Korean Job Discussion Forums

[mcviking]

Hi,

I am leaving for Korea soon for my first ESL job in Busan and have enjoyed reading Daves's for the past few months. After reading quite a few horror stories about kids invading personal space (grabbing inappropriate areas) I am a bit worried that I will feel the need to kung fu someone if they grab my junk, which I'm sure is a quick way to deportation.

My previous career was in law enforcement and corrections. I have experience working with juvenile delinquents from inner city areas, so the question is will Korean kids be comparable or will I be adequately ready to keep discipline up and create an atmosphere designed for learning?


Any input would be great.

[asc422]

... ...

[Ya-ta Boy]

From my experience in two Korean high schools, I don't think American kids have anything to worry about in terms of being world-class challenges to work with. While the moodiness and surliness are present, it's at a much lower level than at home. Violence is not a threat.

The problems with classroom control will come mostly from the inability to communicate quickly and effectively in Korean. If I can suggest this: Avoid showing anger. If you are in control of yourself, you'll have a better chance of being in control of the unexpected situations that naturally arise when working with kids.

Good luck and don't worry too much.

[Yu_Bum_suk]

My very worst students couldn't hold a candle to American delinquents. Some of the 'worst' behaviour I've ever seen from my students involves such immaturity that it's hard not to laugh sometimes.

[moosehead]

yeah K students cry at the drop of a hat so just give them a dirty look, threaten to call MOTHER and wham, that's that.

no need to chokehold'em, shoot 'm in the back, shove a nightstick (or other inanimate object) up their private parts; those kinds of activities are reserved special for .........

oops getting ahead of myself there - forgot am not in America

[harlowethrombey]

not even close. I taught in a U.S. high school, too.
Some of my classes were the loaded classes (they throw all the kids with discipline problems (re: juvie) into one class). The kids in Korea and Japan dont know what wicked truly is.

Dont worry, no one here is going to scream obscenities at you, key your car, try to fight you, or any of that nonsense.

The other posters are right, the difficult part is just keeping them focused since, if they're low level, we sound literally like Charlie Brown teachers to them (and, to be fair, when koreans start speaking really fast, long sentences I tend to zone out).

[lifeinkorea]

I found showing some anger does help. The trick is to not move your body or limbs or else you will look like a sideshow to them and be entertainment. It's the only way they listen to me when they get rowdy.

Another thing I do is point directly at them during class, it singles them out and they don't like it. So, they do whatever I am saying to move the attention away from them. Of course, the leaders in the bunch use this as an opportunity to get on a soapbox and fool around, so I have to get the support from the others first.

It's a balancing act, 6th and 7th graders are the hardest, and the 8th graders are just completely stoic. They don't move, they don't talk in the way they are preoccupied. It's more like, "If you want me to really do what you want, you got to give me a reason. Otherwise, I am just going to sit here until the class ends." Reminds me of a huge Newfoundland dog my aunt once had. It would block the hall and not move a muscle.

[Ukon]

[Straphanger]

[antoniothegreat]

you will do great, because you are already accustomed to corporal punishment...

[Aelric]

Being in Middle School, I can't speak for sigh school kids, but considering the holy terror I know I was in middle and high school, I'd say these kids are angels by comparison.

In regards to showing anger, I have to say that raising your voice without actually sounding angry is the trick. Last year I had to struggle with just about every class I had when it came to getting them to stop talking to each other and listen. I made the mistake of sounding angry and the situation just got worse. However, raising your voice to a mild yell coupled with a stern (not angry) look can do wonders. Also, if a class is real bad, zero in on the worst of the bunch and send him or her into the hall to sit on their knees. It's a fairly standard punishment here and the example puts the rest in line fairly quickly and the effect lasts for a good week of two before they start testing you again.

One thing you should know before you get here, however, is that it's fairly common practice for the real teachers to give out corporal punishment. I would not suggest trying it yourself. I knew a guy that I didn't particularly like that got a bamboo stick of his own because the school let him, and he got a little too loose with it ("Test over, Pencils DOWN! WHACK!") and got his butt sent home after some parental complaints. On the flip side, I wouldn't try saving the world either, as that can make your co-workers turn a little hostile towards you. No matter your stance on it, I suggest neutrality.

So, in summery, you were a cop, or at least involved in law enforcement from the sound of things. This will be a cakewalk for you on the level.

[Straphanger]

[jvalmer]

[Straphanger]

[saw6436]

Just remember that Koreans are generally around 5 years behind their western counterparts. A 10 year old Korean boy has the maturity of a 5-6 year old in the west.