Korean Job Discussion Forums

[xCustomx]

I do...and then I feel a little guilty, as if it was all my fault that the student quit. How do you feel when a student quits your academy?

[Lizara]

Vaguely bad, but I think in almost two years of hagwon teaching, I've *never* been presented with a valid parental complaint. I know I make enough mistakes, but nobody ever mentions them; they only complain about stupid things that I couldn't have helped.

It's also pretty rare that they tell us why students have quit. It always seems to come kind of randomly, and kids drop out of my best classes far more often than my worst, most boring ones, so it's kind of hard to figure out when it's something I've done or just that they moved elsewhere or something. So generally, unless I somehow know that it's something I personally did wrong, I don't worry about it too much.

[vdowd]

Just a note - I have had children quit classes before (only a few) and their parents gave the Director reasons like - their child doesn't like the classes, they are too hard/easy - etc. only to find out later that these are not the real reasons.

In order to save face, some parents will say anything rather than admit that they are suffering from economic difficulties and have decided that they can no longer afford hagwan classes for their child.

Yes, I examined my teaching at the time but I also noted that I had whole groups of parents threaten to withdraw their children from the hagwan if I did not continue to be their child's teacher. We usually rotate teachers every 3 months but I kept getting the classes back after 1 month and I was working 8-10 classes straight while my fellow teachers kept getting lots of breaks between classes.

So just look at the source and ask yourself if it might be that parents are withdrawing their children for reasons you cannot control - their own economic position.

Vicki

[Big Mac]

Yeah, I think you have to remember that hogwans are expensive for parents and sometimes they just run into a hard time financially. I'm pretty sure that's why most students leave.

I noticed when I first started teaching, there were a lot of students leaving my classes...and it's quite possible it's because I was still learning the ropes and wasn't that good. But no one ever told me that. I felt bad though and just made efforts to get better.

As time went on, the number of kids dropping out declined.

Sometimes the parents realize they don't like the school's curriculum too, which is something that is usually beyond your control.

[fusionbarnone]

Don't bum out.

Students change classes all the time sometimes, for oneupmanship purposes so mums can demonstrate their moniedness to other mums(seen it in small towns). And, to enable the experience of a broader foreigner contact for the kid as well. However, fiscal economics is primary for most parents.

[bellum99]

They quit. You do a great job, you do a good job, or you do a bad job. It sometimes doesn't matter because some students will quit anyway. Don't worry about it and forget them quickly.

[VanIslander]

I actually feel like I'm doing my job when a student quits...

because I'm not here to be a babysitter, and some kids can't handle working hard in my class.

I believe in edutaining... but that means the work is fun and HARD. I challenge my students and the most lazy ones finish last and get a disapproving attitude from me, and their classmates. Rarely is a kid dumb enough not to be able to keep up, and I go easy on those, they even get bonus points, which the other students don't mind much because they know the student isn't smart too. But that's rare. Usually, a student quits because they are lazy. The smart kids and the hard-working kids don't quit on me. I've been at the same hagwon for over three years and what hurts the most is having kids stop coming at the end of grade 6!!!!!! because it's time for them to go to one of those middle school all-subjects-in-one hagwons, where they study science, math, english and whatever, all together. That hurts!!!! I lose so many at the end of grade six.

[mindmetoo]

I do feel bad. Especially the ones that I've worked very hard with or formed a bond with. But then you have to rationalize it the kid isn't deciding his future in your school. The family might have moved. Maybe the dad got a pay raise and they're sending the kid to a better hagwon like CDI. Maybe the mother went with her friends to some seminar luncheon put on by another hagwon and she got suckered in by their pretty brochures...

Do you ever try to read the crap your school puts out in terms of promotional material and think "how much crack are these brochure writers smoking?"

[diablo3]

Whether it you blame yourself or not for their decision to leave, the management will blame you for it.

[Yu_Bum_suk]

Unless it's a kid you really like or you simply love your academy and it's suffering hardship, why give a damn?

[xCustomx]

[Ya-ta Boy]

I think it's natural and healthy to question yourself. But after that, think about the million and one other reasons students quit. If it is your fault, do what you can to improve your teaching. If it not your fault, forget about it.

[mindmetoo]

[sadsac]

It's one of the unfortunate facts of life in a hagwon. There will always be a percentage of kids that come and go. I had the same kids for three years in my first hagwon, but there was always a time when one or two moved on. I do agree with VanIslander, it's tough when they make the transitions from Elementary to Middle and Middle to High school though. That is when we loose the majority of our long time students and it bites. The next day you get on with teaching and have a fun time with the new kids and the oldies who are left.

[Yu_Bum_suk]