Korean Job Discussion Forums

[sallymonster]

I'm a newbie (7 weeks in Korea) working at a GEPIK middle school. I currently teach 3 summer classes: intermediate 1st grade, advanced 2nd grade (same class I teach after school during the regular school year), and advanced 1st grade.

I started teaching the last one, advanced 1st grade, about a week ago. Their last teacher, a gyopo who worked at my school part-time just for that class, apparently either quit or has medical issues (I never met her, and stories vary). If she left, I can see why.

This class is a teacher's (especially a noob teacher's) worst nightmare. In only four classes, things have really spiraled out of control. Many of the students are disruptive, disrespectful, and insubordinate. They chat with each other in Korean, they argue with me when I try to enforce the rules, some even wander the classroom and refuse to stay in their seats. Many students blatantly refuse to participate, either in conversation practice (with me when I call on them), or even in games! (wtf)

This is considered an extra class so I have to teach it alone. In fact, because it's summer there are very few other teachers or staff in the school when I'm teaching this class in the afternoon. I do get paid extra for teaching these monsters, though. I have these same students for two 3.5 hour days of camp next week (might have a co-teacher for that however) and it's very likely I'll be teaching them afterschool next semester.

Needless to say, I am so frustrated with this class. Few of the students seem genuinely interested in learning English. I'm beginning to suspect that these students might not be so "advanced" especially since I teach a 2nd grade advanced class where the students are much more motivated and confident. I teach my other two summer classes without co-teachers and while those students are not perfect I don't have nearly as many problems and usually it's just a couple of students acting out, not the majority of the class!

So, what is wrong with my 1st grade "advanced" class? Or, what is wrong with me? Is this situation irreversible? Please help!

[The Gipkik]

Offer them a needs analysis with space for their own suggestions. Unless you must use a textbook, give them what they want. If you must use a textbook, fill in the spaces in between activities with stuff they really want to do, whatever it may be. Treat the lesson in the same way. Craft it in such a way that it becomes something that they evaluated highly on the needs analysis.

They want to play foot baseball or Korean dodgeball? Compromise with them so that you can get students at each base to answer grammar or vocab questions. When they get home, they have additional tasks...It can be done. With Korean dodgeball, have the kids who are outside the square ask the kids inside a question to stay in. Use a ball as well. Kid gets out, answers a question. If right they can get back in.

[Troglodyte]

This can be a tough situation to deal with. In the end, it's up to you to decide what's best but I'll share some of my methods with you.

-If there is no one to help you enforce the rules, then just keep a list of students on your desk and each time one does something bad, make a little note. Don't be obvious about it because you don't want them to know about it. Save up the list and give it to your boss from time to time. This covers you from someone later saying that you let them run wild. You then have proof that you saw the problem and tried to solve it but no one helped you. You can also make a report on each student. Good things and bad things. List the reports by day. If it's a really bad student, then you still have to add in a few god things so that the report looks objective. Have a Korea (a friend or co-worker translate it) and have it send to parents at the end of the month. Have a part on the bottom for parents to stamp (Koreans all have stamps for signing documents) and return to you to show that they read it.

-Similarly, you can make a report at the end of the day and have a Korean call each bad kid's parents and tell them that he/she is being a disruption and you are going to recommend that they be removed from the class for the benefit of the other students who want to learn. Tell the parents that this student is in a group of students that collectively disrupt class to show their dominance over the class and to test your authority. Don't say that it's just the one kid (unless it really is) because many times parents talk to each other and will quickly learn that you called several with the same story. Similarly, don't tell them that it's the whole class or else the blame will come to you.

-You can just do whatever they want to do. You can't force them to learn. That's not your job. Your job is to teach. If their parents don't want to force them to learn, then there's nothing you can do. Accept that fact.

-If they are being really bad, send them out of the room.

-You can try to separate them into groups of those who want to be there and those who don't.

-Whatever you do, don't get upset in front of them. Once you do that, the game is over for you. With kids (anywhere in the world) they try to test authority to see who they can dominate and in what situations. Kids in Korea have very poor discipline and nurturing at home. They are spoiled and so they want to test the full limits of what they can get away with.

-If you really want to, tell your boss that you refuse to teach the students if they aren't disciplined. You may cause a bad relationship with your boss and co-workers. If you carry it too far, you may get fired (for an unrelated reason). You have to be the judge of that.

-Ask your boss for advice on how to get the kids to behave. He'll give you some BS advice that's completely useless. But try it anyway for the record so that you can say later "I tried it and it didn't work." Put the ball in their court. What would they do? They'd hit the kid with a stick or make him kneel on cement for 10 minutes. But they won't let you do that so they'll give you useless advice "Just tell them to behave." "Be more friendly." "Smile more."

-If the school and your boss won't do anything about it then you have to accept that you're not there to educate the kids. You're there to impress the parents. If they parents don't react positively to your reports on their kids, then you have to accept something else - you're not going to get them to behave. Gone are the days of the leather strap. They may well be fine with letting the kids walk all over you. In this case, then you have to decide if this is the job for you. If not, then quit. Otherwise, keep a record of who misbehaves and keep handing it in each month. Don't make a scene about it though. If you are later criticized for why the kids aren't learning, say that it's because they aren't disciplined.


You probably aren't going to get a magical solution on how to solve this problem. And most likely, you won't be able to solve it. In the end, it will most likely come to this choice - either accept it or move on.

[Xuanzang]

Send the disruptive kids off to their homeroom teacher. Technically, you're not supposed to be teaching without a Korean teacher present. It's illegal under Korean law.

