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Jamin
Joined: 21 Jun 2005
Location: Daejon
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 Posted: Tue Jun 13, 2006 3:35 pm Post subject: |
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I work at a very supportive university. I am also a very strict teacher. Students even 1 second late are marked L (At my school 2 lates = 1 absent). At the 10 minute mark of the class the door is locked and no students are allowed in.
Students without pencils, homework, or textbook are asked to leave until they are prepared for class (They are marked late if they return and absent if they do not). Students not participating (talking on the phone, doing other homework, etc) are asked to leave.
I am consistant with these rules every class. You know what, after about two weeks all those distractions simply stop.
If students complains, I simply point to the syllabus, which has been translated in Korean, and review the rules with them. If administration complaints (it has never happened) I would simply point to the syllabus which I had submitted to them at the beginning of the term and question them why they didn't bring about any issues at the beginning of the term
Also, all conversation classes have only speaking tests.
As a rule, I never have to fail more than 5% of any one class. Many students after tell me my class is fun and interesting but I am very strict. They also thank me for the class.
I also do not raise grades or give an A or a D that is not deserved.
I have been teaching like this for about 11 years now at different universities and not once has a student gone to the administration to complain,
In my opinion, if you want your students to take your class seriously you also must treat your class as if it is the most important thing in the entire world. Students here respond to a "strict" teacher. |
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Rteacher
Joined: 23 May 2005
Location: Western MA, USA
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| Posted: Tue Jun 13, 2006 4:17 pm Post subject: |
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Boring books are part of the problem. It's hard to generate much interest in learning English if the students (and teacher) don't find the text book stimulating. (Of course, a great teacher/entertainer can still command their attention in class, but run-of-the-mill books will probably not be referred to or valued much by students between classes...)
I'm impressed with the recently published "Jazz English" conversation book written (with a lot of help from Koreans...) by a native-English speaker with ten years experience in Korea. It really seems to target Korean students interests - especially fashion and pop culture - and the language presented is both cool and comprehensive (with Korean translations.) It also comes with an MP3 disk (instead of passe CDs) and it includes the best map of Korea I've ever seen (I could even find my hick town Janghowan on it...)
I think that it's appropriate for many high school and probably all university students - especially those in tech schools... |
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Yo!Chingo
Joined: 06 Dec 2005
Location: Seoul Korea
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| Posted: Tue Jun 13, 2006 5:31 pm Post subject: |
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When I give you a test don't whine and complain that the test is too hard (even though it's exactly what's in the book) when 90% of the time I've giving you 30 minutes closed book to do the thing and 15 minutes open to finish. 
Don't come to class without the homework I've reminded you about the whole week and then act like you never knew you had Homework!!!
Don't mock me when I'm talking to you, and don't stare at me like I'm supposed to burst into flames b/c you HATE ME!!! Guess what kid, I'm gonna stare right back at ya with about the same thoughts and one hell of a loud voice to back it up.
When I tell you to do something I mean to do it!!! Don't just sit there looking at your paper while you're slumped down in your seat and act like I'm an evil person for actually wanting you to give a damn!
Don't tell me "NO!" when I order you to the front of the classroom to take your punishment like you deserve!
Don't tell my boss something different than what happened in class when I send you out for a good tongue lashing in Hangul from her! |
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poet13
Joined: 22 Jan 2006
Location: Just over there....throwing lemons.
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| Posted: Tue Jun 13, 2006 5:57 pm Post subject: |
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| Jamin. I wanna work where you work. |
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kermo
Joined: 01 Sep 2004
Location: Eating eggs, with a comb, out of a shoe.
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| Posted: Tue Jun 13, 2006 6:28 pm Post subject: |
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| Jamin wrote: |
I work at a very supportive university. I am also a very strict teacher. Students even 1 second late are marked L (At my school 2 lates = 1 absent). At the 10 minute mark of the class the door is locked and no students are allowed in.
Students without pencils, homework, or textbook are asked to leave until they are prepared for class (They are marked late if they return and absent if they do not). Students not participating (talking on the phone, doing other homework, etc) are asked to leave.
I am consistant with these rules every class. You know what, after about two weeks all those distractions simply stop.
If students complains, I simply point to the syllabus, which has been translated in Korean, and review the rules with them. If administration complaints (it has never happened) I would simply point to the syllabus which I had submitted to them at the beginning of the term and question them why they didn't bring about any issues at the beginning of the term
Also, all conversation classes have only speaking tests.
As a rule, I never have to fail more than 5% of any one class. Many students after tell me my class is fun and interesting but I am very strict. They also thank me for the class.
I also do not raise grades or give an A or a D that is not deserved.
I have been teaching like this for about 11 years now at different universities and not once has a student gone to the administration to complain,
In my opinion, if you want your students to take your class seriously you also must treat your class as if it is the most important thing in the entire world. Students here respond to a "strict" teacher. |
I dig.
I have been teaching for a long time, and I think this is one of the toughest classes I've had, aside from the inner-city junior high substitute teaching gigs I used to do. I've taught kids with profound autism, and these kids are tougher.
The class size combined with a very inappropriate textbook and almost no English listening comprehension makes for a very uphill battle.
I give marks for attendance, but also for participation. Every volunteered answer (right or wrong) earns a stamp in their books. This is also some incentive to bring their books.
