Korean Job Discussion Forums

[IAMAROBOT]

I teach in public elementary schools in a rural part of Korea and I was thinking of giving the best students in my sixth grade classes some kind of English-related gift as a sign to have them keep up their studies in English when they go into middle school.

Is this a bad idea in every way? I'm worried about creating rifts after I leave this part of Korea. Or is it doable depending on how I present the gifts (I'm thinking in front of the class is probably a bad idea) and what the gifts actually are? What are some safe gifts to give to them?

[EzeWong]

Oh I don't think it's a bad idea at all.

I remember when I was in school I got a special gift from my science teacher, it was a magnifying glass. I was in love with science after that... small things go a long way when you're a child, and I think that encouraging them with a memento is a thoughtful sentiment.

I would just be wary about which kids you give it to. You know kids are senstive to who gets what and why they didn't get one... Just make sure to give it to the good students in private.

As for safe gifts... well Right now I'm packaging 24 bags of pens, chocolate, graphite, and stickers... I think you want to give them something English related but that's pretty hard. It's not like they're gonna flip their heals over a dictionary. How many students are you thinking buying gifts for? If its only a very few 10 or less, I think something personal would be nice. Maybe even something like a Mickey mouse key chain. Just throwing ideas out there

[Xuanzang]

A short, interesting English novel? I bought a few Roald Dahl`s off Amazon marketplace for my best students last year.