Korean Job Discussion Forums

The Floating World · Joined: 01 Oct 2011 Location: Here

Honestly, I'd be as rude back and slag of K culture to them as much as I possibly could.

That's just me though.

ssuprnova · Joined: 17 Dec 2010 Location: Saigon

Mix1 · Joined: 08 May 2007

akcrono · Joined: 11 Mar 2010

OneWayTraffic · Joined: 14 Mar 2005

Hey I used to teach Adults in Pagoda, before freelancing and then finally leaving Korea to get qualified.

Here's a little trick I picked up on teaching training. People do not let go of there misconceptions easily. Even in a subject like mathematics (I now teach at HS) it can be surprisingly difficult to simply correct people and have them take it on board.

I would suggest, instead that you consider cognitive dissonance. Simply offer some conflicting evidence, or encourage them to consider the consequences of their thinking.

e.g. All teachers need to be Christian, what an interesting thing to say. How did you come to that conclusion?

Or even better ahh, so I guess Sejong must have been a good Christian then?

Or if you like to live dangerously: So Rich is good, absolutely. So were your family always rich?

You can have a lot of fun with this. You should know how far to take it.

Or just Smile, Nod, Ignore, Proceed to suggest that the next class be in a restaurant.

Weigookin74 · Joined: 26 Oct 2009

postfundie · Joined: 28 May 2004

I won't teach people like that... I just say,'if you are going to be rude then I won't teach you. I am sorry.' then tell the director. They can find another teacher. The stress isn't worth it. Make sure they know that you 'hate' Korea because of people like them. Point out some other famous Korean who you like who doesn't share their ideals. stuff like "Hines Ward" is a national hero even though he was treated like crap.. Most of those prideful Koreans have some strange nationalistic guilt button that you can push. I always say, "I like this country, but you are a real embarrassment." Then I end it with something about how Korean men took advantage of Vietnamese girls and they end up feeling terrible. The reason that they rag on you is because they are insecure. When they realize that you are a potential convert, they usually change their tone.

sbp59 · Joined: 01 Apr 2009 Location: Somewhere in SK

[quote="postfundie"]I won't teach people like that... I just say,'if you are going to be rude then I won't teach you. I am sorry.' then tell the director. They can find another teacher. The stress isn't worth it.

That's not realistic for most teachers in Korea. Perhaps if you have a great director who supports you, then it might work. Or if you have an F-visa it gives you more freedom and flexibility.

But, the majority of E-2 teachers simply can't tell their adult students I won't teach you.

myenglishisno · Joined: 08 Mar 2011 Location: Geumchon

[quote="sbp59"]

sbp59 · Joined: 01 Apr 2009 Location: Somewhere in SK

[quote="myenglishisno"]

Oreovictim · Joined: 23 Aug 2006

Are adults students always such a pain in the a$$? Wait a sec. Are Korean adult students always such a pain in the a$$?

I was just watching a youtube clip from Busan Kevin on "loser teachers." He mentioned that he had some Korean adult students who flat out told him that most foreigners are losers. When Kevin said that he took offense to that, the students looked shocked.

I taught for a little over four years in Korea, but I always taught the little tykes. Now I'm teaching adults in China, and it's such a nice change. There have been a few times when I'd catch a student sending texts in class, but that's about it.

MyEnglishisNo, just be fortunate that those students are gone. And if your boss wants you to come back to teach in the middle of your shift, put your foot down.

postfundie · Joined: 28 May 2004

It is already hard to find a good English teacher. It is harder to find a good teacher who can meet at the time and the place that you want for an acceptable price. It is harder still to find a teacher who allow you be rude to him/her. You have the advantage.

The nice thing about teaching adults is that you can deal/ negotiate/ talk directly to the customer. There is none of that kid-to-parent-to-director manipulation going on. When adult students have been rude to me in the past, I just tell them that they are rude or give them a disapproving look or take the class down to crawling speed. What are they are going to do? Hold you down in headlock and make you teach them?? Can they tie you to a tree and make you talk? Yeah they can go and whine to the director but if it's already been established that their rudeness is the cause of your non-teaching behavior, then they can either change their tune or go to some other Hagwon.