Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Qinella]

Maybe you have a better idea. This one has worked best for me.

I get the kid whose eyes are red, he's looking at me in weary desperation. My words are coarsing over his frontal lobe, wheezing out the pores in the back of his head.

Here's how I wake him up: challenge a game of Slaps!

Do you know the game Slaps? You put your hands palms-up. Your opponent puts his or her hands on yours, palms-down. The idea is that you must try to slap the top of your opponent's hand(s). You can do a fake-out move by slightly twitching your middle finger. Makes the whole group laugh because of the psych out.

Switch sides. Give the previously sleepy student a chance at revenge. You being older and thus more agile, it'll be nary impossible for this child to wreak revenge upon your oafish shell. The spectators will giggle with glee at each whiff, then oooooh when contact is barely made.

Teacher so fast!

Inevitably, all of the other students will want to play. That's your call, but personally I decline.

At this point, the students are all wide awake, and in a better mood. They're having more fun, and when you have fun you learn more readily.

Total time invested: 1 minute.

Q.

[Ya-ta Boy]

Let sleeping dogs lie.

[poet13]

Yes, slaps works. But I like my way. Open handed to the back of the head, knock 'em to the ground. Then a couple of good hard kicks in the ribs. Ok ok, so I'm joking. In reality, my kids are not allowed to put their heads down during class. I even try to discourage resting the heads on their hands, their eyes four inches from the paper while writing. Simply a matter of form. When the kids really are dragging butt, and usually it's because of the heat, we generally take a break. Yup, slaps, kay kay boh, or another game I dont' know the name of. Oh, and they can really get worked up playing switch. They become the teacher and I become the student. 7 kids shouting, "tara hey ehyo" (yeah, my phonetic spelling isn't very good). I did have one boy once who immediately grabbed the stick the other teacher used to use to beat their hands with, and with a big smile, said, "Teacha, open your hand."

[Horangi Munshin]

I turn up the sound on my phone and take a picture of them trying to sleep. Works everytime. Therir friends usually shove them before I take the picture. When I started to do it. It threatened to show the picture to the boss. I never have though. I just delete them once they pay attention again.

[formerflautist]

I use a water gun.

[tomato]

I used to ridicule that student by asking the rest of the class to sing this translation of a Korean lullaby.
Sometimes, I would have a good piano student play the song on the keyboard.
It is easy, because it is all on black keys:



Now I have the whole class stand up and sing an action song which involves wlaking, jumping, running, dancing, stamping, and tiptoeing:





The first way didn't work as well.
Besides, it wasn't as humane.

[Zark]

I generally approach them quite gently - and very sincerely (and publicly) offer them W100 to go buy a cup of coffee. Their fear of being perceived as needing money - generally gets them up and running again.

I fully recall working full time all the way through university and the fatigue involved. Generally this isn't true for Korea students - but I try to give them the benefit of doubt on the issue.

Perhaps I am too soft - but generally didn't have much trouble with it. A well-planned and active class helps.

[inspector gadget]

I also use a water gun, it works great and is an alternative to physical abuse which i don't agree with

[saw6436]

Give them a wet willie.

[Hotpants]

You may wanna think twice about the water gun. Once, in my school in Japan, a complaint was filed through lawyers from parents about a teacher using just such a technique. Apparently, the students came home looking like they had just come from a wet t-shirt competition. These students were girls who wore white blouses, which if you've ever noticed, become quite transparent when wet. Be careful!

[Pak Yu Man]

Dump my glass of water on their head. Then make them get me a fresh one.

[Snowmeow]

I am sure that the number #1 cause of student sleepiness is boredom. If heads are down the first step is to examine your lesson before seeking to embarrass a student awake.

[formerflautist]

I squirt heads, not shirts.

[ajuma]

Water guns are good! I used to keep one in my listening class to wake up those students who had one too many the night before! Ususally, their friend poked them before I actually got to shoot...but it sure made the students refrain from sleeping in my class!!

[Privateer]