Korean Job Discussion Forums

chaz47 · Joined: 11 Sep 2003

I think I may have offended a student tonight. The situation:

Everytime there is a new student, the class goes and around introduces themselves. Four things are required, 1.) What should we call you? 2.) What do you do? (job/major/etc.) 3.) What do you like to do (hobby)? 4.) Why are you studying English.

Anyway, there's this one guy who I think has some form of autism who consistently asks myself and other students some quite personal questions during this process. Yet, when I asked him tonight what he studies he avoided the question. I thought at first he simply didn't understand but it turned out he was just hiding some personal information which he had offered in previous classes without any hesitation.

After clarifying that he just didn't want to share this basic information (which he in fact shared in previous classes several times). I told him that that was strange of him to do. Because, as I mentioned... it's commonly done, he's shared the information before, and he often asks personal questions (occupation, marital status, age, etc.) of other students.

At the end of class he told me that I shouldn't say that someone or their behavior is 'strange' here. Well buddy, I gotta tell you... lol. Why the hell would he act this way? Anyone else go through this with their students? The guy creeps me out, I dread having a solo class with him as it is, now that this has happened. Argh.

transmogrifier · Joined: 02 Jan 2012 Location: Seoul, South Korea

Certainly strange behavior, but I agree with him that it wasn't a good idea to call him out on it in front of others; that doesn't help anyone. Better to just say "Okay," and move on to someone who isn't a huge weirdo.

chaz47 · Joined: 11 Sep 2003

Popocatepetl · Posted: Mon Nov 04, 2013 5:58 am Post subject:

Change your locks.

Be afraid.... be very afraid.

You have challenged ajosshi's position as alpha leader of the hierarchy.

thegadfly · Joined: 01 Feb 2003

In that situation, I would presume that he is switching his field of study, probably involuntarily -- that is, he did not get into the program he expected, or he got kicked OUT of a program he was in...hence the sudden embarrassment when asked about something that had previously not caused a problem....

...so, none of the above, but probably having a bad day, and then you piled on Very Happy

YTMND · Joined: 16 Jan 2012 Location: You're the man now dog!!

When students say "No" or they avoid answering a question I don't move on to another student but ask the same student do make an affirmative sentence about something. If they don't play sports, fine, what do they like to do instead? Instead of "What are you doing?" ask "What do you like to study?".

Let the students volunteer specifics.