Korean Job Discussion Forums

[mervanm]

Before I leave for Korea, I wanted to bring some candy or sweets with me for my classes. I will be teaching younger kids. Does anyone have any experience on a generally accepted favorite candy? Is there an American candy that can be purchased in S. Korea but is usually too expensive to be considered a daily option? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[Skippy]

Do not waste your money? I once brought some nice Jelly Bellies and the kids either sucked on it and spit it out later. If you do want to waste moneys stick to basics hard candies in fruit flavors or chocolate somethings or others. Do not waste money on Nerds, or Gob stoppers or licorice. Kids here have their set tastes.

If you want to be a little mean get some sour tongues. Maybe one kid out of hundred would last 1 min with one. But most would be wasted. Same with cinnamon candy.

[oldtactics]

Hand out high-fives.

[mervanm]

Thank you for the responses. I have a better idea now as to what not to bring.

[Lastrova]

Tootsie pops. Almost all my kids like them and look forward to them. They sell the minis here, but if you can get the regular size, you'll be golden.

[Kaypea]

I find the kids love any candy, even the cheapest kind at the whole store, but they do love lollipops the absolute best. They even like cough candy... not that I reccommend you give that, but one time I had a cold and the kids saw me eating cough candy, and they really wanted some.

[jonpurdy]

Don't waste suitcase space. You can buy all the stuff they like here.

[Son Deureo!]

When I got a care package with a bag of my beloved and (back then) impossible to find Reese's Cups with my students. The kids hated 'em, and I wanted them back.

If you want to bring something special for the kids from home, bring 'em some cool English stickers and stamps. They'll take up a lot less space in your suitcase and they're something your students will actually appreciate.

[ThingsComeAround]

Korean (kids) don't respect or appreciate anything foreign.

Hell- look at the pizza

Just buy whatever here.

[sojusucks]

Go to E-Mart and buy a giant bag of E-mart candy or spend more money and buy lollipops at Costco.

[interestedinhanguk]

[jrwhite82]

^^^^ Those are some delicious sounding flavors.

I'm really anti-candy and food rewards. When I first started my coworker and I used to give out grapes, bread, candy, etc. One time he didn't have bread for this class of first grade girls. So from my room all I hear is some girl screaming BBBBBAAAAAAAANNNNNGGGGGGG!!!! At the top of her lungs. Yeah, after that, we decided no more snacks. I think it was a good decision. Instead they had to earn stamps or stickers and collect enough to turn them in for a pencil/sit next to a friend/funny youtube video/etc...

With the food prizes they come to expect it more than feel like they should earn it.

[siwawalter]

Skittles if they have any.

[fugitive chicken]

I handed out airheads once and they were a big hit.

[pangaea]

Maybe you could get an inexpensive but unusual candy? I like pixie sticks but I've never seen them here. Also, like another poster said, regular size tootsie pops might be good. I've only found the minis here.