Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Oreovictim]

What American stuff should I bring for the students that will make them go crazy?

(I'm not trying to "buy" my soon-to-be students' affection, but rewards help, right?)

So what are we talking? Hard candy? Wacky stickers? Tripped-out pens and pencils?

Be specific, please.

[Imbroglio]

Sweet tarts aren't (widely) available, neither are sour gummy bears or any sour candy. Those little milky way choco balls would be a hit.

[heydelores]

Bring a roll of coins from your country. The shinier, the better! The kids love them.

I also go to craft stores when I go home and stock up on award ribbons: 1st Place, 2nd Place, 3rd place, etc. They also have some that say "great job" and things like that. There are also award buttons.

Stickers are all over the place here, though bringing some "teacher stickers" with words in English is a good idea.

Hard candy is widely available here, though the kids would still appreciate foreign candy. I usually bring jello and kool aid packets with me and mix some up for special occasions. You can get lemonade and either cherry or strawberry (can't remember) powdered drink mix here, so go for some of the more unusual flavors.

[cookie7]

Once I took some Listerine packet strips to Korea and everyone thought they were cool. Do they not have breath mint strips there or is fresh breath a relatively foreign concept?

[mindmetoo]

Hit a dollar store and load up on pencils with the flag of your country and other little things.

[heydelores]

[b_canadian_eh]

My kids love my Canadian flag stickers (the cheesier the better), Canadian pencils, Canadian pennies.... really anything from your country should do it. Nothing silences a rowdy class like the promise of a sticker for being quiet.

[mindmetoo]

[okokok]

Why not just share some of your damn oreos with them? Even if it's only the ones that have already touched the floor.

[mindmetoo]

[gyopogirlfromtexas]

The five second rule isn't true. I watched it on Mythbusters. Anyways, today's my last day in the U.S.A. and I purchased some Disney princess pencils and hologram pencils. I also got some spelling, math, reading comprehension Disney books, and even some Disney math cards.

I got a Barbie flash card set that teaches kids to talk about time. Lol, the little boys might hate me with all this barbie and Disney princess things I've purchased. Should I buy more of the Disney pencils? Maybe Winnie the Pooh pencils? It's so basic, that I think it'll be fun for them to learn that way.

[ttompatz]

[Bondgirl]

They like Stickers.
They LOVE candy- but DO NOT give it to them before or during class to eat. Chlidren + sugar = ZOO. If you're just starting out teaching, you need a bit of order, and the candy reaction thing will drive you crazy.
I'm a cheap-skate, so I made a 'Super Student Card'. When everyone has been a champion it goes in the middle of the table, and we cheer 'I am great, I am really really great, I am AMAZING!!'. Sounds lame but they really do think they are amazing after it. Who doesn't want to hear how amazing they are screamed at the top of their lungs?

[Demophobe]

Last trip home I went to my MLA's office and told him first that I and my family voted for him. Then I explained that I am in Korea and need a bunch of those little cool Canada pins or something unique to take back with me.

He gave me 200 pins, 2 full-size flags and a whack of those small flags on sticks. for free! Cool. A big hit here. I also got some Calgary pins from the office of tourism. 200 of those too.

All free.

[Oreovictim]