Korean Job Discussion Forums

[khyber]

I have a korean coworker who really doesn't think before she speaks. That in conjunction with knowing VERY little about ho to teach and how to inspire children makes her a prime candidate for stupid sheeet to pull.

So I had my class make commercials. The way the groups feel, three of the poorer performing students happen to be together. But i sweetenned the pot (as at least ONE of them worked really well for reward) and found the first half of the first class, they worked quite well. Almost finished their whole script while most kids only got about half way.
In the second (full) class, they got disheartenned, "that group has ji hoon and brian and the girls are doing a dance. we can't do anything".
So i tried to help them out; i checked their script (which was almost 100% bang on! ); then gave them some ideas. Over the course of that class the other two groups finished their scripts AND made props AND planned what they were going to do.
This group, despite my constant (literally every 5 minutes i was with them) affirmations would pick up a pen and scribble, then look dejected and forlorn. I kept reassuring them that, of COURSE they could do it but they had to try...i could help them. They were making a commercial for a bike, i showed them some hand gestures....heck i even carried this behomoth of a bike INTO the school for them to use as a prop (cause "none of them could draw pictures" :cry: wah wah!) They were making me tired.
And not speaking enough korean, i can't really convince them that they CAN do it, even though, of COURSE they could.
Anyways, as that class continued they started to goof around and tried to join/pester/spy on the other groups.

The third day (recording day), they had half a class to practice, and "perfect" their commercial. Again, they threw their arms up in despair, not ONCE even thinking about working. I reassured them at first, then i defaulted to simply "listen, you want to join the party? you must try."
and they understood. But they sulked more.
Anyways, they don't record a commercial.

Then, party/judging day. Since they didn't make a commercial they got no prize and they got no party. But, it being peppero day (and every day being their "candy day") they were a little more than ornary in the middle of a sugar crash and all.
So i tell them that they have to move away from the rest of the table and can't play a game. There's a crossword for them to work on and they get no treats.
They don't move...this comes and goes in waves at this school. WE had an assembly over it which improved the situation slightly but temporarily.
anyways, i'm not gonna keep up with this waste of time (while the rest of the kids get impatient)...old me woulda yelled but i was tired and not really into being angry that day.

So i got the korean teacher to come in.
They have a talk. These kids, (gr 5boys) who are inexplicably prone to crying, cried again "apparently frustrated" because they "couldn't do the work" in my view an utterly blatant lie.

and now...the point:
After more korean talking, she (the teacher) turns to me and says,
"they are angry because they don't understand you [they did].....i think...that they are stupid and their english is very poor... why don't you let them join the party?"
I was ALSO in no mood to be confrontational right then (And this attitude is ALL too prevelent at the school) so i just gave it the old "whatever".

So basically, she was saying "their stupidity and their lack of english are a REASON for them NOT to work hard instead of, say THE OPPOSITE!!!
that really pissed me off.

So NEVER let your korean teachers (or you yourself maybe..) tell you that kids lacking english ability have permission NOT to work as hard as other students.

i'm gonna talk to her tomorrow, and the other korean teacher and set them straight... MAN did that burn my chaps.

also, don't force them to apologize. The two boys were "forced" to apologize, then didn't; makes them feel like they can get away with it when something important comes. funny though really, for cocky little jerks, they cried at the drop of a hat. Doesn't really make sense does it? Can someone explain that one?

Now wonder this woman's child (whom i also teacher) literally throws herself on the floor and flails her legs if she doesn't get a "corn-cheese".

[SPINOZA]

Blimey, that was boring.

[Yu_Bum_suk]

I was doing commercials with my students last week too. It did seem to go better in the classes I teach solo, though that may have been because those are the better students. Getting Koreans to come up with anything original on their own, though - plan to give them a *lot* of time.

[periwinkle]

[Keepongoing]

[skconqueror]

[jacl]

[Red]

[Marcilla]

[EFLtrainer]

This is a frightening thread. I can only suggest the OP look into the Zone of Proximal Development. Well, I can also suggest the OP study English. Or edit... whichever is relevant.

Seriously, if your own writing is so riddled with mistakes, I find it hard to believe you would have a clear idea of what your students can or can't accomplish. I'm hoping this is a case of not editing.

You do bring up a good point about how Korean teachers handle things, though. I have often had to tell them to not engage in conversation for me when they are translating. Repeat exactly what I say and what the students say. Nothing more, nothing less. It is virtually impossible to accomplish, however, because they seem to almost universally assume *you just don't get it.* Aigooo...

[mishlert]

[jacl]

[mishlert]

[khyber]

Anyone who has a picture of someone who rocks as hard as spinoza can say ANYthing they want...cause their the coolest.

I did that activitiy with my class. The groups were formed, basically at random. For the most part, each group of students was with their friends.

[Privateer]