Korean Job Discussion Forums

[kimiki]

...course or workshop i've ever been to:

that at times, the negative aspects of group psychology play a major factor-- meaning that there are many of them (students) and only one of you (teacher/authority figure)-- and that this can make life for a teacher daunting in certain situations. 99% of the time this is not an issue, but right now for example i have a gang of upper grade middle school girls after me because i scolded one of their friends for talking and not paying attention in class. they are kind of terrorizing me and my head teacher seems, bafflingly and disappointingly, to be taking their side, which is empowering them, of course. i just need to vent about this and see if anyone wants to share stories and/or offer me advice.

i love teaching korean kids overall and came back here after working with teens in latin america and affluent european adults at a private school in the US, all of whom i enjoyed at times and felt successful with the bulk of the time, but at the end of the day thought those populations were not good matches for my personality and teaching style. i feel comfortable and teaching is a joy most of the time here, but am really feeling challenged in this situation. they are pushing my buttons and i'm not getting any support. thank you in advance for your feedback.

and feel free to add your own list items of 'things they don't tell you in tefl courses' or any other trainings....

[chris_J2]

A trick I tried in elementary school with 5 unruly girls in a 'brat pack', was to split them up, & insist they sit apart from each other. It worked. They weren't so cocky on their own.

[Fishead soup]

Having to deal with someone who is intentionally trying to sabatage your work because they don't want to be teamed up with you.

[ChilgokBlackHole]

Thinking you're in control of a classroom because you're the teacher is like thinking you're in control of the ocean because you drive a really big boat. Don't think for one second the entire class won't turn you off and start doing their own thing.

You're only king while they let you be king. When they're tired of you, they will throw you out. I'm talking about little kids here too.

I'd love to teach middle school. If I ever come back here, I'm totally going for middle school or technical high school.

[TheUrbanMyth]

[djsmnc]

That despite how much it's been drilled into your head and how much you know that you should teach FOR the students and be aware of what type of curriculum is most suitable for their particular learning context, some schools are still going to insist that their "method" is correct and you must use the materials they have selected, regardless of inadequacy.

[Whitey Otez]

Sounds like you need to have a sidebar with your partner teacher about how right or wrong, you two have to back each other up. If she throws you under the bus again, ask her what aspect of Korean culture you're getting wrong.

But yes, I agree completely that every day I teach in Korea, it is me against the world. The only thing you can do is pretend it doesn't bother you, and call strangers names on XBOX Live.

[hockeyguy109]

[Mr. Pink]

[dunc180]

I've been in a similar situation before. And it's unfortunate that your head teacher is not supporting you with this. So I'd try to deal with it myself. I would ask to speak to them privately, away from the rest of the class. Start off by telling them why you are upset with them. Then I would give them 2 options:

1. Continue the poor behaviour and I will separate you in the classroom (you know, at this age they hate being told where to sit).

2. A fresh start. You may sit together as long as your behaviour improves.

Giving students an option and an opportunity of a fresh start has always worked for me.

Goodluck!

[sesyeux]

[ESL Milk "Everyday]

If a teacher is taking the students' side, then that's bad... and if there's no way to communicate with them, that's even worse. It could be the girl is lying to them or that it's racism, or some combination... this is when the job becomes truly pointless.

One thing I've done is kind of calmly refuse to teach while sitting at the front of the room, and when they wonder why I'm not teaching, tell them I'm using the time to think of something that might help them have more interest in the class... and if they want to help, that would be great. Make them come to you.

It might be possible to force things out into the open that way... and if you can have an open, honest dialogue without getting angry or condescending, the students will see that you aren't trying to be the 'king', and they will no longer feel like they have to 'defy you'... a teacher isn't always supposed to be a controller, just someone who is trying to help the kids get through another year and grow up-- your experience dealing with conflicts can set a good example and they tend to respect things like calmness and reason under pressure (it's the whole self-denial thing)... if you get mad and start being a drill instructor and they laugh in your face, it's humiliating, but if you're calmly trying to help them learn and they laugh in your face, at least some of them will realize that they're in the wrong.

Trust me-- psychology works a lot more than intimidation tactics or popularity contests.

[wylies99]

[lifeinkorea]

[PatrickGHBusan]