Korean Job Discussion Forums

jajdude · Joined: 18 Jan 2003

Usually I am not strict. But I think it works better and the students learn more with a strict teacher. Sometimes I feel like, OK no BS this class, and it surprises them but they do tend to shut up a bit more and actually try to focus on an English lesson more than usual. When I don't tolerate much Korean in the class I (and they) realize just how poor their English is (knew that anyway), and how much practice they really need just to say basic stuff they "studied" before. They may be at book 5 in a given series, but not speak, or even really understand the teacher speak, the book 2 material. Too much time was wasted and they didn't really learn it that well. They just cruise through stuff without getting much of it.

Derrek · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

My girls aren't allowed to wear nailpolish to school.

I told them I'd pull out their fingernails if I ever saw them wearing it to class.

That brought a big, "OOOooh!"

ahhaahha.

I really don't care, but I like to tease them about school policy.

Grotto · Joined: 21 Mar 2004

Depends on what your definition is of strict.

Some rules I have for the classroom:

1. Listen to the teacher
2. Dont talk when the teacher is talking
3. No cell phones. If I see or hear a cel phone I confiscate it. First time one day, second time one week, third time I will call my family and friends in Canada on your cel phone and when your parents get the bill they will punish you Twisted Evil

(never had to take a phone away more than once)
4. No gum
5. Be prepared bring a pencil, pen, eraser and your books.
If you are not prepared you dont get to sit in a chair.

crazylemongirl · Joined: 23 Mar 2003 Location: almost there...

I dont' know if I'm strict but I'm defintely mean.

schwa · Joined: 18 Jan 2003 Location: Yap

I'm easy.

cellphone · Joined: 18 Feb 2004

To both Grotto and Crazylemongirl, are the both of you working in public schools? Because I've been in a hagwon, and I can say without a doubt that I don't think either of what you said would fly much at all in a Hagwon. seems to me you are there to serve them. The little kids get away with the stuff, you either wing or accept it, but ultimately they win. I'm saying that's the way it has appeared for me. Could I be wrong at least part of the time?

Grotto · Joined: 21 Mar 2004

They are rules....they are children....if they followed the rules all the time I would drop dead on the spot.

I do work in a public school now but used the same rules for the last two years in hogwans.

Usually I would post the rules at the front of the class, in Korean and Engllish, and if the kids got out of hand I would point to it and they would settle down a bit.

I always talked it over with the owner first.

crazylemongirl · Joined: 23 Mar 2003 Location: almost there...

I'm young women. I work in a public school with middle school boys. There are 40+ in a class. Most of the time I have to be mean. If I give them an inch they take a mile.

nrvs · Joined: 30 Jun 2004 Location: standing upright on a curve

Don't you have to be strict?

Kind of. I'm loud and super-energetic in class with my Grades 5 and 6 elementary schoolers; the English performer thing seems to work well. However, if students start talking to each other or screwing around I get strict real fast.

Well, I don't whack the kids with sticks like my boss and the Korean teachers do. However, if they talk to each other in class, ESPECIALLY while another student is reading aloud, they know they're going outside. To get whacked by my boss. No joking -- roams the hallway with his stick! I don't think I'll ever use the one in my classroom, yet it sits ominously atop the blackboard.

My hogwan's setup works pretty well. It has a reputation of being "strict." No games ever, no Korean, everyone in their seats for the entire 80-minute class, and so on. The students know this implicitly and most of 'em don't cross the line.

eamo · Joined: 08 Mar 2003 Location: Shepherd's Bush, 1964.

Kids are happier once you set clear boundries and a structure to enforce them.

It seems the more complex the reward/punishment structure is the more they actually enjoy it. They like the fairness of a complex set of rules. Everything positive they do is rewarded and everything negative they do is punished (in a humane way of course!!!). Kids dig that sort of thing.

I work in a lot of ways to earn points and lose points. Points equal the level of homework or games they receive.

MixtecaMike · Posted: Tue Feb 01, 2005 5:26 am Post subject:

I agree that strict is good, the worst teaching jobs I have ever had (not in Korea) were where I was trying to be nice and the kids thought I was just soft.

In Korea I'm not super strict but I won't take too much. If they don't take my easy punishments seriously then they get steadily meaner punishments. Lucky my boss is pretty tight on discipline, and for the real hard cases he will deal with them the Korean way.

And I watch and smile, Twisted Evil

Corporal · Joined: 25 Jan 2003

I tell my kids if I see a cellphone I'll throw it out the window and if I hear them speaking Korean I'll throw them out the window.

I'm sure mommy complaints are just a week or two away but until then, my classroom is blissfully K-pop and K-chatter-free.

ajuma · Joined: 18 Feb 2003 Location: Anywere but Seoul!!

I'm strict about some things, but not about others. I'm a real stickler about attendance. You CAN'T learn conversation if you're not in class! 5% off their grade if they're absent.

And I'm fairly strict about students shutting up in class while I'm talking. I tell them in the first class "This class can be short or long...your choice. If you talk, I stop talking. Figure it out!" (Could be done in hagwons..."If we finish X amount of material, we'll have a game at the end...if we don't, we don't!") I stare at the offending student(s) until they look at me and ask "Are you finished? I'll wait...we'll ALL wait for you."

I'm semi-strict about cellphones. If their cellphones ring...they have to answer IN ENGLISH...usually happens about once! If I see them texting, I take it until the end of class. If it's a guy texting, I usually make a joke about "I HOPE you're sending a text message, since both of your hands are under your desk!" Some of them get it!

schwa · Joined: 18 Jan 2003 Location: Yap

lookingtoteach · Joined: 18 Feb 2003

I'm only strict about two things: speaking Korean in class and doing homework. If I have to take the time to check their homework, they're sure as hell going to take the time to do it. Even in my older kindergarten classes(the 7 year olds), I allow them three chances per class to speak Korean. After speaking it twice, they don't get a sticker at the end of class and after speaking it three times, they're out of the class for the day. They learn how to speak the necessary English really quickly out of necessity.