Korean Job Discussion Forums

[eamo]

I've just finished typing the comments for all 93 of my students. I realized near the end that I hadn't been genuinely honest in any of my comments!!

The worst report I wrote today was,

"Brian isn't interested in English but he sure knows how to swear in Korean!"
This kid called me 'Shipseki' last week! For no reason!! He thought it was fun....

And,

"Kevin needs to spend a lot more time in a lot lower level"
That should have been, "Kevin is the worst student I've ever taught. He is lazy and stupid. His writing looks like it's written by someone in the midst of a heart attack. Please take him out of my class so I don't have to say, 'write this here Kevin', every 45 seconds!!".
I guess you all have a Kevin or two in your classes.

So anyway, do you bow to management pressure and sex-up your comments? Or maybe you just can't bear the thought of your student getting into trouble with Mum and Dad. You soft-hearted teddy bear!!!

Or are you really honest?

[Cogito]

Most of the time I'm not even sure who the student is I'm writing a report for , but when I do recognise their names I am pretty honest (in a euphemistic way). Eg. Hand is an energetic and talkative student (he is an irritating nuisance who doesn't sit still or shut up!)

[wylde]

just a few fibs.. most are straight up

[Dawn]

"[Name Withheld]" is a creative and enthusiastic little boy." Trans: "I've never seen one child capable of finding so many ways to get into trouble."

"[Name Withheld]" excels at the tasks that interest her." Trans: "She's mastered the science of Uno, and she generally finishes her snack in the allotted time."

"With continued practice, [Name's] English skills should improve." Trans. "Hey, if a couple of molecules could become the world as we know it today, anything's possible."

"With increased effort, [Name Withheld"] would progress at a more rapid pace." Trans. "Coming to class would be a start."

---
Thanksfully, the other 95+ percent of my kids really want to learn, so I can say nice things without having to get creative.

[hadeshorn]

I had to word my carefully at my old job. At one point I wrote honestly about 2 students being in a class they shouldnt have been in.

Next day the mothers are in there and the supervisor is sugar coating everything.

That afternoon, my class was two students less.

Didnt cop too much flak about it.

[Michelle]

I am still in favour of a good student stamp. It would keep the parents happy and our paperwork time down.

Good student, good student.

(Maybe I am lazy and papthetic but I also want to know how many parents read and respond to these, the directors seem to more often).

[Dawn]

Have a coworker who taught at a school (an international school, no less) that actually supplied teachers with a list of "acceptable" comments to write on report cards, so he promptly went out and had a set of rubber stamps made. When the powers that be complained about the use of stamped comments, he told them, "You want a rubber stamp? That's what you got -- a rubber stamp. I'm certainly not going waste my time copying lies to parents."

If I recall correctly, he didn't last the year ...

[teachingld2004]

I am mostly honest with my report cards. We have to do them every other month. The children come to my school 5 days a week. Western teachers have them Monday Wednesday and Friday or Tuesday and Thursday. 9 out of 10 times their behavior is better with the korean teachers because the kids know they can speak to the parents and we cant. I have given a "C" when I should give a "D", but I will not give a "B" if the child deserves a "D". I have been told not to give very bad grades because the parents will not like it, but I feel the parents should know if their child never brings a book to my class, or is rude. (Most of the parents can't read English, but they sure knowwhat a "D" is, and when the Korean teachers talk to the parents on the phone, they can translate in Korean what i have written) So, this time (I am writing reports cards now) I am writing "These are my grades, not the korean teachers"., I am giving plenty of "D's" for behavior, and if the parent wants to contact the school, plese let them do it. Now of corse if a child is not a great student but really tries,l I will give them better grades, because in my book when you try very hard, you are a winner. One major problem is children are often put in classes way above their level because:
1) they only can come at certain times.
2) they want to be with their friends.
3) the parents want them to "level up". I find this kind of funny because half of these parents can't speak one word of english, but want to tell thier friends "My child has skipped a level (or 2 or 3)
Of corse report cards are a joke most of the time in hogwans. I find it sad because lots of these children do not want to be here. They go to so many schools, and they are not even interested in learning English. Of corse I have learned most of the swear words, and when a child swears at me, I smile and say "Thank you". and the kids all laugh, and I laugh too, but I do write down what they say and have a nice record of it, so if the parents ask why their darlings get such poor grades I can show them. O, then there are the parents who tell the korean teachers to tell us that we can hit thier kids...............lovely. But then again, my worst day here is alot better then my best day teaching at home. (new york)

[Ody]

i teach Freshman and Sophomore English Majors. come midterm and finals time, i take great care in creating grading systems that are 99.9% transparent. i voted #3 because our grade reports are issued on-line.

[sublimeshawn]

well lets just say this: if the korean teacher translates my report right, the parents will understand generally weather their kids are learning anything or just whistling dixie, but yes I do sugar coat it some, I dont say this, for instance," well kenny is a complete nut job, and I think it would be amazing if he makes a living without his parents help when he grows up, let alone using english in a job. That would be brutally honest but not prudent under the circumstances

[captain kirk]

Report cards every month; that's a lot of work.
I was at a haggie which wanted them every three months and that was enough, being the only foreign teacher and cranking them out. I did too good of a job, filling the whole box grid. And did as good a job on the next lots to 'follow through'.
Yeah, I've written something like this;
'Billy doesn't want to study. He always 'forgets' his book and never has a pencil. Always. When he returns with a pencil from the front desk he deliberately breaks it and then has to go get the pencil sharpener. You ought to talk to Billy about making use of class time and motivating himself to learn'.
Which the Korean teacher would translate on the paper, mellowing (?) my 'report'.
The admin gave me one back after reviewing it to re-do. A kid who really tore up in class.
Speaking of misbehaviour I learned something today. I picked the right student to make an example of by getting her to stand in the corner right off the bat after some attitude which the whole class was exuding and lo and behold it was eradicated. Find the leader and the dam is plugged.

[oneiros]

Like a previous poster, I'm perfectly honest, but it's hidden in my own translation.

"___________ is very energetic and enthusiastic in class. He loves to communicate."

Translation: Your child is incapable of sitting still for longer than thirty seconds. He never listens because he spends the whole time trying to distract the other students.

"With practice, ______________ could become an excellent English speaker."
Translation: If your child actually studied, did their homework, or listened in class, they might actually learn something.

"______________ is very creative and expressive."
Translation: Spends most of his time drawing pictures in his student book.

[Grotto]

Year one: I was told flat out not to give any grade lower than a 'C' Mostly 'A's and some 'B's. We also had to write at least 3 comments per child. I felt and still feel they should have put the cards on a computer and allowed us to type in our comments. Writing 90 report cards a month was a pain in the ass. I eventually got a rubber stamp saying

' is a good student who is working well in class, still needs to study harder and work on thier reading and speaking skills. Keep up the good work and you will continue to approve'

Management wasnt too happy with the stamp but as I had more comments per student they didnt say anything....the other foreign teachers however were right pissed off that I got away with it

[fidel]

A give four grades a year, 2 each for midterms and 2 for finals. FORTUNATELY I don't have to comment however I am brutally honest in the grades I give. I am required to give a 75% average grade so I have no problem whatsoever in failing students who aren't up to par. The lowest grade I gave this Semester was 16% and for each report card I can give no more than 5 out of 130 students, 100%. I also have a penalty system, if you sleep you get 1% deducted from your final grade, If you are late to class you get another point deducted, if you don't come to class fully prepared, there goes another point, and so. I keep a spreadsheet on the wall so students can track their progress.

[Corporal]

Don't have to do them at this job--whoo hoo!