Korean Job Discussion Forums

BoholDiver · Joined: 03 Oct 2009 Location: Canada

We aren't perfect, are we? Somehow, this point is lost on many Korean children. In fact, a large majority of them. I guess they're all perfect.

Every westerner I know is called names incessantly by Korean kids. Either he/she's too tall, too short, too fat, too thin, have acne, balding, big nose, big eyes, something is too big, something is too small, etc.

I have been reminded about my bald head almost on a daily basis. I have tried laughing along with them, scolding them, punishing them, etc. It happens almost on a daily basis. I am too thick-skinned to be bothered by it anymore, but more than anything, I am tired of hearing about it. It's as if I don't already know. It's like 'Yeah thanks Min Su. I didn't know I was losing my hair. Thanks for the news flash, you little *beep*.'

What physical flaw do your students remind you of on a daily basis?

djsmnc · Joined: 20 Jan 2003 Location: Dave's ESL Cafe

They just say 담배 냄새 나~ 선생님 소주 많이 먹어?

Actually, I don't even teach kids. But I think everyone is an equal target. Kids talk trash. I remember kids saying all kinds of stuff to and about the teacher(s) when I was young.

fortysixyou · Joined: 08 Jun 2006

Captain Marlow · Joined: 23 Apr 2008 Location: darkness

i've reverted to kicking them out of class if they say something completely rude to me... if it's something obvious, then i just return the compliment about something obviously lacking in their appearance...

ytide · Joined: 26 Jul 2009

andrewchon · Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2010 3:24 am Post subject:

Nope, Korean children (and adults also) speak whatever comes to their mind without giving it a second thought. Especially more so if they think they are not going to be understood or get away with it. They'll gob off on foreigners and Koreans.
I have an an appearance of an ajeosshi. Kids gob off around me all the time. if I tell them to 'govern their tongue' (말조심헤), they think I'm kidding. If I tell to 'shut up' (입닼쳐), they get the idea.

Senior · Joined: 31 Jan 2010

My new class of 1st grade boys are little shits. Last year I had one bad class. This year, I have one good class. Sad

One of the classes have taken to calling me Maegju Makkoli. It is kind of what my name sounds like. Which was actually pretty funny the first time. It's starting to get irritating now though, but is getting more sporadic as I simply don't react to it.

I think that is the key. As long as it s not super rude or disrepectful, the best thing to do is ignore.

DorkothyParker · Joined: 11 Apr 2009 Location: Jeju

How old are the kids? Younger children aren't so keen at self-censorship. They are also observing the world around them from a very limited viewpoint. Much of what they observe is the external. They are not developed enough to understand or express deeper observations on your character. This combined with the very strong focus on appearance, and yes, your kids will probably say things that could seem hurtful. I don't think they mean to be cruel.

My old students used to say "little bit fat" and poke at my belly. It actually hurt my feelings more than it should have and is one of the main reasons I joined a gym. (The other being it's so much cheaper to shop when I can fit the 1 or 2 sizes available from street vendors).

My new kids haven't said anything to me, but I get the feeling comments have been made about my rear. At lunch they said something to my co-teacher and she laughed and asked them something about an "s-line" while gesturing to me. They said B or P line (I'm not sure which). I dunno. Actually, thinking about it really does damage my self worth. Sad

( I'm gonna go eat cookies and go to bed.

nourozi · Joined: 15 Mar 2009

Weigookin74 · Joined: 26 Oct 2009

Hobophobic · Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2010 6:55 am Post subject:

My wife's relatives always make a point to tell her she looks FAT when they visit and say they are worried about her...if I said that...oh yogwon weekend for me...they are always kind enough to mention how I drink too much at family functions too even when I go to bed early everynight and their husbands come home wasted at 5-6am everyday so exhausted from work they crawl up the steps home and can't seem to put the key in the keyhole...

...generally I find they love to point out the flaws they find in you because they are concerned and care about you...like the thread on stares...just shrug it off...

pattinsons · Joined: 28 Jun 2009

PatrickGHBusan · Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2010 11:02 am Post subject:

Key word: kids.

Nuff said no?

How some of us forget how we were as kids with out teachers... Laughing

Solarian · Joined: 12 Nov 2009

There were the occasional cracks about "having a baby" when I was new here, but I shed the weight and it hasn't been a problem since. I still get the occasional comment about how I "have a big nose", and I reply "no, mine is normal, your nose is too small". Most of the kids make positive comments about my appearance, they say I'm handsome, and one class nick named me "Beckham" but I just assume they're sucking up to the teacher.

BoholDiver · Joined: 03 Oct 2009 Location: Canada

Key point you missed: They don't do this to K teachers. They wouldn't dare.

I was hoping to come on here and say that no one called me bald yesterday, but one little twerp in my last class couldn't let it goi. Today, someone in the first class did.