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babtangee
Joined: 18 Dec 2004
Location: OMG! Charlie has me surrounded!
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 Posted: Thu Nov 03, 2005 10:53 pm Post subject: |
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In my first few months I gave very honest report cards. I also teach a mothers' class. In this class one mother asked me why I gave one student, Andy, all As, but I gave his brother Billy a D for behaviour. I explained that Andy is an excellent student, but that his brother, while possessing acceptable English skills, was a lazy, arrogant little brat who doesn't want to study.
I could see she was not happy with my frankness - particularly in front of her peers, I guess. I asked, "Why do you ask - do you know their mother?"
Of course she replied, "I am their mother."
"Nooooo... it's not possible!" I said.
She left the class very pleased - and has worn make-up to class ever since. |
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Hollywoodaction
Joined: 02 Jul 2004
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| Posted: Thu Nov 03, 2005 10:59 pm Post subject: Re: Preposterous complaints from mothers |
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| Beej wrote: |
If you work at a kiddie hogwon you have undoubtedly heard complaints from the moms. Some less warranted than others. Lets list em here. I will start:
Back during the World Cup, I had parents call and complain about me because I said in class that Ihoped my national team (USA) would do well. I didnt even know they were to play Korea. I didnt know how or even if i should defend this action to my boss. |
I would have told my boss the parents were obviously crazy and left it at that. |
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Hollywoodaction
Joined: 02 Jul 2004
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| Posted: Thu Nov 03, 2005 11:02 pm Post subject: |
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| the eye wrote: |
our hogwan has an english only policy in the classroom.
for my lower level students, i am prepared to offer vocabulary translations in korean if i see any blank faces.
i don't speak korean in the class other than to offer those translations.
however, a few days ago, i received a barrage of complaints from a GROUP of mothers from different classes denouncing my use of korean in the classroom....as it should be english only.
the only reason i started translating, was because of the complaints that the lower level students couldn't understand new vocabulary. |
Well, all researchers would agree that using the occastional short translations, as opposed to full out Korean like most Korean teachers do, is far more efficient than wasting 30 minutes to explain to the kids a word. |
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captain kirk
Joined: 29 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Fri Nov 04, 2005 1:17 am Post subject: |
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I had one boss who got in my face one day saying, 'Did you call (this ten year old student) a monkey? Did you?'. I was like huh, what, whatever. He was a twit, that boss. And I still don't know what he was going on about.
The last hagwon (different than the above) a newb arrived and in his second week he was pulled over, I watched this (with amusement), with the boss saying, 'Did you call (this ten year old student) crazy? Did you?'. The boss then retreated leaving the flabberghasted newb leaning against the wall, shaken, reeling a bit.
He was being accomodating and sincere (as opposed to jaded and thick-skinned) having just arrived. The Korean teachers smelled Silly Putty at this and attempted to tangle him up with their 'serious concerns'.
If you're soft you're putty. If you're hard you'll need softening. |
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Privateer
Joined: 31 Aug 2005
Location: Easy Street.
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| Posted: Fri Nov 04, 2005 3:31 am Post subject: |
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| jacl wrote: |
This is my first post on Dave's. I've been teaching and living in Korea since January.
Don't let anyone tell you what to do.
"Go faster. Don't do this. Don't do that." Whatever. If you're confident enough at your job, and the students are learning English, you don't need to be distracted with useless comments. Let them know this. And don't be intimidated. |
Amen. Let it all flow over your head, smile, nod, and carry on regardless.
It is all sound and fury, signifying nothing. |
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joe_doufu
Joined: 09 May 2005
Location: Elsewhere
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| Posted: Fri Nov 04, 2005 7:40 am Post subject: |
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| captain kirk wrote: |
| The last hagwon (different than the above) a newb arrived and in his second week he was pulled over, I watched this (with amusement), with the boss saying, 'Did you call (this ten year old student) crazy? Did you?'. |
I call my boss's little daughter "crazy" all the time. It's her own fault for running around with an English name like "Daisy"!!! |
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Beej
Joined: 05 Mar 2005
Location: Eungam Loop
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| Posted: Fri Nov 04, 2005 4:16 pm Post subject: |
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| A teacher at my hogwon would give all A grades to every student in every category just to avoid being bothered. When he left Korea the teacher who took over his class graded somewhat more realistically. A mother called and complained about the new teacher saying that he wasnt a good teacher and that her child had actually gotten worse in English. She believed that her child regressed in English because " She used to get all A's and now she gets B's" |
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ladyandthetramp
Joined: 21 Nov 2003
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| Posted: Fri Nov 04, 2005 11:45 pm Post subject: |
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| Freezer Burn wrote: |
| My BF has some beauties, I kid you not he got a complaint that one student was learning to much!, Im not sure if it was lost in the translation but thats how the directom explained it. |
I like how you nicely used the word "directom." Perhaps a mistake, but it seems very relevent to this thread. |
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