[Howler Monkey]

Ahh... it is that one special class that will make you or break you.

Do not despair.

All of us who have taught for a bit and who are still teaching have seen the elephant and prevailed. Either the bodies are well hidden or we observed, planned, and then implemented a response.

It seems to me that the principal needs to be informed that he has students grossly disrespecting their teacher and by default their school with their behaviors. No need to rat out your coteachers, just point out the behaviors of the students and ask him for advice.

Don't make demands, threats, or suggest you are going to complain to a higher authority. Just curry the old boy's ego by asking him/her for advice on how to best approach the situation. Chances are he/she will ask a few questions or make a few suggestions to the Korean teachers before he says anything substantial to you.

Expect your coteachers to show up regularly after this.

As for the ratbags in class.. Keep in mind you have options. Personally, I go on a 1 strike rule, well I go on a 1 strike rule when I'm annoyed with my classes due to their behaviors. One strike and you are out, and by this I mean I pick up their bag and walk it out the door.

The student will follow. Once he/she is outside I tell them to get lost and I return to class after closing the door behind me. You have a homeroom teacher available. Make the situation very clear to them what the students needs to do when they return to class next time.

If they fail, walk their bag to the door and tell them to get lost again.

Now, remember.. these are kids. I firmly believe that inside of them is a part of them that wants to behave because they want to be praised for their good behaviors.

Split them up into teams and have them compete against each other for points based upon classroom behaviors. best English, and what not. I suggest giving more points for best English as that is the business we are in, not being a behavioral specialist.

I'm not entirely sure what a needs analysis is, but if it is what I think it is that might be a good way to go as well. If my memory serves me correctly a needs analysis is finding out what compels the students to act the way they do by identifying what they are not getting enough of in terms of fun, emotional support, and so on and so forth.

I'm no professional teacher so I could be wrong.

Above all though, if you go to class and you absolutely can not get control of the class and they are running wild on you...

Do not panic, do not get raging angry, do not let them see your composure slip. Let them see you stay strong and well assured that you are not going to flip your wig.

[Fishead soup]

It sounds like you are trying to hard to actually teach. This is a lose lose situation for youreself. Ultimately the students are going to say your class was too boring. The Korean co-teacher doesn't really care if you actually teach anything they only care about high school entrance exam scores. Just show them Mr. Bean video's and try to work it into some kind of English lesson.

You have to fool the kids into thinking they are having fun and then in a very sneaky way insert a lesson into it.

[Whistleblower]

Walk into class with a book (probably a teaching book) and some ideas for the lesson but sit down and do nothing until the class has settled down. You don't need to speak over them and you are not required to do anything until you get attention from the students. If your co-teacher or principal complain, mention that this is the new methodology in ELT and it is called Dogme. Explain that it is something that you wanted to learn more about and thought the class would appreciate it. Hopefully you have a source in your teacher's book.

For you to learn more about Dogme, please look here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dogme_language_teaching

[TheUrbanMyth]

[Countrygirl]

I'm sure this is shocking to you...it was to me when I first came...but now it seems so normal. And for me the students were like that in the regular English class with the co-teacher present. I've since improved on my discipline methods for Korean students, as the co-teachers weren't doing their part, but it took some time.

The best thing that works for me is what Howler Monkey said, kick the students out. I normally only kick them out for 5 minutes at a time...but it's only elementary. Unlike Howler Monkey, I keep their shoe bag because I don't want them wandering around with all the bad things that have been happening with elementary students and pedophiles. And keep a list of who you kicked out and tell this to the Korean teacher....a Korean teacher should be checking up on you and calling the missing students (at least with elementary). That person will catch hell if something happens to a Korean student during summer camp time.

Think of it this way, you have so few resources...you can't send the kids to the Principal, you can't call their parents, and you have the welfare of the remaining students to take care of. Kicking the kids out into the hallway is one of the best ways to keep the peace. Plus, unless the kids are slightly off in the head (you'll find out who these kids are in time), they hate being in the hallway because they are afraid of what will happen if a Korean teachers sees them. And troublemakers are bored outside of the class and want to be inside where the action is. You only have to do it a few times before the troublemakers start to listen a little better.

Bottom line...don't be afraid to take control of the class; don't expect Korean students to be well-behaved because, in my experience, it's not the norm; make sure you have some consequence for bad behavior and follow through.

Basically, this is one challenge out of many that you will encounter in Korea, which will, in the end, only make you a better teacher and person....or it will turn you into a embittered, pessimistic shell of your former self only counting the days till your contract is finished

[sallymonster]

Just FYI, I don't have to use a textbook for my extra classes.

[ticktocktocktick]

Bribery works well. You said your c/t doesn't like you showing videos, but if she's not there, she's none the wiser. Explain that if they keep quiet, and do as you ask, they'll get a Mr. Bean video at the end.

Another option is to ask outright, who wants to be there, and who doesn't. Allow those who don't to sit in the back and sleep, or bring comic books or something quiet. It's summer vacation, and many kids feel they are being robbed of important PC bang time. It's an external factor you can do nothing about.

The final option is to send the kids home with a note to be signed by a parent. Get a Korean tacher to write something simple, along the lines of 'X's behavior is unacceptable. I will not teach him/her today. Please sign this paper and return to me. Yours, Sallymonster.'

[Oliver]

Nightmare situation.

I had the same problem.

School didn't support me.

Tried all of the methods above.

Public school too.

If the school aren't supporting you, then walk.

Best,

Ollie

[TheUrbanMyth]

[Countrygirl]

[Troglodyte]