Korean Job Discussion Forums

[rusty1983]

Just wondering how you deal with students (Im talking adults here) who go off on an ego-trip in the middle of your class. By this I mean they blatantly get you into a battle of wits thinly disguised as a language point or even something else...Gets a bit draining after a while. Ive had this guy in my class for a few weeks and he has been a great student, but he had a bad weekend and the arrival of a few new sexy lady students prompted him into becoming a bit of an arse, frankly.

He is a higher level than the rest and was jumping into every discussion headfirst without being prompted. Then we got to a tricky text and he tore into the ambiguity of it. I managed to hold my own (experience helping me here) but it amounted to a collosal waste of time and has set me back for tomorrow.

It annoys me when guys go off and do this as the girls being girls are usually a bit more sensible about it all and arent often impressed.

Whats the best technique for dealing with this kind of thing, without alienating them?

[Demophobe]

[D.D.]

a stick works

[smartwentcrazy]

Left high kick, Croatian style.

On a more serious note, you should just cut him off mid-sentence and inform him if he wants to talk further about the subject to talk after instruction was over, instead of interrupting the entire class. That's usually what my professors did to other 'smart-ass' students and worked flawlessly.

[jhuntingtonus]

Stop acknowledging or responding to him, if it's really severe, and continue with your agenda.

[proustme]

Tell the student to meet you after class to speak with you.

[Julius]

[asams]

[Epicurus]

I'd welcome the challenge of crushing some a-hole's overinflated ego.

repeatedly

[TheUrbanMyth]

[poeticjustice]

Three words:

"You were adopted."

If you want to be REALLY mean, you can add:

"From Vietnam."

[pkang0202]

Ask him a question. Say, "You are a Native Korean speaker yes? For the Korean sound "eh" what rule is there for writing ㅔ (어이) or ㅐ (아이)?"

I haven't met a single Korean that can give me a definitive rule. When they can't answer I say, "English is the same way. There are some things that have no rules, and you just have to know"

[benji]

"You know Mr. Kim, you remind me of my former student. Same questions, same attitude. He was Japanese and he was a homo. Are you sure you arent a japanese homo? Really? Because you are just like him. Look like him too. Does your boyfriend know you arent gay? What did your father say when you told him you were a japanese homo? Oh you are married? So you are just half a homo. Does your wife know?"

[rusty1983]

This isnt a Korean its a Spanish guy. Freaking annoying. The problem being he is actually way above the level of the class but there isnt a higher class. I realised he was unworkable when he refused a couple of basic corrections (he was using 'used to' instead of 'usually' - I nearly had an argument over it and now he just avoids saying it altogether). He's not a horrible guy (been to the pub a few times with him) and I think he gets alot out of the class but god working with people can be frustrating.

Well he leaves on Friday so all will be well again, only some nutty old woman has already lined herself up to fill his shoes.

The biggest frustration for me at the moment with this job is one or two annoying people ruining it for everyone. I can never and could never be someone who just stands there talking, then hands out worksheets and heavily controls the conversations, but some people just cant stay focused and always have to start spouting nonsense. Well, I say I could never be but I bet a lot of young teachers started out as an 'Im a fun guy here to have fun with you' kind of teacher and I can see where it got beaten out of them!!!

[Olivencia]

just another reason why i choose to teach lower level englsih ability students