Korean Job Discussion Forums

[orbit720]

So, I've been teaching a class of 6th graders for about 4 months now and I have basically lost control of the class. My other 6th grade classes are fine. They at least listen to me when I talk but not this really bad one. They are constantly speaking in Korean, disrupting the class, and basically pretending that I don't matter.

I have tried to tell my co-teachers and higher ups and they have tried to help with the problem but in the end they have said it is my responsibility to fix the class.

I have tried disciplining them but that only makes it worse. I've tried intensives but they act like they don't care. I have also tired games which are okay but we can play games everyday and unless it's a game they basically stop paying attention.

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to get a hold of my class again. I'm afraid if I don't fix it soon (I switch to lower level 6th grade classes in a month) I'll be fired.

[Dodge7]

Those kind of classes I just teach and the ones who listen will/do, and the other ones just talk. I just teach as if I am teaching to a wall and if they listen, they listen. I still get paid. But I've found out long ago that my health and stress level is not worth trying to corral a bunch like you described. And if your manager gets upset, then he needs to step in and help control the class...when it comes to disciplining Korean kids, foreigners just have no chance if they simply will NOT behave. It is as if we become inaudible and invisible to them.

[Modernist]

I have a MS 3G class like this. My worst. It does depend a bit on PS vs hagwon, but I'm assuming it's a hagwon? It's nasty all around though.

Anyway, we are not supposed to be responsible for disciplining them. Often they 'pretend' not to know what you are telling them, even if they do. I even have a Korean CT in the class but he doesn't/can't control them either.

I would say to drop the games. Games are rewards if they behave, not bribes. As you are finding out, if they think that you will keep giving them games they will NEVER behave for anything else. Don't try to be popular.

What I do is focus on a few kids who will at least try, or even just obey when I tell them to do something, and ignore the others. For the few who do better I will give them small candies [better to bribe individual students, when they DO engage, than a whole class, with a game they don't deserve].

If they are threatening to fire you for this you need to get some help from staff. Once a class goes like this it is pretty difficult to reel it back in--they think they got it figured out and until you prove them wrong, they have NO incentive to change anything.

Worst case, if they DO fire you get a D10 and find a new job. Lesson learned--don't be too nice up front. Be 'mean teacher.' Then dial it back once they earn it.

[mrmaganarich]

[luckylady]

ahhh, the 6th grade beasts, I know them well

there are a few things you might try if you are so inclined.

one of my favorites - open the windows and turn off the heat in winter, shut the windows and turn off the air in summer, that gets their attention pretty fast.

zoom in on the troublemakers and take no prisoners. set aside desks up front - all the way up front, right in front of you - immediately upon the action of an indiscretion that displeases you, move them up there. make it clear you'll have no mercy. they have to earn the right to sit with their friends.

go to a stationery store and buy at least 2 stamps. one for praise, work well done, that sort of thing; the other should have a very unhappy face on it, needs improvement, that sort of thing. that one should be used with red ink. start stamping their notebooks in red when they misbehave and initial it, add a note if you want. Mothers will pay attention and if there's anything that strikes fear in a student's heart, it's MOTHER.

for extremely foul-mouthed misbehavior, the incorrigible types, the kind that make even a sweet gentle soul like me want to chew up nails and spit out pennies, well, those you have to turn over to their homeroom teacher right then and there. just have them stand up, take them to her/him and tell them, this student cannot return to class until they learn to respect your classroom; of course they get a red stamp in their book as well.

give the good students the good stamp (blue or black ink); praise them generously. let them learn to discipline each other; learn to separate the cliques and spread them across the classroom so they don't talk so much.

in the end, they are 6th graders, which means they are all going to MS soon as well as having their 6th grade trip, if they haven't already, and are all very excited about summer. they've probably already got their MS assignments and it's all very clear to them they can do whatever they want - for now they are at the top of the food chain.

just don't let them have you for lunch.

[JustinC]

[luckylady]

I used to do the seating arrangements first off in a new class but it backfired - they all immediately hated me for it even tho of course it was necessary.

by waiting until they refuse to stop talking to each other and pay attention, it's on their shoulders and they fully comprehend it's their own doing when they've lost their seat. then they have to earn it back.

[Lolimahro]

[sojusucks]

[FDNY]

I make student write lines. Print out "I will not make noise in English class" on a piece of paper and then below it put 50 lines. If a student gets noisy make him/her leave the class and write the above sentence 50 times. Works for me.

[soyoungmikey]

Discipline problems are often due to ineffective classroom instruction: lack of interesting activities, English that is not authentic, instructions which are not simple and clear, not having enough varied activities, etc. I think it's time to hit the methodology books and think about what you can do as a teacher to get them to learn. It's always easy to point the finger at your students but it's difficult to say am I doing what I should be doing.

Hope this helps you to reflect on your teaching practice.

[some waygug-in]

I was waiting for someone to start with the "blame the teacher" schpeal.

The OP did say he had no trouble in his other classes, so I don't think

it's a problem with his teaching style.


Every teacher will have at least 1 class like this.

Try to ignore most of it and teach the one or two students who will

listen.

I liked the idea about turning off the aircon or the heat, till they calm down.

But in some schools the teacher has no control over those things.

[luckylady]

[soyoungmikey]

[northway]

The funny thing is that there is at least one certified teacher in this thread who has said he doesn't care.