Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Zackback]

I have found myself divulging personal informtaion and beliefs/opinions about things that I normally wouldn't share.
Does anyone else do this? Because I find it very difficult to talk about anything for more than just a few sentences if it doesn't really interest me when it's been a very long day and I'm tired and the students won't talk - even in "free talking" classes.
Some students appreciate my candor but others I think find it unsettling.

[Geumchondave]

If its your views on it being ok to molest women i would probably keep it to yourself.........

[Zackback]

Yeah talked about that already.
If she later found out he was like a millionaire or something then she would have insisted that it was ok that he did that.
No money no honey.
All who I told agreed.

[Kaypea]

People talk when people are really interested in talking about something... which, yes, is usually personal information about themeselves, or people they know, or kind of "taboo" subjects. I used to tutor three fairly openminded young company workers, and our best conversations were about semi-risque stories from college (theirs, not mine), or homosexuality, stuff like that... stuff you REALLY shouldn't bring up in a bigger class, I think, and stuff you probably shouldn't bring up yourself. Let the students bring it up...

I think free-talking is a bit of a myth. If it isn't just happening, you need to structure things more. With my middle school classes, I write a bunch of questions they can ask and answer together in pairs or small groups, then they can ask one another as a whole class. It's not really free talking, but there's a chance it could become free talking.

And... please, be really tame when you talk about yourself. I mention the students I used to teach liked to tell risque stories, but honestly... the most risque story described a ski party in college, where they all rented a condo and one couple when into a room together and had noisy sex. The other people in the conversation group found this story really outrageous and shocking ("What kind of parties did you go to! Wow, you're so dirty!")... so if you're telling anything even approaching this level (being at a party where you overhear sex), you're probably being way too candid.

[lifeinkorea]

I think the key here is to say little, and if people are interested say a little more. If you are comfortable and they are still interested, that's between you and the students. If they don't contribute to the conversation, meaning 2 or more people talking, then stop with the stand up routine.

We are here more for conversation than entertainment and gossip.

[DosEquisXX]

I'll tell students about my life in America and what I did in America.

But in terms of political/ethical beliefs, my opinion of Korea and current location, I keep that to myself to avoid misunderstandings and offending people.