Korean Job Discussion Forums

Amari · Joined: 15 Jun 2006 Location: Dunedin, NZ

Hey again
Just a quick, rather trivial question: What do your students (kids, in a hagwon) call you? Miss/Mrs, your first name, or a korean title? Just wondering how to introduce myself!
Cheers, Amari

Yu_Bum_suk · Joined: 25 Dec 2004

Unless you're the first foreigner at your hogwan, every perception of you will have been moulded by the previous foreigners. If your name is Jane Smith they'll probably call you Jane-teachuh, since if you were a Korean and your name was Kim Bori they'd call you Kim-sunsaengnim.

An interesting test of the level of respect they give you is to ask them something they don't know or understand. If they respond 'mullae-oh' they think you're a real teacher. If they say 'mullah' they don't.

kiwigirl :O) · Joined: 05 Jan 2006 Location: Bundang

hey amari

they call me: "sarah teacher" i have found that its usually your first name followed by teacher or sonsengneem teacher)

cubanlord · Joined: 08 Jul 2005 Location: In Japan!

it depends what mood I'm in:

Dejagnim
Master
Jefe

Shocked

Milwaukiedave · Joined: 02 Oct 2004 Location: Goseong

pgplummer · Joined: 10 Jun 2006 Location: Canada

At my first Hogwan they started with Patrick Teacher and then once the other foreign teacher arrived and she started to teach animals, They then started to call me Gorilla Teacher. I am sure I don't need to explain but I am 6'5" and not that skinny. I am not obese but an overall big & hairy guy. This name stuck for the remainder of the term. It really did not bother me. Most students when not sure of an answer did not just say "mullah" it was Mullia oh. (Maybe they were just afraid the gorilla would eat them if they were improper) Just kidding!

I hope you all got a laugh from this.

CHEERS

sadsac · Joined: 22 Dec 2003 Location: Gwangwang

My kids call me Stephen. I have broken them of the habit of Stephen teacher, it took a while. Smile

Alyallen · Posted: Mon Jun 19, 2006 10:53 pm Post subject:

Usually it's Alyson Teacher.

Many call me Alyson

Some call me Ms. Alyson

A handful call me Ms. **** (My last name...not a beep Laughing

)

But I don't care as long as it's not
Ms. Africa Tica Tica or
Tica Tica Teacher or
Africa sunsaenim

Evil or Very Mad

crazylemongirl · Joined: 23 Mar 2003 Location: almost there...

my kids call me by family name

mostly just by my family name but some call me Ms ***** while some call me ***** saem or teacher.

My first name is hard for a lot of koreans to say and I think it adds distance between the kids and I.

Cerriowen · Joined: 03 Jun 2006 Location: Pocheon

Usually just "TEACHER, TEACHER, TEACHER!"

Or sometimes "Hamster Teacher" (I brought hamsters for the class to play with.)

flotsam · Joined: 28 Mar 2006

SuperHero · Joined: 10 Dec 2003 Location: Superhero Hideout

my kids call my Daddy or 아빠 - other kids in the neighborhood call me 아쩌시 (spelling?)

I_Am_Wrong · Joined: 14 Sep 2004 Location: whatever

Mr. mo-mo-mo

If they're using your first name then you should insist that they say teacher after your name. You are there teacher, not their friend. In korean they say the first name and then 성생님 (teacher) because that is the respectful way. I teach English and in English it's rude to call your teacher by his/her first name.

rothkowitz · Joined: 27 Apr 2006

After having my bag nicked by a student from my room when I popped out for 5 minutes-christ,only had 2.000 won but also my house key...why would anybody bother??

after this.........students don't call me anything.I am actively encouraging them to not approach teacher.Under any circumstances.Before that it was Mr---

SuperHero · Joined: 10 Dec 2003 Location: Superhero Hideout