Korean Job Discussion Forums

[MEDALLOKUYA]

Looking for some suggestions. Gonna start a 3 strike rule in class.

1 strike - Warning / Name on board

2 strike - ?

3 strike - Leave class and chat with director / After class detention

*Middle school aged btw

[Coltronator]

3 Strikes is often an ineffective method of instilling class discipline. Why give them 2 times that they can be a dick on purpose before getting in trouble? Why punish a student who is enthusiastic about class and contributing but honestly slips up one too many times?

Punishments should specifically be reserved for those who are purposely displaying non compliant behaviour for the sake of hurting the class. Otherwise you should just correct the behaviour (verbally or non verbally) in a positive way. Wait for a time when you can approach the student and explain what they did wrong and encourage them to fix it.

[MEDALLOKUYA]

[candy bar]

[MEDALLOKUYA]

[quote="candy bar"][quote="MEDALLOKUYA"]

[Chaparrastique]

If this is a hogwon and your director is useless, then you'll need a doctorate in reverse psychology to be able to control those juveniles.

[nicwr2002]

I've taken down all their phone numbers and parent's phone numbers and told them that I would call their parents. That seems to have worked so far, but this would require some Korean language ability.

[Stan Rogers]

I usually walk up to the troublemaker and flex my huge bicep muscles.

Works every time.

[PRagic]

push-ups. lots and lots of push-ups!

[emetib]

At that age...

Peer-pressure as a good-behaviour motivator.

Punish the entire class a few days (I would just immediately stop the class and make them copy the book/write lines), then the trouble-makers won't be having as much fun because it wouldn't be getting the reaction they were hoping for from their peers. On the flip-side, you also need to praise and reward good behaviour in the class. Many kids act up to get any attention they can because they are lacking it elsewhere, and they just don't want to be there. They've also discovered misbehaviour=no work from the foreign teacher, because many of the teachers either don't know proper classroom management or can't discipline effectively due to minimal Korean ability. I really hate being a strict teacher over here, but that is what the children are used to in their schools. Usually, teachers are the ones who really raise the kids over here, not the parents. I watch kids walk all over their parents and elders, but not dare mouth off to their teacher at school for fear of discipline.

I've done everything from physical exercise (planks/push-ups/frogs etc.) to kicking them out, confiscating phones, extra work, contacting parents, sending them to the director (IF the director works together with you)...

This site has a plethora of information:

http://www.behavioradvisor.com/oldindex.html

[Coltronator]

[MEDALLOKUYA]

There really is no magic "thing" to do. I guess I will just go back to what i've done in the past.

1st Strike - Warning & name on board

2nd Strike (option 1) - Outside & hands in the air for 3-5 minutes

2nd Strike (option 2) - Outside & write "I will not speak Korean and be disruptive in class etc etc" for 5 minutes or x amount of times

3rd Strike - After school detention

4th Strike - Send them to the director

To any new teachers that encounter problem classes. I highly recommend getting the right mindset of not trying to be the "nice" or "liked" teacher. Students will take advantage of you and you will have a lot more stress and management issues in your classes. Its best to be the fair, stern, and respected teacher.

[Snowkr]

Couldn't agree more! Being 'liked' should never be the primary goal of a teacher in a classroom full of kids. It took me a long time to get over this. When I did, my job became infinitely less stressful. Now I hold the same mentality with university students in a far less structured educational environment than China/Japan/ Korea-- the Arab Gulf.

[Stain]

What I have learned is be an asshole. The kids might not like you at first but eventually they will come around and realize that you are in charge and you will see that magically they want to impress you with how well they are following the rules. Mind you this doesn't work for ages 5-19. Otherwise, you're golden. Hope this helps.

[EZE]

My kids are really good, but if someone seems unwilling to fall into line, I just give a warning that the troublemaker(s) will have to stay after class to continue studying after everyone else leaves. That usually resolves the issue. I did have to keep two boys in the same class late today, and it actually benefited their understanding of the lesson. But I rarely have to enforce the rule since the threat alone is usually enough. And I rarely have to even give a warning anymore since I'm in my third year at the same hagwon and the kids know the routine. The kids who have been there a while are like veteran athletes who know exactly where the out-of-bounds stripe is. Rookies have to learn, and there are a ton of them this week at my hagwon because of the reopening of the public schools. Most of them are really well-behaved, fortunately.

The main thing is "staying after class" is the punishment that is most acceptable to the parents. Many other forms have the potential to upset the parents, but keeping the kids late gives the parents more educational value for their money.

I have to do different strategies for different students, but "staying after class" is bar far the most effective and most acceptable, generally speaking.