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Korean Job Discussion Forums
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Smithington
Joined: 14 Dec 2011
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 Posted: Mon Dec 17, 2012 10:33 pm Post subject: |
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| soyoungmikey wrote: |
| 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. |
You've clearly never taught grade six in a Korean public school. Or if you have, you've had effective Korean co-teachers. That, however, is not the norm. I have several co-teachers at my school, a different one for each class. Most either absent themselves while I'm teaching, nap at the back of the class, or get caught up on their online shopping. In short, they are useless. You are basically left alone to deal with students who you can't effectively communicate with due to the language barrier, have not been instructed to respect you in any way, and who think English time means 'play time'. You have no means of disciplining them (if you move their chair to the front they'll just move it back three minutes later). You can't tell the absentee Korean 'English teacher' what the problem is because (no surprise) they can't speak English. There's also the problem that every Korean teacher has their own classroom rules. They are often different from mine, and it is sometimes difficult to get therm to see you point. Slamming cupboared doors, talking while I'm talking, getting out of their seat etc. Some teachers (being Korean) find these things unobjectionable. Many Koreans have no objection to noise and a certain lawlessness. It's part and parcel of the culture. I think if we all had our own classrooms, and the students came into 'your' room (where the rules are set and understood) we'd have better luck. "You are now entering Mr. Smith's class. Please abide by the rules posted on the door." Some posters on this thread have offered good suggestions. The guy quoted above, however, has contributed nothing but smug arrogance. I doubt that he has ever seen the inside of a grade six classroom in Korea.
It is definitely a challenge. |
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nautilus
Joined: 26 Nov 2005
Location: Je jump, Tu jump, oui jump!
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| Posted: Tue Dec 18, 2012 9:53 am Post subject: |
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| Smithington wrote: |
| Slamming cupboared doors, talking while I'm talking, getting out of their seat etc. |
..and many korean teachers find it secretly amusing to see the foreigner experiencing difficulty. It makes them look better.
The worst KT's will even positively encourage them to disrespect the FT.
And they wonder why gepik "failed". lol. |
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nautilus
Joined: 26 Nov 2005
Location: Je jump, Tu jump, oui jump!
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| Posted: Tue Dec 18, 2012 10:02 am Post subject: |
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| Soyoungmikey wrote: |
| 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. |
All that is true to an extent.
And all of that is more likely to work better if you have good chemistry with the class.
But it only takes one student to reduce even the best class to chaos, if they so desire.
Because ultimately you're not allowed to lift a finger to stop them.
The more imbecillic of the hogwon bosses will even complain at you raising your voice. Nothing is allowed to upset their customers. |
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happiness
Joined: 04 Sep 2010
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| Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2012 5:03 pm Post subject: |
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| my co-teacher said to me not too worry about them too much, since theyll graduate soon and be out of our hair, just do the book (try to finish it, but then again, we didnt finish before the new book came, and noone noticed). I do make them do classwork and talk to them alot, so who knows... |
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TheUrbanMyth
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Location: Retired
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| Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2012 7:09 pm Post subject: |
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I find removing "down time" (the 10 minute breaks between classes) is particularly effective in getting a class to be quiet.
"One minute talking in class=2 minutes staying in class AFTER the bell rings".
Takes a couple of times before the denser ones get the idea...but afterwards you could have heard a pin drop. |
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TheUrbanMyth
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Location: Retired
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| Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2012 7:15 pm Post subject: |
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| thomas pars wrote: |
Find yourself a nice little hagwon where the students and more importantly the parents care about education, and you'll find yourself actually liking Korean kids and teaching again.
Good luck. |
While this may be true...I'd say finding a hakwon like this is akin to finding a needle in a haystack. Sure you may get lucky and find a great hakwon like that. But they are few and far in between. The students (by and large) don't want to be there (particularly after a day at P.S where they don't want to be either) and Grade 6's are not exactly known for the value they place on education.
As for parents many also view hakwons as a place to get the kids out of their hair for a few hours. Sure many do care about education...but if problems arise they are more likely to yank the kid out of a hakwon and send him to another one than to actually sit down with you and solve the issue. |
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nautilus
Joined: 26 Nov 2005
Location: Je jump, Tu jump, oui jump!
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| Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2012 9:28 am Post subject: |
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| TheUrbanMyth wrote: |
As for parents many also view hakwons as a place to get the kids out of their hair for a few hours. |
They want their kids to be socialised, and they want them off their hands.
Some parents take their kids english education very seriously. Most do not. |
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ETA
Joined: 15 Jun 2010
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| Posted: Thu Dec 27, 2012 8:54 am Post subject: Same issue |
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| Yep, same issue here, one 6th grade class full of class clowns. All the other subject teachers have same problem with this class. The worst thing is punishment, comments on their report cards aren't allowed as that's for the homeroom teachers, and everyone gets pushed to the next grade anyway. There is no flunking elementary school in Korea. Usually I teach the students who are interested, occasionally throw class clowns out of class and can't wait until the 40 min tone sounds. Considering throwing all 25 class clowns out of class one day and just teaching the 5 who want to learn. But then its a pain for the busy principal to deal with it. |
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