Korean Job Discussion Forums

dmbfan · Joined: 09 Mar 2006

I can empathize with the OP.

I imagine its not the fact they are gretting you, but the way they say "hi".

"Hieeeeeeeee"............................ Rolling Eyes

I try to put a stop to that, right a way. I tell them it is better to say, "hello" rather then "Hieeeeeeeeee".

Then I ask who taught them to say "Hieeeeeeeeee".

It's a mystery.

dmbfan

tomato · Posted: Thu Apr 02, 2009 1:06 am Post subject:

Hello, KuroBara!

I thought about this thread yesterday when I arrived at the school.
All the kids were on the playground, so I had to answer a lot of hello's.

I have been on the job for about a month, and I am having to learn 118 names. When I greet students in the hallway, I test myself on the names.

I used to live in a small town. Every time you step out the door, you see lots of people you know. That created a dilemma: either you had to say hellohellohellohello or people would think you're snubbing them. To get around this dilemma, each individual in that town invented an individual greeting signal which he or she felt comfortable with. One person I knew raised his arm laterally a few degrees, another person pretended his index finger was a pistol, another individual played a pianistic do-re-mi-fa--the possibilities are endless.

If you've ever worked in a public school in the United States, you probably had to serve hall duty. That means that you stand in the hallway when class was not in session, making sure that students in the hallway did not fun, fight, or otherwise misbehave. I used the occasion to see if I could greet all of the students cheerfully, even the ones who made my job more difficult. I thereby tested myself for agape.

Hello, Frankly speaking!
Hello, Straphanger!

There are several things which one can accomplish by force, but resolving negative feelings is not one of them.

Besides, each wegukin is an individual, so different wegukin's are bothered by different aspects of Korean life.
You might be bothered by something which doesn't bother KuroBara.

What bugs me more than anything else is Koreans speaking to me in English when I want to speak Korean. I have had lots of people flame me for that, and it didn't do a bit of good.

tomato · Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2009 2:36 am Post subject:

I just recently noticed something:
A few of my students greet me every time they see me,
no matter how many times in the same day they see me.

I can't decide whether:

1. Korea doesn't share our rule limiting greetings to one a day, or . . .
2. Korea DOES share that rule, but those students haven't learned that rule yet, or . . .
3. Korea DOES share that rule, and those students HAVE learned that rule, but they are extra fond of me.

Vanity tempts me to opt for the third choice.

harlowethrombey · Joined: 17 Mar 2009 Location: Seoul

Billos · Joined: 14 Oct 2008 Location: Korea

WanderingGentile · Joined: 14 Apr 2009

I've had this problem before too. What you have to do is pick out one kid who says hi and berate him for it in front of the other kids, that way you make an example of him and the rest of them get the message.

Good luck and keep us updated.

Yu_Bum_suk · Joined: 25 Dec 2004

Fishead soup · Joined: 24 Jun 2007 Location: Korea

I always welcome any students attempt at communication regardless of how awkward it may seem. However I'm not going to give praise to students for saying what they should already know.
Try to engage them in conversation. The shy timid ones will stop saying hi while the keeners will welcome the experience.You do the best teaching in the hallway and outside. The better students will approach you at your desk.

oldfatfarang · Joined: 19 May 2005 Location: On the road to somewhere.

KuroBara · Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2009 8:41 pm Post subject:

Actually, I've adjusted fairly well to it. I just smile and most times greet back. After a month, it's not so annoying anymore. It's not fantastic, but I can cope. Quite a few students have stopped the "Hieeeeee" stuff all the time, thanks to my co-teacher telling the students to greet me as respectfully as they would a Korean teacher. I have come to realize that no matter what, the students are just hell bent on liking me. So, I guess I'll give in Very Happy

tomato · Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2009 12:35 am Post subject: Re: Am I Mean?

Cerriowen · Joined: 03 Jun 2006 Location: Pocheon

Sometimes it can get a bit wearing... I think the excitement will tone down eventually.

As koreans say... it's a "job disease" (occupational hazard) of living in korea.

If you want to be really mean, you can always try straying from the "Hello, how are you?" dialogue (try... "hey whats up?" or "how's it hanging?") Usually they get really freaked out that you said something unexpected and slink off.

You can also start wearing earphones/headphones where ever you go. The kids assume you can't hear them, even if the plug is just going to your pocket.

Mr. BlackCat · Joined: 30 Nov 2005 Location: Insert witty remark HERE

I know it sounds like a stupid complaint, but I understand the OP. I've been at my PS for over a year and the kids still say hello/hi non-stop. There are about 1400 kids in the school, and it's not just saying 'hello'. They run up to me, grab my shirt, yell other words at me (whatever they happened to learn in English that week), offer me food/garbage, etc. The saving grace in all of this is knowing they mean well and are genuinely excited.

The times I have problems with this is when they repeatedly say hello, then laugh hysterically with their friends, who then do the same thing. 'Cause nothing's funnier than saying 'hello'. I guess. Or when I see a whole class on the echo-y stairs and they all start screaming and my ears start to bleed (figuratively). And, you know, sometimes you're in a conversation with another teacher, or are busy doing something and these kids will not shut up until you say hello to every last one of them. Yes, I try to correct them, but like I said, there's over 1400 of them and just one of me and they're kids and forget pretty quickly.

Good kids though. Just over eager at times.

refikaM · Joined: 06 May 2006 Location: Gangwondo

As mentioned several times, be happy the kids are saying "hi." It means they like you.. I get bombarded with greetings from kids when on the street in my town.. Sometimes I'm with a teacher who's not particularly friendly with his kids.. His kids walk by and say nothing... I'd rather get the "hi's" anytime!!