Korean Job Discussion Forums

sbp59 · Joined: 01 Apr 2009 Location: Somewhere in SK

Just interested to know if many of your students use bad language and korean curse words in your classrooms and in the hallways?

Recently, I've noticed it more and more. My korean ability is not great but it's also not too bad. I've had a korean g/f for a couple of years so I know what these kids are saying and can understand most of what is being said around me. I tell them in English not to swear but they can't understand me so I then tell them in Korean. They of course, think it's entertaining that the foreigner can speak korean. So, instead of getting them to stop the bad language, they just want to speak to me in korean all the time. Advice?

What do you do about this at your school? Tell the boss? Secretary? Korean Teachers? My current school just seems to let them use swear words whenever they want. It has become very frustrating. No kid should be able to talk like this at school, at home or to their teachers, ever.

Ribena · Joined: 07 Apr 2011 Location: UK

You could try punishing them for using bad language in YOUR classroom. What goes on outside of it, in the streets or at home isn't something you can control. Kids are kids and they will try it on, the best you can do is let them know its not allowed in your classroom.

ChrisLamp · Joined: 27 Jul 2010

Call them on it. Give them a strike or kick them out.
I just say " bad word. do you think I'm babo?"

today a 5 year old said *beep* you in english and gave me the finger, I took him by the hand and walked him straight to the director. they test boundaries and if they know they can get away with something they will. you've got to nip it in the bud.

the thing is no matter how much dominance you show they will never respect you unless you can understand what they're saying in korean. it's super frustrating and one of the many reasons i'll be leaving soon. if I wanted to spend time learning a new language just for a job I'd move to China and learn Mandarin. Why the hell do people waste their time learning Korean? It's useless outside of this tiny peninsula, you might as well learn Latin.

woah, rant. oops.

pip 001 · Joined: 20 Mar 2010

In the hallway I pretend I don't hear or see anything (except fights)... When they're in the hallway it's beak time and I'm off to the staff room...
In class you're in charge, right? So, you're meant to punish them to show them it's not ok. Cross out his/her stamps on the stamp chart, put him/her outside and talk to him/her, phone his/her parents...

Kennyftw · Joined: 08 Aug 2011

This is something that troubles me about Korean kids.
I was, by society's standards, a bad kid growing up. I was bad, maybe even one of the top 5 worst kids going through middle school. But I NEVER swore in ear's distance of a teacher. I was just too scared of them hearing me and getting my parents called. I think these kids swear at home, too. They have to! Korea is just a trashy-mouth kind of country.

Ribena · Joined: 07 Apr 2011 Location: UK

Um I think people will find that this doesn't just happen in Korea, British playgrounds etc have alot of swearing. I was in a supermarket near where I live and there were parents swearing at their kids so I guess that is wear it starts.

sbp59 · Joined: 01 Apr 2009 Location: Somewhere in SK

thegadfly · Joined: 01 Feb 2003

Kids swearing AT you and kids swearing within earshot of you are two entirely different things. When I was in school, the kids who took Spanish would swear in Spanish in all of their other classes. The kids who took French swore in French. I took Latin (futue te ipsum, to the fella dissin' Latin Razz

), and I swore in Latin.

Kids swear to feel empowered -- it happened when *I* was a little one, over 35 years ago, and it STILL happens now -- imagine that! As a teacher, you hear it, you correct it, but it isn't a sign of the end times -- it is normal behavior. Unless they are speaking directly TO you when they say it, they probably do not realize you can hear, or that you understand them.

I taught in the US for a fair number of years, and I could swear, and recognize swearing, in 17 different languages...and I was taught all of these colorful phrases because I overheard my students using them. Arabic, Portugeuse, Turkish, Croatian, Puerto Rican slang, whatever -- kids will cuss when they think they can get away with it, and when they think you won't understand it.

Correct it or don't correct it -- your call. Personally, I correct it...but be aware that there ARE soundalikes, and you don't want to treat the Korean version of "freakin'" like you would the Korean version of "F--kin'."

Usually, a "mal hajima! Dok-ba-ro, heng-dong-HE!" is enough for my kids to look sheepish and be more careful about their language ("that kind of language is not allowed! Behave properly!").

Zackback · Joined: 05 Nov 2010 Location: Kyungbuk

I just let them swear. If they are speaking English then so be it. If they swear at me? I just swear back at them.

sbp59 · Joined: 01 Apr 2009 Location: Somewhere in SK

andrewchon · Posted: Tue Sep 06, 2011 9:16 am Post subject:

You are feeling the unhappiness of the (perceieved) powerless of yourself. In this case, it is the unpleasantries of foul language within your ego-boundary. Indirect method to counter this is 'jamming' their transmission by speaking louder than them and about them, pointedly ignoring them in the process. They don't even have to understand your English if your body-language is strong enough to make them feel small. Direct method is to make them do menial tasks such as cleaning or picking up rubbish. You don't have to explain the reasons for making them do things. They'll either do it, or run away. Either way, they'll think twice before incroaching your ego-boundary.

happiness · Joined: 04 Sep 2010

no, if someone says a bad word, i call him out in front of his friends. Thats how you do things in Korea.

kid: hey BABO!
me, to other kids: do you guys think Im babo? Dont you like me? Is he a good guy? (or anything like this)

ALWAYS, one or two kids will speak up, and then they will embarass him.

in Korea, the group mentality can work both ways...

kid: SWEARWORD to me
me: do you guys always say that? is that a good word? do you say that to your mom?!?

same reaction.

be cool

wishfullthinkng · Joined: 05 Mar 2010

i have a feeling this (http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2011/09/117_94446.html) will not help the problem either.

jvalmer · Joined: 06 Jun 2003

jeremysums · Joined: 08 Apr 2011

They can hear bad words on tv or outside, but if used in classroom, probably write their name on the board just to teach other kids its bad and not tolerated.

My teacher did that and it was embarassing for me. Doesn't work on some kids though, probably cause mom, dad and brother curse at home.