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chest rockwell
Joined: 16 May 2005
Location: Sanbon
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 Posted: Fri May 20, 2005 10:29 pm Post subject: Is growling the best way to handle naughty Korean children? |
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| So Ive been working for a week now and its not too bad but theres this one class I have of about 6 Korean girls aged 11-13. Now they were good on the first day but since the week has progressed theyve gotten worse and worse. Three days ago I semi-growled one cos she insulted me in Korean. The next day she did the same thing but I ignored her and the teacher next door heard. He came in and said: "YOU ARE TO SPEAK ENGLISH ONLY". And then yesterday she tried doing the same thing again so I lost my patience and said "LOOK! I FIND THAT VERY RUDE AND INSULTING!" or words to that effect. Then I said to the whole class: "NOW I CAN BE A VERY NICE TEACHER OR I CAN BE A VERY ANGRY AND MEAN TEACHER, ITS YOUR CHOICE" After that they behaved a lot better towards me. So did I make the right choice here? Any other options I could have taken here? What do you think is gonna happen now? |
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JacktheCat
Joined: 08 May 2004
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| Posted: Fri May 20, 2005 10:40 pm Post subject: |
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| Act tough and carry a "love stick." |
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Pyongshin Sangja
Joined: 20 Apr 2003
Location: I love baby!
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| Posted: Fri May 20, 2005 10:44 pm Post subject: |
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| It'll work. For a while. Then they will remember that you are a powerless hagwon teacher. |
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chest rockwell
Joined: 16 May 2005
Location: Sanbon
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| Posted: Fri May 20, 2005 10:48 pm Post subject: |
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| Pyongshin Sangja wrote: |
| It'll work. For a while. Then they will remember that you are a powerless hagwon teacher. |
 The school I teach at is good though. Its just me and the director and he loves kiwis and hes been absolutely forthcoming with everything so far. I even sent my original degree over to him while I was still in NZ and he returned it to me intact. He just wanted to make a copy so he could put one on his wall.
What about things like treats and games? Every class they want to play a game, should I let them during the last 5 minutes or just only once a week on a Friday like Ive planned to? |
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ScrewWhiteDay
Joined: 18 May 2005
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| Posted: Fri May 20, 2005 11:15 pm Post subject: personally |
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I don't get mad. I get even.  |
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Sleepy in Seoul
Joined: 15 May 2004
Location: Going in ever decreasing circles until I eventually disappear up my own fundament - in NZ
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| Posted: Sat May 21, 2005 12:08 am Post subject: |
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Every class is different, but I believe that treats and games should either be rewards for good behaviour or as something special - not to be given out every day.
As for keeping students in line, they need to know that the teacher is the boss. If you aren't being suitably authorative, they can and will ride roughshod over you. One of my middle school students wasn't behaving properly, so after a few warnings, I made him do the teapot song in the Teacher's Room in the break between classes, in front of all the teachers, Korean and foreign. He's been better since then... |
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Wrench
Joined: 07 Apr 2005
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| Posted: Sat May 21, 2005 3:18 am Post subject: |
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| I have given up on trying to get the kids to speak English. I just don't give a flying rats ass if they learn or not. Some will learn English most will not, but when I have a brat in my class I will break him via geting a Korean teacher whoop his ass with a stick. It works everytime and I never get tired of seeing the little brat beging for his little ass not to get whooped. |
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Yu_Bum_suk
Joined: 25 Dec 2004
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| Posted: Sat May 21, 2005 3:34 am Post subject: |
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| If your hogwild doesn't have a good method of dealing with trouble makers and just lies to parents and tells them everything's perfect, then quit. Just remember to tell the boss exactly why you're leaving. Trust me, there are some very desperate recruiters out there with immediate job vacancies. Be sure to tell them you will not work at an academy that lies to parents and allows children to disrespect teachers. |
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Ya-ta Boy
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: Established in 1994
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| Posted: Sat May 21, 2005 4:36 am Post subject: |
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And then yesterday she tried doing the same thing again so I lost my patience and said "LOOK! I FIND THAT VERY RUDE AND INSULTING!" or words to that effect. Then I said to the whole class: "NOW I CAN BE A VERY NICE TEACHER OR I CAN BE A VERY ANGRY AND MEAN TEACHER, ITS YOUR CHOICE" After that they behaved a lot better towards me. So did I make the right choice here? Any other options I could have taken here? What do you think is gonna happen now?
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1. You need to have a set of classroom rules of behavior that includes what disciplinary action you will take each and every time there is an infraction. Think back to your school days and try to remember what teachers did to control the class. MOST of the time you need to solve the discipline problem yourself. If your only solution is to have a Korean teacher hit the kid then the kid knows you have no power.
Kids are kids, but they are not stupid. Issuing a threat that has no backup will soon be figured out.
You catch more flies with honey, etc...be sure to offer 'rewards' for good behavior. For example, if a whole class period goes by with no problems be sure to mention it to the kids. It has been known to help. Let them earn a game day or a pizza party or whatever.
2. Do an internet search of ESL games/activities for grammar, listening, pronunciation. There are thousands of activities that are educationally sound and fun at the same time. They break up the routine and teach at the same time.
