Korean Job Discussion Forums

[fakeplastiktree]

A couple weeks ago I asked a question about classroom rule suggestions and got some really good input (http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=178997&highlight=). Now I'm wondering what suggestions people have for penalties for breaking classroom rules.

Admittedly, I'm no good at discipling my students at all. I have no idea what to do with them when I see them hitting each other or chatting away in Korean with their friends while one of their classmates is presenting information.

I was thinking about getting one of those squealing rubber chickens and when they're getting too noisy I could squeeze it. If they're still noisy when it finishes squealing, I put a tick on the board and each tick equals an extra minute they have to stay after class.

I need help with what does and doesn't work with Korean middle school students (especially a group of 40 of them at a time, mostly boys). Any input is, as always, greatly appreciated!

[BoholDiver]

You have to find the ringleader. Single that person out, and punish, punish, punish. If he/she either sorts him/herself out or leaves the school, things will get better.

[AsiaESLbound]

Make then put their hands on their heads.

[Fishead soup]

[Steelrails]

It's not the method (mostly), it's having the reputation that when you ask and say something that you mean and are prepared to carry it out.

The best thing to do is get them responsible for their own discipline. This means them 1st) fearing the reaction of their peer-students should they behave poorly and 2nd) Creating an environment where good behavior is desired and appreciated by their peers.

The 1st is somewhat tricky but more or less easily accomplished. The 2nd is much more difficuly but if mastered can make all the difference in the world.

How you go about creating those conditions is dependent on the factors unique to your students and school.

[oldfatfarang]

Are you in a hagwon - or in a public school? There's a world of difference between teaching solo and team teaching.

[wileerider]

I have a couple methods I've used here in Korea that work well for me.
Within the classroom I had a 1,2, 3 system.
1- warning
2- have them stand up hands over head... or holding a book.
3- stay after class and clean or straighten my room. they don't want to lose their 10 min break.... ( If I thought it was too disrespectful of an action I would take away points from their English grade, though the Korean teacher)
*Everyday occurrences I'd have my co-teacher call their parents (never had to do that, but did call a couple to tell them their problem child did well some days.... that way you have a parent helping you out)

I always tell them the consequences the 1st day of class, right after I give my 5 rules:
1. Raise your hand to speak.
2. Speak English.
3. Keep your hands to yourself.
4. Keep books, pens and paper on your desk.
5. When the teacher is talking, LISTEN.
*Special one this year: Keep your desk clean.---- they always write on my tables.

I make sure they are positive rules, not a bunch of DO NOT, DO NOT.... they respond better to positive rules than negative ones.

However, at one school I had 7th period free every day. So, I used that like detention for my kids. I told them to stay after school and clean or run sprints, push-up (for boys)... and if they didn't show up they had points taken away from their English class, with their Korean teacher.

The important part is making someone an example within that first week or 2, so everyone knows you're serious.... I also, found that knowing a few phrases in Korean helps with behavior, so they aren't "pretending" to not know that you just told them to "please be quite", or "begin the work"....

Oh as a class punishment: I have put ticks on the board for having to tell them to be quite, every tick represents the amount of time I would hold them after the bell, and they had to be absolutely SILENT.... which worked....

But, when you are trying to control them you really need a method of reeling them in. I did a clapping drill at both schools and both my co-teachers adopted it... you just say "Clap once if you can hear me [clap], clap twice if you can hear me [clap,clap], clap 3 times if you can hear me [clap clap clap]..... this way you get everyone to stop talking and listen to the teacher. The first time you do it, they will have NO CLUE what your doing, you have to teach them!.... eventually you won't even have to clap to get them started, they will just hear the words and recognize it.... So, reeling them in to understand the lesson helps a lot with discipline.

I have used these ideas. I also have a master's in edu in the States... but the Korean teachers did help tell me any authority I had, I just figured it out... so ask them what punishments are ok and if you can use your own ideas.... they don't offer to tell you.... But, this is the number one thing to keep you sane in this job... In my opinion.

But, every teacher is different, you gotta use what your comfortable with.
Hope this helps you.

[jiberish]

Getting them to write lines shuts them up. If it is a hagwon or afterschool program, call their parents. Or just throw them out. I give plenty of warnings but if you just keep giving warnings nothing ever happens. Speaking to their parents usually gives the best results.

[Steelrails]

I've found extreme measure sometimes work.

One chronically misbehaving boy was REALLY acting up more than usual and started defacing the desks and breaking the colored pencils. I leafed through his bookbag, found three YuGiOh cards in a protector. I took out the three, told him to pick two, then ripped up the third in front of his face. I'm guessing it was a moderately valuable one. he was sure bummed and on the verge of tears, but there was a twinge of relief on his face that the best one hadn't been chosen.

Since then he'll occasionally act up, but nothing extreme and he even tells the other kids that REALLY act up to knock it off.

One 5th grade kid kid told me "F(ull swearword) you man" and got a big laugh. I had all the kids line up and hold their chairs above their head while he walked around in front of them. At first he thought it hilarious. By the fourth time he had to walk in front of them the kids were getting tired and starting to get angry at him. Each time he walked in front he got more and more frightened and more and more despised by his peers. By about the 8th time I had to drag him in front of them while he bawled hysterically. Seeing the point made, the other kids got to put down their chairs and he ran to his homeroom teacher to confess what happened (and to avoid the wraith of his peers). Since that day no 5th grade class gave me any problems and the kid has been a model student.

Have different gears for anger. You should be able to get angry and disciplinarian at at least 5 different levels, from mild almost half-teasing, where everyone is laughing, keeping in check to silence creating, fear inspiring wraith and everywhere in between. Use what is appropriate to the situation.

Most students respond to encouragement and positive examples. A few need other measures to ensure a good learning environment and their attention to the lesson.

More cheerful examples:

Treating them with respect and not talking to them like babies. If they are 'getting' the lesson, don't make them mindlessly repeat things. Move on. Treat students as much like adults and they'll start to behave like it. This means that they have a sense of responsibility matched to your respect towards them.

Make it so that if they behave well and stay focused and get things done they can have some time to themselves to talk or draw or something. Think Cool Hand Luke. "What do we do now? Nothing. Nothing? Nothing. Huh, Nothing."

When you're not in class, go out to the playground and goof around with them. Have a mock gunfight with the boys. Color with the girls. Get a game of tag going. Joke around a little. Let them joke on you. Just remind them that in the classroom you are boss.

Spontaneous rewards. And also measured, performance based awards. Give em candy on a non-Korean holiday. Another things is have your classes compete against each other for a yearly prize. The class that does the best on tests throughout the year gets a pizza party or something like that. Make sure you offer some incentive (positive or negative) for the last place class as well.

Hoep this helps.

[ThingsComeAround]

Nice, SteelRails

I would also like to add, use your voice

If you are a man, a deep voice goes a long way in commanding respect.

Look in the eyes

Make sure the child is looking at your eyes when you talk to them. That way there is no mistake, they know you are aware of them.


My last co-teacher had horrible classroom management. Her method of "discipline" was to give candy to underperforming students with the promise that they would be better next class

This year, my new co-teacher got a good system going. If the class gets out of hand, we say be students say quiet or we say listen students say up. And, if they are good, say so. Tell them you are happy with their performance. If you are not happy, you can say that too.

[Manuel_the_Bandito]

The first pupil who acts up gets their hands slapped. After that 90% of the problems that would have happened don't.

[ChilgokBlackHole]