Korean Job Discussion Forums

[bassexpander]

[Hyeon Een]

I've never had a student ask to not attend class and still get a good grade right at the beginning of the semester, but several times I've had students who got a job half way through the semester and were no longer able to attend classes.

It's unfortunate that Korean companies do this, but it's simply the way it is in this country. I try to be very accomadating to my students. Last semester one of my students got a job as a flight attendant (which is a VERY competitive job in Korea) and couldn't attend class from about half way through the semester. I gave her an A+. I'd taught her a couple of times previously and she was an excellent student both in the past, and in that semester up until she got her job.

Most students who've been in this situation though have ended up with a B+ or a C+ depending on their work up until the time they've started their job. I wouldn't allow any student to join my class at the beginning of the semester if they weren't going to attend any classes.

With regards to a student saying they need a good grade I don't see any problem with it in the context of the email he sent you. He was asking whether he could get a good grade with his English ability in your class, with the implication that if he probably won't be able to get one in your class he'll take something else instead. He needs a certain GPA score and he wants to maximise his chances of getting it. When I've had students ask me this I have simply been honest in the past. I've either said "No, you probably won't get a good grade because...", or "It's possible for you to get a good grade in this class but you'll have to study very hard and make sure you always come to class on time and aren't absent.." etc.

When I've had a student at the END of the semester suddenly tell me "Oh by the way, I need to get an 'A' in this class.." I get very annoyed though.

[entity]

I didn't get this, but others in the department got it, and they were pushed, and maybe complied, into passing them. I think a few instructors who had this problem gave them Ds.

[bluelake]

Even when my students have been reminded several times to not ask for a grade change, I always have at least one who still does. "If I don't get an A, I will lose my scholarship" (or dorm privileges, etc.). I remind them that they were warned many times to not ask for a grade change and that the warning is in writing in the syllabus. I tell them that while I am personally sorry for their situation, professionally I cannot do anything about it. Fortunately, the percentages for grades the university enforces helps me, as I can point to it.

The only way I will change a grade is if I make a big mistake, which, while possible, rarely happens, as I am very careful about grading students. I will never guarantee a student a grade; if seniors leave the university early, I may forgive them the attendance, but they are still responsible for class work and exams.

[prairiemaker]

Every semester I am ordered to give at least ten students an A+ that I never seen or know. I have read on Dave�s there are other �professors� in a similar boat. I am told the students that I must give A�s to are seniors who have job. I hate it, but when I refused the first time, I was told I would be let go if I did not. Now I just do it. I work for a national university. Short of being ordered to do this, the department and university could care less what I do. I have tried to tell them, but they have no interest. My student evaluations are among the highest in the system and this is all they care about. I work alone at another university campus, in a different city. I am the only English professor on campus, and there is no English department here except myself. I get to do some meaningful things with the students and have a complete free hand. I often wish though, that the university cared just a little about what I do, but it is a trade for the freedom I have.

I teach around 21 hours a semester, which I do get paid extra to do, as I am contracted for 10 hours. I have roughly 350 students a semester. I usually have anywhere from 30 to a 100 students emailing me, phoning my cell, or stopping by, wanting to know why they did not get an A+! I keep accurate records and go strictly by points. I usually make one or two errors a semester, but seem to find them because I add the grades three different times over a period of a week.

[cdninkorea]

A friend of mine, who is a uni prof, had a Korean general visit his office once asking him to pass a student who needed the credit to get into the military. Imagine trying to say "no" to a general telling you it's "for the good of the nation"- my friend couldn't and passed him.

[stuey11]

I have had similar experiences both in my current job and previous job. The one that really sticks out was about a year ago. A
female physical education student , who attended about 30% of the class, never completed any homework and missed the final exam. Naturally I gave her an F, she was about 40% short of getting a D.

As I was leaving my office on the final day, she approaching the building after ran after me pleading for an D, she followed all the way to the subway station in tears begging for a passing grade. I explained the reason why and then got on the train and left.

About 30 mins later while I was on the subway home, the my boss calls me and explained that the girl was currently ranked the number 1 under 21 female badminton player in the country and that the national badminton association had the called the university and asked that I pass the the girl.

I told them that they could access the computer system and change her sore, but I wanted nothing to do with it.

[DAC]

We get people who have gotten jobs and need to pass the class, but won't be able to attend at all at my uni. The policy among the foreigners is that he/she won't be able to simply "pass" because they told us their situation. They still have to work for their grade. Pass isn't guaranteed. But as one poster does, I also forgive attendance in that case, as jobs are extremely hard for people to get, and good ones even harder (of course). Then I'm trying this semester to meet them bi-weekly to get an early handle on any problems that will keep them from passing (not submitting homework, textbook exercises not done etc.)

[bluelake]

To the best of my knowledge, it is a Korean gov't regulation that a student must have a minimum of 75% attendance to pass (including both excused and unexcused absences). Anyone with more than 25% absences is to receive an automatic F grade.

As mentioned, in the case of seniors who leave the university early for their jobs, I do not count attendance; however, also as mentioned, they are responsible for the same work and exams as everyone else. Also, they arrange it with me at the beginning of the semester.

[PRagic]

Funniest experience I ever had was my first semester of university teaching at a private university in Seoul. A bit similar to stuey11's run-in.

The last day for entering grades, a 'suit' came to my office. Turned out to be a talent agent. Seems that he wanted one of my students, now a very famous TV actress, to be given a passing grade. I didn't recognize the name. Why? She hadn't attended one class all semester!

I told the guy that I would fail her, but that he could take the issue up with the department chair. Never bothered finding out what came of that, but will never forget it.

[Easter Clark]

What mean professor?

[jonbowman88]

My broher-in-law became a professor after completing 3 years. He still wanted a degree so he ask the dean. The dean gave him his degree as long as he agreed to pay a years tuition.

I think if I was a uni professor and some guy came to me and asked for an A I think I would remember the saying 'when in Rome do as the Romans' and ask for a bribe.

[andrewchon]

Yeh, at least a "you owe me one."

[anynag]

Instead of handing out a syllabus at the beginning of the semester, distribute a menu with suggested 'donation' rates for each grade level. For schools that cap A's, have an auction, wherein the highest bidders can vie for an A or A+.

[isthisreally]

Anyone ever taken, been offered or asked for a bribe from these suits coming into your offices?