Korean Job Discussion Forums

[apocalyptic_tea]

So I have a student in my third-grade class who's constantly squinting or getting out of his seat to read the board. And I use a lot of MES-English's PPT slides projected on a giant touch screen, so it isn't exactly small print that I'm putting up there. I've seen him outside of class, too--he squints when he's just trying to walk down the hall.

I mentioned this to my mentor teacher, who spoke to the student in question while I was in the room. She asked him if his parents knew that his vision was poor; he said that they did, but he didn't think they were going to get him glasses.

A lot of my kids come from poor families. It's kind of a mixed bag out here where some of them can afford hagwon and nice clothes, and other kids get excited when they see a bottle of Fanta. I ain't starvin' to death, and I've got some money coming in soon from a writing gig, so I want to slip my student a pair of glasses on the down-low. Unfortunately, I work out in the sticks, and short of hauling him to the nearest city (an hour away by bus) to get an eye exam, I don't know how to figure out his prescription.

Any suggestions, O ye wise and mighty of the ESL Cafe? Anyone know of any programs or nomadic optometrists-with-hearts-of-gold who do pro bono work? Or am I just SOL? (I'm on the southern half of Jeju, by the by.)

[Xuanzang]

Do they sell those cheap drugstore reading spectacles like back in the States here?

[Kikomom]

The cheap drugstore glasses are for reading, not distance. Something oldsters start experiencing around age forty.

Near-sightness is commonly developed at this grade school age. I was in fourth grade when I couldn't read the board and was squinting. It was Parent's Day and the teacher had sent home a note for my mother to plan to be there that day. She must have known and wanted to confirm that my mom knew too. I think she actually set me up to answer something that she knew I knew was plainly written on the board, but I still couldn't answer the question.

Talk to your principal and see if he can figure out a way to have the child's eyes examined and glasses made with the bill sent to you. Tell him you need help doing this anonymously to help them save face. Maybe the school nurse knows when the wandering optometrist is in town?

In the meantime, sit the kid up front and enunciate clearly?

[cruisemonkey]

[bliss]

Isn't there a kind of welfare fund at your school? - to help disadvantaged kids with their education.

I'm sure there must be financial assistance of some kind available through the school.

Talk to other staff at the school.

[apocalyptic_tea]

Thanks for all the advice! I've been waiting for another chance to talk to the student in question before springing into action, but he's one of the kids who can only show up every once in a while, so I haven't seen him since I posted. I keep hoping I'll see him in the halls sporting a shiny new pair of glasses, but no such luck.

Also, I found out recently that there's actually a wee eyeglass place in town, so the actual fetching-of-the-spectacles might be easier than I originally thought. (Though they brandish names like Prada and Versace in the window [authenticity unverified e_e].)

[ontheway]

You should tread carefully on this.

For one thing, people have pride, and it could be taken as a great insult for you to buy the kid glasses. The parents might take it that you think they are bad parents, and they'll be insulted. They might also resent the fact that you think they are so poor that they can't afford glasses (which are fairly cheap here) and be insulted.

It is a tricky thing to offer free things for the benefit of kids in Korea. You have to find a way to do it without causing the parents to lose face. I've helped out many Korean kids whose families were less well off, but in some cases pride of the parents has prevented me from helping kids that I really wanted to help.

There is another element involved with glasses. There are many doctors in Korea who advise parents that their children should NOT wear glasses that they obviously need, and usually already own. It is a common belief here that if you don't wear your glasses, your eyes will get stronger and heal themselves. So, many parents know that their kids can't see at school, but they think their kids' eyes will improve if they don't allow them to wear glasses.

[Juregen]

Pride! Bullocks.

I had one Kid who was learning so slow and I just couldn't figure it out, until I realized she was always checking out neighbors and squinting when reading the board.

I told the mother to get glasses or the kid doesn't come anymore.
The week after the kid had glasses and learned as fast as any other kid.

[proustme]

Are the MES PPTs on the level of your students? You should be careful to use appropriate materials. Also think of new PPT ideas. You could print out the PPTs so he can see them at his desk.

[b-class rambler]