Korean Job Discussion Forums

[appletarty]

Hey guys,

I would love some feedback on middleschoolers - what are they like to teach??!

Ive heard it can be quite draining trying to motivate them? What is discipline like? Obviously it all depends on the school/class/individual student - but if anyone would like to make some sweeping generalisations that would be great

Ive thought elementary could be sweet/cute etc,

Feedback v v welcome

[amnsg2]

I teach both, and I have some middle school classes that are fun and others where the life is sucked out of me the second I walk in the class. It's all about the dynamics of the classroom, and it varies so much just with one kid absent or a new class member.

Elementary are very cute But you have to be on your toes for things like bullying. I missed it, and I feel terrible but I have not noticed that in my middle school classes. They're either friends or they're not, there's not any hostility.

Sweeping generalisations:

large middle school classes= fun
small middle school classes= hell on Earth
large elementary school classes= hell on Earth +1 (but they're still my favourites!)
small elementary classes= awesome

[ESL Milk "Everyday]

Elementary is better.

Some of my middle schoolers are great... most of my third years are horrid, rude and spoiled. They will insult me one minute, sleep the next, then wake up at the end of class and say 'candy!', expecting me to reward them for nothing.

They're still children, but they're more entitled and harder to amuse. They're not cute anymore, but they think they are-- I guess some of them still have their moments. Elementary kids are sad to see you go, most middle schoolers have other priorities. They love sleeping, eating and whining. Some of them are mature beyond their years, others are basically overgrown 5th graders. They can be more physically intimidating, super defensive, and walk around with a sense of some great injustice having been perpetrated on them if you discipline them for a very valid reason.

They're not my favorite... on the other hand, I'm a lot more detached than when I was doing elementary and it has suited me well. Just treat them as students, not as friends... which is easier to do because they're just not as charming as younger kids. And if they're being rude, put them in their place... and don't ever hesitate or feel bad about it.

[Louis VI]

I only have 8 years of experience to base this on:

1st year middle schoolers, especially boys - unfocused, disruptive, wild even
2nd year middle schoolers - lower energy, a bit too quiet, complacent
3rd year middle schoolers, especially girls - studious in anticipation of high school

[kidfromkorea]

I found that most middle school students are good. Obviously, there will be students who don't do homework or whatever, I was never in a middle school class where the kids were disruptive or disrespectful to the teachers.

My two cents.

[discostu333]

Depends on the school / area.

Middle school kids from a good area will generally behave better.

Middle school kids from a poor area can be very hard to control, insolent, rude, aggressive, defensive and generally have zero motivation.

It also depends on your co-teachers. In my experience, poor schools tend to get younger female K-teachers as these are the jobs that are bottom of the ladder for a new teacher.

Disruptive pupils + inexperienced teachers = recipe for disaster.

If you come to Korean to teach middle school expect to work for your paycheck. You'll have a completely different experience to the majority who are teaching elementary.

[jvalmer]

Middle school girls are my favorite group of students.
Middle school girls are great.
Middle school boys aren't so great, but you'll find a small number that are really good.
1st year middle school are really enthusiastic. Super easy to get them to talk in until Octoberish. After October they start to go into 2nd year mode.
2nd year middle school generally the worst.
3rd year middle school are not enthusiastic but are easy to control. They seem more serious about school since a lot of them want to get into a good high school.

[discostu333]

Agreed with last poster. 2nd year middle school boys are a nightmare. 1st years start of golden and get worse week by week as the year progresses.

3rd years were always tired and apathetic from late nights studying but only the low ability classes caused any problems. The high level classes were well behaved.

[Morticae]

3rd year- High levels are good, the rest are not.
2nd year- Overall worse than year 3.
1st year- Mixed bag... depends on you. Keep a tight grip on them and they will stay good, but they are very high energy.

[ESL Milk "Everyday]

If I was reading through all of these responses without any idea of what to expect, I would be super confused right now.

I guess the one rule is that Middle School is like a box of chocolates-- some are sweet and make you happy, and some are actually dog turds.

[DosEquisXX]

2nd grade - Horribly defiant and rebellious. Boys are the worst. Girls aren't as bad.

3rd grade - Much more mature and very interesting/fun to teach. Some are apathetic or tired from studying because they want to get into a good high school.

[Kaypea]

I kind of like this age group. They're starting to see the complexities of life and you can joke around with them a little more than with little kids. They really are still children, though... even though some of them are BIG. It's kind of weird to see how the 3rd grade boys, big as they are, still do a lot of of... cuddly horseplay and tickling.

From 1.3 years experience, I say...

-1st graders can be a real trial. The boys can be really hyper and annoying, and the girls are starting to be real beeyatches to each other. But, sometimes they catch me offguard with childish charm, like the time a boy drew me pictures of talking elephants who were in love, or a girl said she wanted a doll for Christmas. Awww...

-2nd graders: the bad kids start to establish themselves as real badasses, and in general they're more defiant, although less rambunctious. Maybe my school's a bad school, but we have some 2nd grade boys who kind of saunter around, in and out of class, like they're at the pool hall. Surprisingly, they're sort of ok in English class if you give them something easy to do

-3rd graders: comparatively mature and sedate, although we had a bad bunch last year who were even worse than our 2nd grade pool hall kids. These were the sort of kids who'd zip around on motorbikes, getting into and causing accidents. Weirdly, they still visit the school from time to time becuase even though they drove all the teachers nuts, they still feel like our school was a special kind of home for them

[smurfetta]

I found middle school students a mixed bag. I had a great cohort that I taught from grades 1 through 3. But then, I had a grade 1 class that was horrible to teach.

[oldfatfarang]

I think it all depends on your co-teachers. I've taught at both private and public middle school all girls' schools (and 1 public co-ed middle school). If you have a really kind, helpful, interested, and strong teacher (not a beater) then the kids will react positively in your classes.

Other thoughts: I don't like teaching korean boys. I think they're violent and disruptive. I have no empathy to teach them.

In contrast, I really enjoy teaching all girls' middle school. The kids are, like other posters said: 1st year = delightful little kids - polite - helpful - creative - and willing to learn. Some of them get a little cheeky towards the end of the first year (hormones and realising that school/life isn't going to be much fun anymore).

2nd year = still nice and can be very passionate about somethings ("I don't like our new uniform, I'm going to kill myself").

3rd year = more mature and serious - still really nice kids - but getting tired and not so creative.

I find that if the kids don't like you - they won't learn anything - no matter what their grade/age. If you don't have the stereotypical 'teacher' look - you have to win them over. But in the end, I really enjoy teaching Korean middle school girls. I'm going to really miss them.

To any new middle school teachers, please realise that Korean middle school is not a very happy experience for these kids. They are slowly having their creativity stiffled, and being turned into study robots. Their personalities are being shaped in ways that are completely foreign to westerners (lack of individuality, creativity, being prepared for a life of respect, obligation and duty). Kids being kids. Therefore, some of them are going to find this process very difficult. Please think about this when you're teaching them. Underneath, they're still nice kids.

Good luck.