3. Candy (sugar) + kid = hyperactivity. Give out just before they go home and let the parents suffer. |
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Yu_Bum_suk
Joined: 25 Dec 2004
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| Posted: Sat May 21, 2005 4:05 pm Post subject: |
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| Ya-ta Boy wrote: |
1. You need to have a set of classroom rules of behavior that includes what disciplinary action you will take each and every time there is an infraction. Think back to your school days and try to remember what teachers did to control the class. MOST of the time you need to solve the discipline problem yourself. If your only solution is to have a Korean teacher hit the kid then the kid knows you have no power.
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And if you try this and get undermined by management, quit. |
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Ya-ta Boy
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: Established in 1994
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| Posted: Sat May 21, 2005 5:44 pm Post subject: |
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| And if you try this and get undermined by management, quit. |
Yes. Immediately. |
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chest rockwell
Joined: 16 May 2005
Location: Sanbon
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| Posted: Sun May 22, 2005 2:05 am Post subject: |
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| thanks everyone, at 'love-stick'. And very true about the children eating ice-blocks and lollies when they come into class |
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Rock
Joined: 25 Feb 2005
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| Posted: Sun May 22, 2005 4:11 am Post subject: |
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I just don't get this 'quiting, if it doesn't go over with the management' approach. I don't want to go through that hassle. I, too, recently had a streak of bad luck on the job site, and it's due to naughty children, of course.
I'm thinking about pursuing another direction if the management wants to play this artificial approach and not face the truth. I think there's got to be a better way to back up your standards as a teacher. I think relying on the contract and a set of limitations on your behalf, in writing, may be a start for me.
I just recently had the boss try to twist things around at my workplace by saying 'The students hate you.' This he did to cover up for some unruly teenagers, kids with no respect or aptitude to learn. I may take a chance and write down some limitations in regards to my contract and these kids. In other words, I may tell him that if there are any naughty kids, then there has to be some kind of criteria to judge who's in the wrong in case you get complaints by them or their mothers, like 'The students hate you.'
You'll see. Soon they'll start using this to manipulate you and the employer, so you might want to think of a better way. And quitting seems like just evading hagwon responsibility and our rights as workers. |
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Qinella
Joined: 25 Feb 2005
Location: the crib
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| Posted: Sun May 22, 2005 9:05 am Post subject: Re: Is growling the best way to handle naughty Korean childr |
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| chest rockwell wrote: |
| So Ive been working for a week now and its not too bad but theres this one class I have of about 6 Korean girls aged 11-13. Now they were good on the first day but since the week has progressed theyve gotten worse and worse. Three days ago I semi-growled one cos she insulted me in Korean. The next day she did the same thing but I ignored her and the teacher next door heard. He came in and said: "YOU ARE TO SPEAK ENGLISH ONLY". And then yesterday she tried doing the same thing again so I lost my patience and said "LOOK! I FIND THAT VERY RUDE AND INSULTING!" or words to that effect. Then I said to the whole class: "NOW I CAN BE A VERY NICE TEACHER OR I CAN BE A VERY ANGRY AND MEAN TEACHER, ITS YOUR CHOICE" After that they behaved a lot better towards me. So did I make the right choice here? Any other options I could have taken here? What do you think is gonna happen now? |
First of all.. wow .. they understood you? Consider yourself lucky that you have students who understand you. I think the previous teachers at my hagwon were, um, lackluster, because even my middle school students hardly understand a word I say.
Now what you have to do is establish discipline and forms of punishment. I have one middle school class that is very loud and doesn't listen as much as they should. What I've started doing now is giving out boring, rote homework. For example, a list of irregular verbs that they must translate and write both present and past tense 10 times each. Fifteen verbs. Some of the kids did the homework, and I gave them candy in front of everyone. The kids that did not do the homework, I gave them another page, told them they now had to do both pages, and furthermore I was calling their parents tonight to let them know their child didn't do the easy homework I assigned. Once I made the parent threat, every kid in class hurriedly did the worksheet during class between the other work. Except for two. I called both of their parents that night, and guess what - they brought the homework the next day. They are learning slowly.
Another tactic is to embarass them. The smart-asses, just take them to the front of the room and let them help you teach the lesson. Alternatively, you can make them stand in front of the class with their hands raised above their heads, and don't forget to call on them for every single question for the double whammy. Or, you can kick them out of the room and make them deal with the Korean teachers, but I don't really like doing that as it causes them to miss the information and certifies that I am not an authority.
To the kids that are good, be really really nice to them. Smile a lot, tell them how smart they are. The others will be probably be jealous.
Good luck. |
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bosintang
Joined: 01 Dec 2003
Location: In the pot with the rest of the mutts
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| Posted: Mon May 23, 2005 7:24 am Post subject: Re: Is growling the best way to handle naughty Korean childr |
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| Qinella wrote: |
Another tactic is to embarass them.
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Here's my advice. Ignore anyone who suggests embarassing your students is a good form of discipline.
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To the kids that are good, be really really nice to them. Smile a lot, tell them how smart they are. The others will be probably be jealous.
Good luck. |
Even more great advice. Make the kids who have low self-esteem, no doubt the troublemakers will be included, feel even worse. What a great method of "controlling" them..
Seriously, sometimes the stuff people post here makes me seriously wonder.... |
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