Korean Job Discussion Forums

[UncleAlex]

Try giving rude dudes the Death Stare: calmly put down your book and
approach the rude dude fixing an ambivalent gaze into his eyes; when
you reach the rude dude fold and cross your arms over your chest; at this
point metamorphose the ambivalence of your eyes into a menacing look.
Remain motionless and continue staring coldly into the rude dude's eyes
until he has shifted or sunk in his little chair. Now you can turn around,
return to the front, pick up your book, and resume teaching.

[OiGirl]

[NearlyKorean]

[captain kirk]

There are leaders in each class, the dynamic kids, and a person has to keep an eye on them to make sure they don't 'take liberties' and 'get away with murder' leading the pack off the meter and into 'playtime'. Because then teacher has to get all drastic, shrill, 'death staring' and haul them back to reality which can do some damaging bumps to the 'harmony'.
It's unfortunate, but at 'month four' with this contract I'm seeing that it isn't the 'hanging out with delightful younguns' it was (for the first four months). Some of the middle school classes, forced to study the dull 'Side by Side', chatter in the back of class and I consider that rude, and haul them out of that with a voice that is loud enough that I can feel it.
Today I got the 'yell into teacher's ear' treatment. Kid came in and yelled 'hello' straight into my ear. I got her to stand arms up in the corner for fifteen minutes. Some of the kids were wondering why she was up there, so I explained. I find that one of the top offensive/rude things a kid can do, deliberately yelling directly into one's ear.
They're kids. And they need to be called on rudeness and things you don't want them to do so I completely agree with Vanislanders approach.
The rudest kid is the daughter of the sister of the boss. Regular heller, she is.
On a positive note, la la la la

[ryleeys]

Speaking of rudeness, I got some from a parent today...

As I've said a few times on other threads, I've recently had all of my classes combined due to the firing of the Korean teacher...

This resulted in my having one class where I teach at least 3 books at the same time. Now, when you have 1 teacher, 9 students, and 3 books, things get complicated. I'm running around trying to cover this material and I would bounce back and forth between groups. Anyway, I'm helping these two girls with their book for a minute when the mother of one of the other girls came into the hagwon and stared through the window for 30 seconds... since I wasn't giving her girl all my time, she walked into my classroom and proceeded to yell at me in Korean.

At this point, I just walked away from her and out of the room (which took her aback a little bit)... the director came and was trying to explain the situation without looking like a complete fool for leaving our school so understaffed. I never did care to find out what the end result was (probably find out tomorrow)... as soon as she and the director went off to talk, I walked back into the room, declared it game time and sat down with a coke... I decided that for the last 15 minutes of that class, no amount of money was worth that crap.

[jajdude]

Seems like the proper move in that situation ryleeys. Anything else afterwards?

I would not stand and take crap from any parent either! I'd leave and pack my bags before that would happen.

I got pissed off a while ago, and just left the class for the last 10 or 15 just to sit alone and relax. They seemed to behave better for a while. I rarely get angry.

Got some kids who aren't so rude but just ignore me. Or some say "Yes, yes, ..blah blah" mocking English they don't understand and wondering what's wrong with me not speaking Korean?

Some kids are rude sometimes though, or disrespectful anyway. Do they learn early on that the foreigner isn't a real person, or is it just the hagwon deal, not a real school? A bit of both probably.

[ryleeys]

Eh... same old shit again today...

Even got spit on.

[jajdude]

Spit on? Intentionally? By some little punk? If so I'm afraid my reflex might be to level the little jerk. One time a kid, 11 or 12, sneezed on me intentionally, thinking it was funny I guess. Without thinking, just a reflex, I hit him pretty hard in the gut. He was OK. He didn't do it again at least.

Man, being spit on aint right. Gotta do something about that one.

[Alias]

I got hit, sworn at, and occassionaly spit on at my hagwon. But I realized long ago that I am NOT a real teacher. I am a White Clown that is there to simply make money for the owner. It is all about $$$$$$ and nothing else.

So what do I do when I am spit on? Nothing. What can I do when I am spit on? Nothing. Of course I tell the supervisor who gives the student a "lecture" but the next day it is the same old.

[matthewwoodford]

I don't know what to think when I read posts like the above talking about being spit on. That's never happened to me in 3 years of teaching here. Seriously, what kind of kids are these? Please tell me they are kindergarteners.

And you have to come down hard on that kind of behaviour to stop it. Corporal punishment of some kind - not just lashing out reflexively though - would be justified in my view.

[ulsanchris]

My current korean co teacher is young and this is her first time teaching and i have notice the students pay her far less respect than they do me.
I think age and experience definately help with gaining students respect.
also letting them know that you won't put up with any rude behaviour helps.

[maxxx_power]

[Alias]

I do just that. I've never missed a day of work. Not a drinker so staying sober is not a problem. I always prepare for my classes and try to follow the lesson plan to the best of my ability.

You are right about not taking any of it personally. I checked my ego at Incheon airport. I'm there to be disrespected. All I do is just grin and take it. Its out of my hands.

[nev]

I'm seeing a bleak picture being painted here. I've only been teaching for 6 months and some of my kids started off as cheeky little wretches but now all my classes are well within my control. I've virtually never raised my voice and had only had to send a couple of kids out of the class ever.

Hogwan back-up with discipline is important, and though I've never had to ask, I know I'd always be supported. However, if you're finding that with more than one class you're having big problems with respect and discipline then I'd question your teaching style. I can't conceive of a student of mine ever being directly rude to me, let alone actually spitting on me or hitting me, or even shouting at me.

A calm, relaxed teacher will generally breed a calm, relaxed classroom atmosphere. If a kid is behaving badly and doesn't learn the first couple of warnings, then I'll tell him/her to sit at the front of the class in front of all the other kids. I rarely even have to implement it, as one quiet threat of that is usually enough.

A loud teacher who shouts a lot will always find they're teaching loud classes. It must clear from the outset that YOU are in control. I'm a popular teacher with my kids and I let them enjoy the lesson but there is no stepping out of line. If the kids don't know the proper student-teacher relationship then it's up to you to enforce it. Only up until a point can you blame the kids/the hogwan/the parents/the director.

That's my findings with kids under 12 at least.

[Alias]

Nev,

The point has been that many of us aren't supported by the hagwon. I'm glad you have the option to discipline but many of us do not.

I also don't yell at the class constantly. That might make some students feel bad and quit, costing the hagwon money.