Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Keepongoing]

you know that saying "99 people say something nice, but one says something hurtful and that is all you focus on.

well, I teach university and we had our mid-terms. I have 4 classes; 2 Oral Communication classes( 11, 10 students), 1 writing class (19 students), and A Content Based Instruction class ( 20 students) where I teach Public Speaking.

In my writing class I got a 97.1 with good, uplifting comments

My Public Speaking class I also got a 97.1, also with good comments.

In One OCS class I got a 90 and they seem to be good coments

But in one OCS I got slammed with a 74 and some hurtful statements which I need to own and act on. 4 students commented that I cut them off when they have opinions ( this is during discussions) That I make bad faces.

One stated that I was very, very strange and that they do not know why the University had hired me; that I was not qualified to be a teacher.(ooouch)

My style is my style and I treat them the same way as I do my other OCS. Obviously, I offended some of them. I challenge them and their opinions so as to get them to support their ideas. I ask for clarification and more information. I guess it does not work that way here. I am not back home and in all fairness it is a second language for them.

I love teaching and I do consider the students' comments. But, if that is the way they are experiencing the class then I need to change.

Tomorrow morning I will apologize and I will focus the class more on presentation rather than discussion or debate.I am considering reading the evaluation statements to them.Some of the statements were positive and it brought my overall evaluation down quite significantly.

I am posting this on a public forum at the risk of being questioned why I do so. Most of you have had your expereinces in University with students, or in elementary, middle and hign school classes, as well as hogwans where you may be scrutinized by parents.

I guess I am fishing for some encouragement as well as how to deal with these students tomorrow and throughout the next 3 weeks.

[Kimchieluver]

I have never taught university, but I have taught adults. From what I have seen, the Korean system is sit, listen, regurgitate, try to regurgitate in different words and then do some more memorization.

Maybe the fact that you are actually asking them to think creatively and then express it in English is just not to their liking.

Just my two cents.

[jacl]

I wouldn't bring up the evaluations to the students. Just try a different approach with that one class.

[SuperHero]

I've worked at the school where MASH is and I too had a couple of bad evals from classes. My approach was basically to change mid-stream without bringing up the evaluation to the student. Both times this resulted in a significant improvent by the end of the semester.

One thing to be aware of is that you can't please everyone and clearly this is one of those classes. Change what you can, but don't be overly worried about thier comments/numbers. You would only really need to be concerned if all of your classes had evaluated you similarly.

Good luck with the rest of the semester.

[Hapkido-In]

The Korean system is rather easy to understand once you've figured it out.

The squeaky wheel gets the oil.

Just change your style of teaching so that the whiners have nothing to whine about anymore.

Also, be sure to add, whenever you are going to speak after a student is giving their opinion, "Sorry to cut you off, but we are a pressed for time and need to move onto the next student/topic/ect."

Anyways, that's what I'd do.

[own_king]

I've also worked with adults and trust me it is truly a different dynamic than teaching kids. Through that experience I learned quick that no matter who you are or who you think you are, there are always going to be some people that just don't like you. I have a couple friends who work at other universities so I know that English is a required course. But a lot of them don't take it seriously, they just want their A or B and get out. They don't expect that you will actually require them to work. So I wouldn't get too down about a bad evaluation from one class, but I can see why it would leave a bad taste in your mouth when you see them again on Tuesday. I'm not sure that confronting them about it is the best approach though.

[RobinH]

Ignore it. The student(s) in question probably believe they are going to get a bad grade and think they are getting even with you.

[Keepongoing]

I went into class this morning; mentioned nothing about the evaluation, and all the students sweet and all smiles. Interesting.

[own_king]

Sometimes owners say stuff to keep you on your toes. I remember when I worked at one hakwan and everytime she had something negative to say at a teacher's meeting, she always prefaced it with "Some parents called . . . " I don't believe the parents ever call a hakwan. I know a university is different, but just don't take what they sat too seriously.

[Yu_Bum_suk]

I wouldn't sweat it too much. The only comments I'd be concerned about are the ones about cutting students off. Otherwise it sounds like you're doing pretty well overall.

[PRagic]

Want to play it the Korean way? Gloves are off. Start kicking people out of that class for any reason...speaking out of turn, speaking Korean, being late, dozing off, not taking notes...whatever. Do not accept any late assignments...give the F. Make the final a tough one. Ahh.

Sounds like you have some petty students in one class.

[noguri]

[PRagic]

Because it is not America. If you continue to project your home culture on your country of future employment, you're in for some tough times.

Yes, you can kick them out. You can confiscate cell phones. You can single them out in class and embarrass them. Whatever it takes. If you're good, you won't have to do those things. Sometimes, however, and as we all know, there are students that just won't play ball. Fine, then put them out of the game.

[own_king]

[SuperHero]