Korean Job Discussion Forums

g-ese · Joined: 21 Feb 2004 Location: Busan

How do you do it? Sometimes they are all over the place, looking everywhere and doing everything except listening. I find that time helps, establishing a relationship, but what about the new kids? AND, how do I deal with the really disrespectful little shits? You know, the ones that call you an ass, etc., thinking you don't understand Korean. Thanks. I am brand new, this is my first ever post in here.

osangrl · Joined: 04 Nov 2003 Location: osan

Its good to start early...you MUST establish control from the beginning,,, its the only way to get respect....so what....you look like an evil monster...as soon as they realize you won't tolerate ignorance or noise....you can start having fun. The whole, put your hands in the air, or get out , or writing lines on the board works.....

good luck.

matthewwoodford · Joined: 01 Oct 2003 Location: Location, location, location.

The poster who said come down hard on them at first was totally right. You need to behave consistently in showing what you expect from them and act like their good behaviour is your right (it is). Also use carrot and stick. Stickers are great for getting their attention. And you can't afford to lose your temper so try to use stickers rather than yell: the threat of losing your temper is more effective than actually losing it. Then it's like your bluff has been called, and you look funny. Also you need to keep the class fairly fast paced and varied to keep them busy. Good luck...

Badmojo · Posted: Sat Mar 20, 2004 10:17 pm Post subject:

It depends what your schedule is. It also depends on their age.

If you see them only once a week, good luck, especially with students around 12 and 13. That's an uphill battle, and one you're not likely to win.

If you see them everyday, then they're your class, your responsibility. The two posters above make good points. Be consistent, be firm. I can keep my students in line with the punishment of writing lines. If they don't do it, they know there's a phonecall coming home to Mommy. And if that doesn't work, they're not in my class anymore. Problem solved.

g-ese · Joined: 21 Feb 2004 Location: Busan

Thanks, I appreciate the advice. I have trouble with the very young, new students. I am very strict, no games, lots of work, lots of "Pay attention!". Then when we have caught up and they have worked their little tails off, a game is a welcome and appreciated break, instead of a given. Slowly, but surely. I would like some advice on how to keep the class fast-paced and interesting. I don't have much to work with.

rapier · Joined: 16 Feb 2003

some waygug-in · Joined: 25 Jan 2003

g-ese · Joined: 21 Feb 2004 Location: Busan

I like the idea of diversifying my lesson plan so that they don't get bored and want to act up. Lately, I have been rather successful, but I would like more ideas. What do you do to keep things interesting in class for children?

Snatch · Joined: 01 Jan 2004

I am a dancing circus bear. My hagwon keeps my muzzle on all the time, so that I cannot bite back. I get poked and prodded all the time. And they say nasty things to me, because I am a bear and will not be able to understand their language.

animalbirdfish · Joined: 04 Feb 2004

These kids are the product of their environment, which means they have the attention span of a fern. I find that changing up the activity (even if it's with the same material) every five minutes is pretty effective. As for discipline - especially if you're not allowed to use it - don't be too serious about it, or rather, make the punishment fit the crime. If they're just distracted, do something like threaten to kiss them (this is amazingly effective, they hate it, but I occasionally have to carry through on the threat) or use the white board eraser on the back of their neck if they don't look at you. Jumping jacks or holding a 90 degree squat position for a few minutes aren't bad either and it's not really punishment in my eyes, just something to get their attention and make them understand that I'm watching them. And of course, when combined with the element of surprise (that is, don't do it too often), a quick, sharp rap of the book on their desk - inches from their fingers - usually gets their attention right quick.

rapier · Joined: 16 Feb 2003

Crois · Posted: Thu Mar 25, 2004 2:17 am Post subject:

Stick electric shockers under their seats.

Eazy_E · Joined: 30 Oct 2003 Location: British Columbia, Canada

I find that with the games-based teaching method, the behaviour problems really dissipate. Not that they don't study hard for me, but you have to remember that these kids have just come from their regular school. They behave badly because of their tendency to, well, be kids. Give them something interesting and they'll respond well. I play games in every class, and it works a lot better than traditional methods. I couldn't go back to mechanical repetition now.

rapier · Joined: 16 Feb 2003

After reading all your above advice re: carrot and stick, acting offended when they misbehave etc, I have finally abandoned any hopes of control over a certain middle school class i have...
At the start I came down hard on the 2 students who consistently acted up. One in particular ignored me and continued talking to her friend at the top of her voice: even though It actually came to me yelling point blank in her face at the top of my voice.
I asked the Korean supervisor for help/ advice: she said I should treat them better as they are paying customers etc... I had a fairly effective disciplinary weapon in writing on their hands with the board marker; but I was advised to stop this because of fears the parents would complain.
Throwing the girl out of class is not an option, and she's too old to want coupons as a reward... NOTHING works, and she knows nothing will happen if she continues to misbehave...I am utterly muzzled, my hands are tied. I'm not about to spend my own cash buying rewards to tempt her into studying either..
So, I jazzed up the lesson to make it more fun. But the girl couldn't take part in many games because she hasn't paid enough attention in class to know any English...so she disrupted every game...hopeless...

So today I finally just let her go...and concentrated on the other students who would participate in reading etc. It was difficult, as I could barely hear above the noise of the 2 girls..
Its almost exhilirating to arrive at the point where you've tried everything, nothing works, and you no longer care.....Just let it go to hell... All I'm doing now is physically preventing them from leaving the classroom before the bell, and not injuring themselves seriously...thats about it.

ryleeys · Joined: 22 Dec 2003 Location: Columbia, MD

I've gotten 14 new kids aged 5-6 in the last 2 or 3 weeks... I went with the carrot and stick method as I'm not a fan of disciplining children that aren't my own (of which I have none to discipline). I was disciplined at home and never had problems at school due to this. Anyway, that lasted about a week before it sunk in to me that this ain't gonna work.

The main problems I'm having: 1) Being flicked off, both Korean and American style, 2) Being called every name in the book in Korean, 3) Being attacked from behind and hit with everything from fists to, of all things, a souvenier baseball bat, 4) Non-stop talking that prevents me from accomplishing any teaching at all, 5) Attempts to break everything in the room the second I attempt to write anything on the board, 6) Intentionally being coughed and sneezed on... etc. etc. etc.

By the way, I have been put in the classroom at the far end of the hagwan to isolate me and the kindergardeners from the other elementary students and Korean teachers. There are empty classrooms across and beside me at all times.

Then I went with the ever popular yelling at them to shut the hell up. That lasted about a week until I literally lost my voice and got pissed at them laughing at me. The day I lost my voice, I started picking up desks and slamming them down... they were stunned the first time and stayed quiet and sitting for a full two minutes before realizing that I couldn't yell anymore or even speak enough to say my name, much less get the director.

Today, I went with the "death penalty" (I spent 30 minutes last night after school rigging this thing up)... Any kid that pisses me off gets sent to a corner, where I have rigged a piece of string that holds a glass of water over their head. I adjust it so they have to hold their arms over their head to keep the glass of water from spilling on them. The more times they get in trouble, the longer I make them hold it and I can use a larger glass of water (I've got a 2 quart pitcher if need be).

The first kid I let quit after 2 minutes when he started to cry. The second kid pissed me off real bad and got to hold it for 15 minutes. After that, they stayed quiet all class.

I realize I'll probably be fired once word of this gets out, but with the behavior of these kids, I don't even care anymore. It's sure as hell fun to see the look on their faces before and after the punishment. This job might have a little bit of fun in it after all.