Korean Job Discussion Forums

[ryleeys]

I was once yelled at for trying to answer a call from my mother in class (I was expecting her to call concerning my grandfather's cancer, and I had set the phone to vibrate). Therefore, it is obvious to me, that at my hagwan nothing is more important than my teaching.

[The Bobster]

A year or so ago I had a similar situation when I my Mom was in and out of the hospital with terminal complications from here diabetes. It was bad enough that my mood was affected and it was visible to the people I people with - though I remained professional, took care of business and got the job done, I just wasn��t the cheerful kinda Bobster the kids enjoyed so well.

I explained it when asked by my supervisor and also requested that I be able to keep my handphone on vibration mode in the classroom in case some dire news needed to be conveyed to me from Stateside. The response was ��of course,�� and in many other ways I��ve seen Korean people demonstrate that family is really more important than most things ��

Guess I just had a different boss, rylees.

[Thomas]

In Korea, I just took the phone and gave it to their homeroom teacher (or made the student come to me in the teacher's office aftre class and ask for it back).

Here in the states (NY), we have a school policy: Students may not have a cell phone or walkman (or similar items) at all in school. Our administration policy directs us to take them and turn them in to the principal. Students can get detention for it.
As for my own personal response, a cell phone or item in class gets my reply to "put it away... I don't want to see it." If I see it or hear, I take it and talk to the student after class. A repeat offence goes to the administration.

[Tiger Beer]

I teach one-on-one through webcams online.

If their phone rings.. and they choose to answer it.. I just pop open the Daves ESL post and see what all you guys are up to while I very patiently wait for them to finish (if thats their priority). Unfortunately the usually ignore the phone however

If its my own phone ringing.. I sit on it to drown out the sound and continue teaching

[kangnam mafioso]

I'm generally a low-maintenance , low-tech teacher. I don't let the little things bother me as I feel it distracts the class even more. For example, we all know a cell phone is distracting, but ignoring it will lessen the overall distraction rather than going into a huge tirade every time it happens. It doesn't mean I don't care or I'm ambivalent about my classroom -- I just choose to deal with it in another way, usually non-verbally. We can't expect our classrooms to be perfect utopian spaces that never collide with the humdrum of daily life. Our classrooms are a reflection of the superficial world in which we live; to try and pretend otherwise is histrionic and sanctomonious. Lighten up, brother, and remember -- we're all in this wonderful trip called life together.

[wylde]

[rudyflyer]

depends on the time of day and the mood I'm in at the time. I may:

1) shoot an evil glare at them and tell them to put it away

2) take the phone and give it back to them at the end of class

3) take their phone and call my family in the states figure if they interrupt my class with their conversation, I'll do the same

4) repeat offenders get marked absent and/or thrown out of class

when I hand out policies I put in "TURN OFF AND PUT AWAY YOUR CELL PHONES!!!!!!!" in English AND Korean

[Mr. Kalgukshi]

[Juggertha]

If its my kids, I usually talk to the caller. Man does everyone crack up in class. Occasionally the caller will try to talk in English and everyone has fun with it.... that is until i hang up. The look on my face as the smile fades gives them the hint to never let it ring again.


if its my adults.. hell, they are busy ppl. I bow out and let them talk.

[dutchman]

I spell it out very clearly to my uni student at the beginning of the semester. Attendance is factored into their final grade. If they forget to turn their cell phones off in class and it rings they should quickly turn it off. If the phone goes to their ear or I see them typing, they are marked absent. I have very few problems with cell phones.

[kangnamdragon]

The problem with keeping the phone is that for some people, it is their only phone. There is a difference between keeping a phone and a video game. A phone is something needed in modern society. Without a phone, how are they supposed to call their parents to say they may be late, or call a friend to see what time they are meeting to study?

[Gord]

I just don't agree with taking phones. If it rings, have them deal with it quietly and continue on with the class. If it's really a problem, tell them to step outside the room.

As was said already, it's a phone, not a video game. Night and day world of diffence. The idea of punishing someone academically or incurring them a loss simply because they didn't turn off their phone is asinine, in my opinion. If I was in a class and my phone rang because I forgot to turn it off, and then someone said they were going to keep it for a week there would be issues.

[simulated stereo]

My rule is, if a student's cell phone rings in class or if I catch them sending a text message, they must buy choco pies for everyone in the room. So far this semester it has happened three times.

[FUBAR]

[FUBAR]