Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Demonicat]

Sometimes you just need to rant and rave about work. Sometimes you have no where to do this and no one to rant to. I decided to start this thread as kinda an open soapbox, feel free to bitXX and moan about work
me first...
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I teach kindergarten mainly. One class is absolute beginners, ages 3-6. After spending 3 months completing their first book (Magic time 1), with them sucessfully learning all (serious) the vocabulary in the book, I asked for the Magic Time 2.
The wonjons response was
"Noooo, The no know how to read. You teachee read and write and then new book"
Ok, so a month and a half goes by and we manage to do 25 pages, I had 4 year olds reading. The students worked their butts off and could read/write most of the words in the book correctly, and the words that weren't perfect were fonetikally plausible.
Last week the wonjon comes in again,
"Reading no good. Kids need speak english. Parents hire private tutors to speak Englishee, we need teach speaking only so XXXX school can look good to parents."
Then, I was threatened with being fired if I taught any more reading or writing to that class. Hell, I had a standard policy of if the students drew a pic and wrote about what it was ("This is my dog Skip, he is brown") they'd get a sticker- now I can't even give them a sticker, OR correct it.
My job with this class now is to read a word and have them repeat 25-40 times. Then make a sentence and repeat 20-40 times, then do the next word. grrr...it makes me so sad, the kids WANTED to learn how to read more (it made them so proud to be able to read and write words), and now I can't even say "Good Job! You read it!"
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Your rant?

[pegpig]

Gal darnit

[peppermint]

Wow, got any advice? I've got a handful of grade 6's that haven't got the hang of it.

[Demonicat]

not sure if it'll work for grade 6, but...
Make a construction paper tree on the wall. Now, have the kids write the words 10 times on a sheet of paper. Afterwards, test them. If they can do it perfectly without looking, they get to write the words on construction paper leaves and put them on the tree. This is so fun for them and makes them very proud and confidence so they begin practicing at home (after all, its not work- its fun!). The first few days are rough, but soon the students get the routine and begin practicing and enjoing it.

[guangho]

Have a kid draw a picture. Have the class talk about it (English, Konglish whatever, just get them talking.) Write 5-6 words on the board that are useful. Have them write the words down. Pass the pic around and have each kid write one of the words on it.

[pegpig]

Ok. I gave the brats some candies today. I can't believe how many kids don't know to say "thank you". (They know how.) I know I'm supposed to teach them that. I have obviously. But, I only have most of the kids for one hour once a week, so I feel like anything I do with them doesn't have a chance to sink in.

They leave the class and afterwards I find all of these wrappers scattered all about. They fight about the candies and complain if some kid gets the last of the flavor that they want.

Aigo. I wanna take the candies away from the brats if they don't say "thank you", but that'd be like... well, taking candy....

On a positive note, one of the grade 2 cutie twins came in with a bunch of ice creams. They had started to melt and then the kids started ripping or trying to rip the ends of them off. We made a heck of a mess, but I didn't give a crap.

Whew

[Kimchieluver]

I too gave candies to every student today. I was really disapointed because I got more requests to change flavors or give me one more than thank you. It bummed me out. The grade sixers were the worst. They tried to steal candies out of my pocket and put the wrappers in my other pocket. I honestly don't know how they can be so rude.

[denverdeath]

I tell 'em, "One's better than none." It is a bit strange though. I have always noticed that they tend to not like one of something. Maybe it's a "hahn" or "juhng" thing?

[pegpig]

I gave them each 2 of the small tootsie pops. They get to choose from a small box of about 50 (when it's full). So, there is variety. But, obviously as we near the bottom some of the more popular flavors go a little quickly. At first it used to be chocolate - it was a huge hit! There aren't very many in a big bag. There are mostly cherry flavor. I guess back home cherry is probably more popular. Now, orange has become the flavor of the week at my school.

On Thursday, there was 1 orange left and 2 4th grade boys stuck their little paws in there at the same time fighting for it. I couldn't tell who the clear cut winner was, so I resorted to what any decision maker ultimately uses in a final decision in Korea - rock, paper, scissors.

The one boy who wasn't holding the candy wasn't going to have any part of it. He was really pissed. The other boy (a real smart arse) had his usual smirk on his face and was ready for battle. At this point it was pretty obvious whose it should be, but it was too late to change the decision. The fuming one decided to grudgingly take a new candy. No "thank you".

I gently turned him around to face me and asked him, "No thank you?"
After a 2nd request he sulkily thanked me.

Later, when I went outside, I found a (probably 'the') much-coveted orange unwrapped tootsie pop lying on the ground outside.

Ungrateful little shites.

[jajdude]

Reading aloud is speaking, isn't it? Plus they learn new vocab from reading, and learning new vocab makes one a better speaker?

Well that argument might not work.
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Any general tips for a hyperactive class of 8 year olds (4 boys, 3 girls)?
I got them 40 mins every day, and I'm not too good with "kindergarten" style classes.

Or middle school beginners? We got some lousy materials. Reading dialogues from a book, repeating it, but their vocab and listening skills are quite basic even for what seems like "easy" exercises.