Korean Job Discussion Forums

chrisassd · Joined: 04 Apr 2010

What do you think?

notinKS · Joined: 11 Jul 2010

I allowed my American students to add me on Facebook. I never once added any of them though-it had to be their decision. I used it as an education tool. After a performance (I was a music teacher) or before an important event, I would compliment them or remind them. They were also able to ask me questions about school or life in general.

I don't have anything to hide...I keep my opinions to myself (I would do that even if I didn't have students on FB) and I don't go out getting ridiculously trashed every weekend, so I have no embarrassing or inappropriate pictures taken of me. I've also enjoyed being able to keep up with them now that I've moved to Korea and they've been learning about another culture from my FB and blog posts.

I understand why most people won't add students, but for me, it's not a problem.

Missihippi · Joined: 22 Oct 2007 Location: Gwangmyeong

kimdeal54 · Joined: 28 Feb 2008

Students ask for my email address, try to give me theirs, ask for my phone number, and ask if they can add me as a friend on Facebook. My answer is always, 'Not while you are my student.'

My rules are...

1. I never give them my phone number.
2. When they, or I, leave the school, I pass on my email address to students who want to stay in touch.
3. They can't be my friend on Facebook until they graduate from high school.
4. I never meet a student outside of school.

jrwhite82 · Joined: 22 May 2010

At the elementary school I used to work at in the states a few of the fifth graders found the 5th grade team on facebook and a bunch of them tried to friend all of us. We all ignored the requests and had an entire team meeting with the teachers and students.

We discussed that although we care for our students, they are not our friends. We are teachers, they are students. If they wanted to friend us after they graduated high school we would do it. (7 years later....)

You are opening a can of worms if you friend children on facebook or text them on your cell phone. BE WARNED. It is the reality of the world we live in today. Having unmonitored electronic communication channels with children is a dangerous road to travel down. 99.9% is totally harmless but the .1% (or less) makes it extremely dangerous for your career and life in general. Korea might be a bit more lax but definitely don't think about it in America.

Friending adult students (business) is different I think. University students can lead to trouble too, but depending on the circumstance might be appropriate.

makemischief · Joined: 04 Nov 2005 Location: Traveling

I teach university students. I never ever add them myself, but if they add me that is fine- I just put them on a very limited profile option that shows next to nada. Limited profile is great for things like that.

PatrickGHBusan · Posted: Wed Sep 01, 2010 5:44 am Post subject:

If you have a facebook page dedicated to education or specific projetcs for your classes then go ahead.

If it is your personal FB page, it is typically a bad idea to add or let students add you. There should be a line between teacher and friend...

cdninkorea · Joined: 27 Jan 2006 Location: Seoul

I teach university, and I never allow students to be Facebook friends- only once they're no longer my student is it okay, and only if they request it.

Mind you, most of them in my experience join Facebook, add all their foreign teachers, then become completely inactive for months at a time until I de-friend them (because why have someone on your Facebook when they never use it?)

OculisOrbis · Joined: 17 Jul 2006

I have a personal page profile for friends and a teacher profile page for students. No problems.

SeoulNate · Joined: 04 Jun 2010 Location: Hyehwa

NYC_Gal · Joined: 08 Dec 2009

I've got nothing to hide besides the occasional vent about my coteacher, but it's not something I like to share with my young'uns. I don't friend my coteachers either for obvious reasons.

I give out my cell phone number to some better students, but told them that if they call, it has to be in English. I've only had a dozen or so calls (sometimes while I'm out with friends, who laugh at my elementary-school level conversations), but it makes the kids happy, and doesn't take much time. I've got some pen pals as well. Those are the really bright kids. I enjoy my correspondence with a former student. She was the second-best student in the school, and is missed.

notinKS · Joined: 11 Jul 2010

Did you not read all of my post Seoul Nate? I do not go out and get trashed every weekend. I will have the occasional drink with dinner, but that's it. And I do not share every single thought that I have. I rarely posted statuses, and when I did it was *always* of a positive nature because I am a positive person. My administrators knew about it because I had shared some concerns with them about a student who had posted something on Facebook. Besides, I lived in a small town, which means that the students knew more about me than what I had posted on Facebook. You've probably never lived in a small town (about 800 people) so I doubt that you understand what that's like.

I understand your side of the argument, please try to understand mine.

JBomb · Joined: 16 Oct 2008

the only time I think it is acceptable is if they are University and you are no longer teaching them.

tonyvu · Posted: Wed Sep 01, 2010 8:34 pm Post subject:

I agree that it's not a good idea to add them to your personal page. I actually made a separate profile page where I only have a picture of myself at school and leave out personal info except interests, music, etc. Students can add me if they so choose but I told them to use English if they are going to contact and keep in touch with me.

DeLaRed · Joined: 16 Oct 2008

just make another facebook page and have them be "friends" with you on there.