usually much improved since their 1st year. They have a wide variety of interests, and if you have a confident bunch your classes can be really enjoyable.
However, on the opposite side of the coin, by this time they've had numerous tests, quizzes, and can in fact be over-studied and no longer interested in class. If the spark's not there, it can make for a difficult classroom.

On the whole I've enjoyed working in middle school. Second year's are my favourite, but I think that's because I've lucked out and had excellent teachers/co-teachers from the past guide my students into the great kids they are now.

[crusher_of_heads]

[Xuanzang]

Woooooooo!

[dhalgren17]

I'm teaching at a Middle School in Ansan. The school I'm at is definitely lower level and over half the 3rd level students are going to go to technical rather than academic high school. A situation like this means that the classes are total chaos. My co-teacher is a very young (25) girl and she has a lot of problem controlling the students. The 1rst and 2nd level students are really good, although the girls are always more motivated and interested in learning than the boys.
dhalgren17

[bundangbabo]

With middle school - you are coming in new - they are going to test you and your patience. Nifara is right - anything that happened in the last lesson regarding bad behaviour stays there.

You need to be like a platoon NCO in basic training - basically make them laugh, encourage them, take the piss out of them in a fun manner and be ready with the iron rod if need be.

They then get to know you and start behaving themselves - my 2-8 class - noisy little sods for the past 5 months sat quietly as I came into class - first time they have done that and I was touched! There are always going to be hard cases who can't stand you but hey ho! Thats life!

I had to go to a demo lesson in Pyongtaek and wasn't at my 2-9 class - who are beyond naughty though I do manage to get some headway with them but with a lot of effort (on my part) anyway I wasn't there and they asked my Korean co teacher why I wasn't there and she said that I had gone back to England for good - they started crying asking my co teacher if it was because I hated them and she said yes! Which made the wailing worse apparently.

Anyway - I was extra nice to them on my return!

[Faunaki]

My MS kids are a bunch of brats. After I got used to the fact that they are brats and they won't change then teaching became fun. I tried to change my students but felt super stressed. Now I go along with the flow and enjoy teaching them a lot more.

I've heard HS are better.