Korean Job Discussion Forums

Scott in HK · Posted: Fri Aug 19, 2005 5:01 am Post subject:

I don't think it depends on anything...teachers do not do this...humiliation is revenge....pure and simple...they are better ways to teach proper behaviour...humiliating students is for cowards...you are just being a bully...

Every action a teacher takes teaches students something...by humiliating students in class you are teaching the other students that this is okay...and it isn't.

bosintang · Posted: Fri Aug 19, 2005 5:08 am Post subject:

When I first started teaching I tried using the "three strikes" rule and it ended up being more heartache than what it was worth. Another thing I never had success in forcing was the "only speak English in English class" rule. I haven't used either of these beyond my first 6 months of teaching. Different methods for different teachers, but I think my classes have been the better for it.

KorJen: I don't know you and obviously have not actually seen any of your classes, but from what you have written, it sounds to me like you may be creating a hostile environment. Is this a good environment for learning? Or a good environment for developing a good teacher/student relationship? When you were a young student, have you ever had a foreign teacher grab you and your belongings and turf them out of class? How did that make you feel?

Before I start sounding too righteous here, I will say that I certainly have thrown students out of my class. But it's not something I do lightly, and these days, it's not something I do unless I can't function in my classroom without doing it.

Yu_Bum_suk · Joined: 25 Dec 2004

Qinella · Joined: 25 Feb 2005 Location: the crib

KorJen · Joined: 15 Mar 2005

There is no support from management because they dont give a rats *** about this. I'm working in a public school, after school program... The kids pay money to be there so its not like being a 9-5 teacher (its basically a glorified hogwan).

I have to throw them out, there is no other option... my korean co-teacher treats me like a hired clown, shows up late for class, and doesnt understand anything more than basic english. I am the only "foreign" teacher at the school and really have no one there to even brainstorm options with on how to handle these situations (i spent 2 years working in a hogwan, but because of the level of english the discipline was much easier, these kids understand nothing[even thought i have to repeat the same threats everyday]).

AS AN ASIDE: I used to eat lunch in the lunch room with all the korean teachers, but sometimes i would bring my lunch. One of the koreans made a huge stink about it and claimed that i hated korean food, so therefore I must hate koreans. So i stopped eating lunch at the school period...

For the most part I love the kids... and like I said most of the trouble makers have quit... But i'm not being paid to put up with poor management or shoddy, screaming children. I'm being paid to help the kids learn English. If I have to spend 30 minutes getting everyone organized there is no time to have any fun at all...or get anything done... I refuse to spend every class telling johnny Q to take out his books, ~oh, where are his books? ~oh, he forgot them again? While the rest of them are ready to get something done.

Yu_Bum_suk · Joined: 25 Dec 2004

joe_doufu · Joined: 09 May 2005 Location: Elsewhere

joe_doufu · Joined: 09 May 2005 Location: Elsewhere

Yu_Bum_suk · Joined: 25 Dec 2004

Gorgias · Joined: 27 Aug 2005

Gotta go with fidel on this. Here's my 2 cents. At month eleven I was burnt out, largely due to problems you describe. I experimented with getting tough but it took several terms to reinvent myself. For the past 9 months since today, my classes have been in good order. Got very hard on them, and beyond an improved learning environment, I feel much less stress and am much happier. One thing that didn't work for me (me, maybe it's good for you and others) is discipline games; discipline is not a game. Do X and do it now, not after I spell out you name or give you three Xs or minus one on your "English Sticker Card." Granted I have seen some bad things written about me on a few walls and in the bathroom, however, clearly the large bulk of the students seem to be rather fond of me (kids are like that) and I have not recieved one negative comment from the director, parents or head teacher since getting hard on the kids. One co-worker who observed a class of mine reminded me that (in my case) English academy is an after school activity which should be fun. He was correct, so although being strict, I am not angry, don't carry a grudge (certainly resolve all problems in and before the end of class: don't take problems to the director and certainly don't let the students take them home to their parents) and do have plenty of fun.
Don't let yourself get burnt out by discipline problems. 90 percent of ex-pat teachers have your exact problem, (see how many threads there are on this topic in Dave's forum), and if you can master it, you will have years of enjoyable teaching ahead of you.
There are no bad students, only bad teachers; you make your class and then teach in it; that's not 100 percent always the case, but when I started to change my methods, (most of) the students changed. Experiment, experiment, experiment, and watch the outcomes carefully, you're a smart person no doubt, child psychology isn't brain science. Wink

Alias · Joined: 24 Jan 2003

joe_doufu · Joined: 09 May 2005 Location: Elsewhere

I have a couple really naughty students who fight constantly in class. They'll hit each other with their pencils, rulers, bags, etc, so by the end of class I typically end up confiscating each and every item they have. Finally I had enough, and instead of just confiscating pencils I took one from each and snapped it in two! Well, they still call each other names but have gotten wise to the notion that using weapons is not in their interest.