Korean Job Discussion Forums

[yeramian]

Are the kids in the Hogwan's uncontrollable? I've worked with some Korean kids here in Oregon and found them quite challenging. These are children from fairly wealthy families (Hynix Executives) and I wondered
if the kids in the country side were easier, or if a certain age group
is best? How are you managing in classroom discipline?
________________________________________________________

[Toby]

[sadsac]

My wife and I have come from a hagwon where strict discipline was enforced, to a hogwan where discipline is an alien word. It is difficult to make the transition. It is difficult to discipline classes when I only see them two or three times a week. My old school, same kids and classes every day, in my own classroom, now 5 lessons, 5 classrooms. Sorry to tell you yeramian, it doesn't get any easier.

[yeramian]

You'd mentioned that you'd moved from a Hagwan where discipline had been strictly enforced to one where there is no discipline. Were you experienced teachers in Canada or the States? It's too bad you didn't know the situation of the new Hagwan. are you trying to pay off loans or anything? Thanks for responding to my post!

[khyber]

i'd say no.
But i'd suggest starting the first few weeks you know them with some activity/games with a hardass policy (while there is your honeymoon period) in terms of class management. After the kids have tested the water, it should be ok.

While i've only been at this hagwon (and my 'partner' teacher says this school is shambles squared), these kids seem fine to me...not great...not horrid, just fine.
go

[shawner88]

I work out in the countryside and the kids are much better. Also, no more than 8 kids/class is also great, usually less than that. I only see each class once a week too, so that helps.

[just because]

Just give them some mashed up sleeping pills.

(Just joking)

[Toby]

[Arthur Fonzerelli]

yes, they are uncontrollable.

[Saxiif]

Depends on what support you get from the school (ie having them punish the kids who you throw out of class or have them yell at you for not "loving the children") and if there's other things going on (having a bad or two hard textbook can turn a good class bad easily).