Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Harpeau]

I'm at a uni & I tell my students to turn off their phones at the start of every class. If one rings, then they must pay me 500 won - on the spot. Same with text messages and talking on the phone. I don't mind the translators & dictionaries as long as it's related to the subject. What do you do if you catch a cell phone ringing in your class? Enquiring minds want to know.

[crazylemongirl]

If I see a phone it's mine for the day and they have to tell me why they want back. second time it's one week. third week one month.

[wylde]

[Son Deureo!]

I ignore it, or suggest that they take it outside. The other students usually give them dirty enough looks for wasting their classtime that they don't want to let it happen again.

[rapier]

Let them chat, and ask them to play me the "just one 10 minutes" jingle afterwards. Its called taking a positive interest in the lives of my students, getting inside their little worlds and winning their respect and friendship. Maybe if I like their phone, they might even be nice enough to at least read through my textbook briefly. I am a great teacher by korean hagwon standards. The kids love me, and tell their parents they have a good teacher. So I must be.

[desultude]

I tell them at the beginning of the semester that if the phone rings, or if they send text messages, the phone is mine for a day, during which time I may call my father, who loves to talk, in the U.S.A..

Its pretty easy for me to control, as I have a max of 12 students in each class- no place to hide!

[wylde]

next question... who has a class bigger than 10?

it might be alright in a small class but in a big class it is an utter piss off

[katydid]

Last year at uni, if I caught anyone using a cell phone in class, I would take it away until the end of class. If it rung, depending on my mood, I would either take that away too or shoot them a look that said "Turn it off now!"

[ryleeys]

Had a cell phone ring a few weeks ago in one of my classes (common, what the hell does a 9 year old need a cell phone for?)... the student answered and began talking in Korean... I grabbed the phone and started yelling "ya bo say yo!" at the top of my lungs... after about 2 minutes, the other person (another child) hung up. I gave the phone back and said, "Sorry, just wanted to order a pizza."

Haven't seen a phone since, but hoping I do soon just for some entertainment and a break from the monotony of this job.

[wylde]

[rapier]

I think you're all too harsh on your poor kids. The cellphone is their property, and you've no right to touch it. The kid might be having an important conversation, you don't know:)

[wylde]

[Universalis]

I used to sit quietly in class until the student on the phone was done talking. I figured if it was important enough to disrupt the class for, we should give him or her the silence they need to carry on the conversation.

Of course, I had a serisouly pissed look on my face... but that's not important.

One time, a student asked me a question, and as soon as I started to answer it, he ran out of the class because his phone rang. Needless to say, I was incredibly angry.

Brian

[djsmnc]

I just do not care...their loss

[buddy bradley]

I always answer my phone when it rings during class.

As for the students, I find that listening to their conversation provides a welcome break from the mediocrity of talking to chairs (teaching) the whole day.