Am I strict? Not exactly. I lay down the rules at the beginning of the term-- no sleeping, no cell-phones, etc., and I do give kids the stink-eye if they are chatting, as well as stopping the class until they settle down, but I haven't kicked many kids out.
I've tried different things like photocopying pages from the book so everyone can participate, and organizing them into team which compete against each other (that works pretty nicely.)
This is my first semester at a university. I will definitely go back and get the syllabus (including rules) printed and translated because it's impossible to explain something like "Go and get your book and pencil and then come back." Seriously. Miming + English + diagrams doesn't penetrate their adorable skulls.
I can't complaitn about/change the textbook because my Korean colleagues wrote it, but fortunately I won't have this type of class (mandatory English classes for students with other majors) again with the exception of the Secretarial department. I've heard they're very very low, but maybe a different textbook could help. |
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ella
Joined: 17 Apr 2006
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| Posted: Tue Jun 13, 2006 7:25 pm Post subject: |
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| Did you start that way, Jamin? I wonder if a first year B.A.-only, non-certified teacher in a hogwan could teach that way and keep her job? |
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mack the knife
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: standing right behind you...
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| Posted: Tue Jun 13, 2006 8:14 pm Post subject: |
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| Just sign your report card with a 5 eh? I dunno........oh you're touching my arm you flirty lil thing you. Well in that case, I gotta say no. 'Cuz I have integrity. What's integrity? It's that thing you don't have doll. Dontcha worry your purty lil head over it. |
Thank you. You have given me my shower material for the week.
As for all you uni teachers, why worry? Lay down the law as follows (post them in your room):
a) I don't care if you show up to class or not. It's your life. But don't expect any favors at the end of the day. If you show up late to class a couple of times, shame on you. If you show up late consistently, shame on me for not kicking your ass to the curb.
b) I don't care if you chew gum and stare out the window, sleep, or send text messages to your Chinese food delivery boyfriend, but if you disturb my class, I'm kicking your ass to the curb.
c) If I catch you cheating or copying/downloading essays, it's a big, fat zero on the books. And I'm kicking your ass to the curb.
d) Any attempt to sex me up in order to procure a more desirable grade will result in your ass being soundly spanked, and then kicked to the curb. |
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kermo
Joined: 01 Sep 2004
Location: Eating eggs, with a comb, out of a shoe.
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| Posted: Tue Jun 13, 2006 8:18 pm Post subject: |
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| mack the knife wrote: |
| As for all you uni teachers, why worry? |
Because their horrible performance and lame effort makes me feel like a bad teacher. |
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Lemonade
Joined: 04 Jan 2006
Location: South Korea
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| Posted: Tue Jun 13, 2006 9:02 pm Post subject: |
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| kermo wrote: |
| mack the knife wrote: |
| As for all you uni teachers, why worry? |
Because their horrible performance and lame effort makes me feel like a bad teacher. |
Kermo, you are taking this too personally. These students will act this way with almost any teacher. If most of your students aren't acting that way, then the few who do shouldn't make you feel insecure. |
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mack the knife
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: standing right behind you...
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| Posted: Tue Jun 13, 2006 10:29 pm Post subject: |
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| Kermo, you are taking this too personally. These students will act this way with almost any teacher. If most of your students aren't acting that way, then the few who do shouldn't make you feel insecure. |
Exactly.
Furthermore, you should simply concentrate on the students who truly wish to learn. If you can't ignore the bad apples because they are being disruptive....you know what to do...  |
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willardmusa
Joined: 28 May 2006
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| Posted: Tue Jun 13, 2006 10:39 pm Post subject: . . |
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..
Last edited by willardmusa on Mon Nov 06, 2006 2:30 am; edited 2 times in total |
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jajdude
Joined: 18 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Tue Jun 13, 2006 10:43 pm Post subject: |
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| Hyeon Een wrote: |
If I also get a homework written alone the lines of:
"The kimchi the Korean questionable matter thing is proud. It
taste [iss], the food which has the nutrition minute which is
world-wide it health which gives an ability hazard reknowned."
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This cracks me up. If you are a student and don't know that this is nonsense, just give up and go to the PC 방 |
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Privateer
Joined: 31 Aug 2005
Location: Easy Street.
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| Posted: Tue Jun 13, 2006 11:28 pm Post subject: |
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| Wow. After reading this thread I suddenly see my students in a new, rosy-pink light, and I can almost visualise the light beaming from their halos glinting off their angelic smiles. |
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poet13
Joined: 22 Jan 2006
Location: Just over there....throwing lemons.
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| Posted: Wed Jun 14, 2006 12:07 am Post subject: |
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"Did you start that way, Jamin? I wonder if a first year B.A.-only, non-certified teacher in a hogwan could teach that way and keep her job?"
I dont know about Jamin, but I did. I have lots of ...ah....differences! with my boss, but she is serious about education and classroom discipline. I appreciate that about her. |
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PaperTiger
Joined: 31 May 2005
Location: Ulaanbataar
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| Posted: Wed Jun 14, 2006 3:10 am Post subject: |
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Can you really fail people in uni classes? I got the impression from other threads that most institutions were too chicken to fail someone over something as trivial as their performance in an English class. By the sound of it, most Korean universities have less integrity than your average haggie.
How does that work? Seriously...are unis and public school the same in that regard to hagwon policies? Always wondered. |
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