Korean Job Discussion Forums

[mindmetoo]

This was an odd mother complaint. Actually I almost never get complaints, or they don't forward them my way. But boss mentioned there "have been" (you know they always make it plural even if it's only one mother) complaint"s" that I speak too slowly. Right. Not too fast. Too slowly.

They want me to speak more quickly to, like, challenge the true English geniuses that attend our school. Given our class sizes are about 4 students, 3 being dullards and 1 having moderate talent, I'm not sure that's the best business decision.

I told my handler basically "well, I'm not speaking slowly to them. It's the way I talk. I can't change that."

Attendance is at a low ebb. They've been lazy in their marketing and their brilliant plan to create an essay writing program has netted them about 8 kids.

Although smaller classes are nice, when the biz types running the school notice the red ink, it can only lead to a crazier work environment and the kind of random nitpicking over inconsequential things only Korean hagwon owners are capable of.

[ddeubel]

Yeah, it is a drag when there is little "positive" feedback.....But if you are speaking normally, clearly, nothing to change............that's you...

STILL -- this is one of my biggest complaints about the classes and teaching I've witnessed in Korea. Teacher talk!!!!! This is a big faux pas and also soooooo condescending to the learners and Korean colleagues alike.

I just taught at an winter camp and the teachers were fantastic, some new, some in Korea a number of years. Still half of them spoke like 3 year olds, and not just when teaching -- also to Korean colleagues. Things like "Sheets? Where put? Sheets? " or a classic, "I go now".....

When I assessed teachers during the TEFL courses I taught, I made it clear they'd flunk if they ever started talking like that.... I think a lot of teachers have developed the habit and it is very hard to stop once started.

RULE -- speak normally but clearly. You do a diservice and ruin students chances of speaking English if you don't . Part of it is hearing / understanding the inner music of the language.........

DD

[Hater Depot]

Ugh. I knew a nice girl who would speak to every Korean person in teacher talk. I never said anything to her but it really bugged the crap out of me that she apparently never noticed they were speaking fluent English.

[pegpig]

In my first year I had kiddies and adults. When it came time for the adults' evaluations of me, I got a kick out of one class. One person said I spoke too quicky (being fresh off the boat, I'd probably agree with him/her). Another person said I spoke too slowly. Same class. Go figure.

[some waygug-in]

It sounds to me like they are making up stuff to complain about, but just in case...........

you could ask them how fast/slowly they want you to speak.

Speak a sentence to them at various speeds and ask them which they prefer.

I'm not saying I agree with them, it's just a way of making sure that it doesn't develop into a sore spot.

Cheers

[mindmetoo]

[sheba]

Yea, Ive had that with one of my classes.... I try to speak so that everyone can understand, but then the brighter students take it as an insult, like I think theyre stupid or something.

Cant please everyone.

[RACETRAITOR]

Aw christ, I hate teacher talk. I didn't know any Koreans could complain that a teacher speaks slowly.

I just dodged a really lame complaint made against me. I do a phone lesson with a high school student who's at the intermediate level...according to his mother. She complained that all I do for the ten-minute phone class is talk and don't interact with the student. The reality is he can read dialogues but doesn't understand anything I ask him ("What is 'garbage'?" or "Can you say 'firetruck'?"). So I had my coworker listen to me today so she could see that I constantly ask questions which go unanswered.

[ulsanchris]

[UncleAlex]

Koreans tend to fabricate silly complaints at the last minute because they
don't want you to stay or renew at their schools. It could be that they are
too embarrassed to give the real reason: "You never once brought a roll
of coffee cake from Paris Baguette unlike the other teachers."

[BigBlackEquus]

Well, Derrek, it sounds like you will just have to speak a little faster....