Korean Job Discussion Forums

[some waygug-in]

I think you mis-understand what taking the job less seriously means.

It's a kindergarten class. You can't expect strict behavioral techniques

to go over well with them.


What it means is "relax", do your best but don't beat yourself up about it.


As for the boss, just smile say OK and then ignore everything he/she just

said. If it gets too bad, you can quit. But just give it a bit more time.

It took me 3 months before I got on to what I should be doing.

[lunknot]

[i_teach_esl]

youtube videos of "whole brain teaching," "tpr," "young learners," and "kindergarten classes." Watch youtube videos of "super simple songs." And don't be afraid of repeating the same activity over many different classes: young children like patterns and repetition, it's why they always say "again, again!" after you play a video or play a game.

[i_teach_esl]

establish routines now. i begin each kindergarten class with the alphabet song http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7XYQd_sJVzk and end each class with the goodbye song http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tCSl_2ykgs Watch youtube videos of nanny911 and/or supernanny to learn how to talk to small children.

Teach them rule number one is to look and listen. Point to eyes when you say "look" and point to ears when you say "listen." Do it every time they chatter too much: you say, "Class, rule number one?" They answer and gesture, "look and listen." Do it over and over and when they quiet down, you say "Good job!" with a very happy face. use the same very simple phrases when you speak to them. they dont understand english, but they'll understand the simple phrases if you gesture and use them over and over again. My students understand sit down, please be quiet, look and listen...

i used this "big/small" activity (tho i don thave the cd, i just sing) before i have them sit down and read a story or do flashcards. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EUHkinRy6bM

on the board, i have three cut outs: tom on one end, jerry on teh same side, and cheese at the other end. I tell them if they do well, i move jerry closer to teh cheese. When they misbehave, i move tom closer to jerry. If jerry makes it all the way to teh cheese by the end of class, they get a sticker. This, like all class routines, work if you are consistent. Every time the class finishes a task, i say, "Good job!" and move jerry over. they get really excited.

also: remember what a 5 year can and can't do. You cant expect them to write whole sentences or pay attention for long periods of time. Get familiar with how 5 year old act, and then adjust your teaching accordingly. Teaching kindy can be so much fun once you get the hang of it. Best of luck, OP.

[joelove]

[nicwr2002]

[I-am-me]

Go Home!

[I-am-me]

Go Home!

[I-am-me]

Go Home!

[I-am-me]

Go Home!

[Who's Your Daddy?]

Going home isn't a defeat. Some people don't fit with this country, it's not utopia. Some people are too nice to survive here. Actually there are some people that are too good to be here. Their decision to go home might be the smart move.

[watergirl]

WOW!!!
I'm sorry, but Dodge whatever and Augustine.. really kinda sucky, mean comments.. Social skills I'm guessing shouldn't be first on your resumes, and I'm also going to guess, lacking social skills speaks somewhat on your probable teaching skills, so if you don't have anything nice to say, why don't u just not say anything at all?

Anyways, poster, your first few weeks are always really hard, and kindergarteners are probably the hardest. I usually never like my kids at all for the first few weeks, but have ended up really adoring them.

It sounds like your bosses are not that great either.
So, that age group is difficult.
I use a lot of songs in the beginning of class with this age. Do u have a tv or even a computer in the class? youtube has tons of songs for learning english..
Some ones I like.. 'paint the paint is pink', 'ten little numbers', 'the little snowflake' 'the phonics song' If u can play songs, this will make your time with them so much better, and u can message me for more. When you're playing them, u can pause, and ask 'what's that? what colour..? etc, so u r still teaching somewhat.
Also, stickers!!. After songs, I write the kids name on the board, and if they raise their hand and guess things (easy stuff..what colour? etc, they get a a check beside their name. At the end of class, it will be a sticker.
This calms the kids down, and they sit more quietly, and learn to get used to school. They really care about stickers.. It doesn't even make sense.

You should have a more specific post asking for ideas for their ages, because if they're 5 or 7 makes a difference, and there are helpful people on here who have experience teaching.

Things like using a pencil sharpener or even keeping books on their desk r hard for kids this age. They don't have the motor skills, so maybe u could just have extra sharpened pencils for them.
If they're breaking the pencils on purpose, u simply tell them not to do it, and if they keep doing it, put a sad face beside that kids name and erase one of the child's check marks, so they lose the sticker.
Kids this age r difficult, but they (most) do learn to copy or follow rules easily. They will start 'enforcing' the rules to other kids after awhile, (so cute)
Maybe, u can message me for other ideas, but get a sticker system in place fast.

[kimchi_pizza]

Deep breath OP,

You must be calm, be positive and be in control of yourself first and foremost; students are a reflection of your anxiety and nervousness. If you
seriously can't get ahold of yourself, how can you expect to get ahold of young ones.

Recognize your fallibility/inexperience and if you seriously can't adjust, then do your best and go home, for YOUR and your students' sake at the end of
your contract.

No shame in it, this teach'n business isn't cut out for anyone regardless of
their experience or degrees. Recognize it and move on. Good luck!

[augustine]

[le-paul]