Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Paula May]

I've the same thing happen in my classes before, and I don't like it any more then you do. I feel that it undermines my authority. One incident I remember from this past year, it was the start of one of my classes and I was taking attendance, collecting and looking over homework, and I hadn't really started the lesson yet. The secretary comes into the classroom, speaks Korean to two of my students, has them stand up facing the wall with their hands in the air and tells me that they have to stay like that for 5 minutes, then leaves. I have to ask the other students what had happened, because I didn't see the reason for this punishment. My students told me those two boys had been talking and didn't have their books out.

Well, OK, but I hadn't even started teaching the lesson yet. I told the boys that they could come back and sit down. I realize that she had only been trying to help, but it still bothered me that she had assessed the situation simply by looking through the window, rather then trying to find out exactly what was going on.

[ghostshadow]

A lot of it is a cultural difference. This country has been very strick with the students the whole time and now with some native English teachers these quiet students started to take advantage. It's not to say the Korean teacher was right or we are right but that there is a difference on how they expect the students to act. I hear a lot of teachers getting mad that the students don't respect them and they do what they want, that is because we have by mistake made the classroom that way.
At the same the some of the Korean teachers are used to the students doing things they way they have been doing for a long time now. I wouldn't get too worked up over it. Maybe you can talk to that Korean teacher to give you some advice before he comes in and takes control of the class. With a vast gap in the culture I think it's best we try to have understanding on both sides.

[livinginkorea]

The boss today said that the other teacher was wrong and is very sorry. I asked him if this was common in Korea that other teachers go into other teachers classes and give out to the students and he said no that it was very rude and that the Korean teacher was heavily criticized by the other teachers and I was a little doubtful to be honest.

Then later, in the staffroom the Korean teacher came up to me and said that he was sorry and that he actions were foolish and he asked me not to hate him. I said that it was okay and we both said sorry. So it seems to be fixed. Thank God!!

[own_king]

That's good. Sounds like you have a good boss and staff to deal with the matter so effectively. A lot of people here think he was just trying to help, but really . . . I know from experience that this kind of thing would never happen back home. And, to be honest, I'm sure it's not all that common in a Korean classroom either. Anyway, I am glad to hear it was resolved well.