Korean Job Discussion Forums

[KoreanLifer]

these folks have to be the most unmotivated group of individuals in kr. i sometimes wonder why universities implement basic conversation English into their schools at all..after i finish teaching freshman at the end of the day i feel i have accomplished absolutely nothing with these folks.

i sometimes compare the lax attitude of the these Freshman to Kr as a whole.pleasure 1st while everything else is secondary!

[Dr. Buck]

The trick is to not feel guilty about not accomplishing nothing. Did you teach and do your job? Yes? Good. Now cut out of the office early and buy yourself a beer.
Your concerns are nothing to get worried about. I'm sure you have better things to think about once you drop such fancy ideas about "getting things accomplished."

[kricket]

it's never been about "getting an education".... What the Korean university experience is about is socializing and meeting people of the opposite sex for the first time and trying to impress them...if you can learn something in the classroom - that's just a side benefit...

[Gladiator]

All three previous posters made interesting observations about how Korean uni. students apply themselves because these very same values carry over into company/professional life once they graduate.

Koreans are essentially hedonistic folk, not that that's a bad thing but it curiously offsets their often puritancial ways.

Relationships take priority over accomplishments here, be they academic or professional.

Sorry if it's slightly-off topic .

[Medic]

The Korean Professors hate there freshman as well. On the other hand you have to see where these students are coming from. They have slaved their guts out for the last three years in either academys or in cram sessions organized by their schools with no opportunity to be creative or to think independently. They have had to study during vacations, and on Sundays and Saturdays, so is it any wonder that they let their hair down and goof off a little when they attend colleges or university. Sure they might not be educated in the most efficient manner possible, but they did have to work hard to get through.
Universities did in the past fail a lot of students. Sogang university in particular had a reputation for demanding high standards of it's students, and had no compunction in failing tardy students who didn't come up to standard. The parents however got very upset, and demonstrated for more leniency on their sons and daughters on the basis that they had devoted much of their own energy themselves to ensure that they would pass the necessary end of high school exanination

[Trinny]

Is there anybody teaching at the so-called top-tier universities? How about students from these universities? Do they goof off as well?

[JennyJJ]

I'm not at a top-tier university - but I do have a different sense about my students. And personally, I think a lot of how they behave depends on your attitude. I don't agree that Korean university professors hate freshmen either.

I'm just trying to take an opposing view here as it is YOU who sets the tone in the classroom. Realistically though, I've taught in Africa and Asia and there is (in almost any country) a population of about 1/3 who don't care, 1/3 are waiting to be convinced (this is where you come in!) and 1/3 who really want to take a crack at it (unless you turn them off somehow) and 5-6 WHO are really super interested.

The bottom 1/3 you can't do much about - so DON'T let them shape your attitude. Construct your attitude from that top 1/3 and the five or six who really care. Then you will see your whole experience at the university change (just my opinion).

I hope I don't sound pissy, but there is really nothing to be gained from a jaded, burned-out, "the students s*ck" attitude. I've always taught for the five or six in the front that really really want to learn. They are a delight - and make it all worthwhile. If I can keep the top 1/3 with me and convert the middle 1/3 - then we really have something going.

If you wish to be a professional, put on a professional attitude, it is more than half the battle.

[kimcheeking]

[rudyflyer]

Yeah the students this year seem particulrly dumb/unmotivated this year. We've been told that its because the univ had to lower its standards just to get bodies. Anything below the top tiers from what I've been hearing from various univ teachers had a tough time getting students so they take anybody. Also hear that the gov't may try and shut down univs because of the glut of univs

At my school (a 3rd tier school) its been the most maddening semester I've ever had here. It used to be a breakdown like JennyJJ said and I could deal with that. This year if I have 10 students out of 150 who actually care, I'd be amazed. I get students who still say "The children is", I could go on about how dumb these kids are this semester, they can't figure out how to operate the elevator (I'm putting elevator questions on my final as bonus questions). Yesterday I had 2 students who were excused from class so they could open a BANK ACCOUNT. Our admin like what somebody said about Sogang is allowing the students to get away with murder. Students lie about class outings to get out of class and we are told to mark them present even for that.....

On the upside remember that yes the inelligence/maturity levels of the freshmen this year is incredibly low, and you can feel your teaching skills are atropying (yeah I know spelling ) but think the preps are easy and you don't take work home with you.

sorry for the rant on this one but like the OP I'm incredibly frustrated with my freshmen this semester

[dutchman]

If you've ever taught in a high school here you would understand their situation. For the first time in their lives they don't have someone hounding over them telling them exactly what they have to do. They are not forced to wear uniforms. They are not beaten or humiliated for failing to do their homework (at least not in my class ). And, they have free time. It's quite reasonable for them to behave the way they do for the first semester or two in university.
Having said that, this is the best freshman class of the four I have taught at my university. Maybe my school is attracting better students now or something (at one point it was considered the lowest uni in Seoul).