Korean Job Discussion Forums

[canuckistan]

[thursdays child]

I just teach girls now....

I have favourites - I don't show it but I have them - if that makes any sense?? I gravitate toward the worst behaved and least able students and the good students aggravate me.

I will reapeat - I don't show or act upon these feelings, I just have them!

[polarbearbrad]

I am a male teacher in a mixed hogwon. I have favourite students because they have earned it by doing their homework and trying hard in class. Notice I didn't say because they are smart. I only teach kids so "good-looking" is not a factor I have to worry about.

With that said I prefer to teach kids that don't quit. I don't care how smart they are, if they don't quit they will eventually learn and that is of course what we all want. My favourites do extra work to try to gain my approval and for them keeping them in line is easy all I have to say is "I am not angry at you, I am dissappointed in you. You embarassed me." Funny, saying those last eight words is like driving a stake through their little hearts and it is ages before they do something bad again.

I took public relations in school and I have found many of the public speaking techniques I learned to be of a great help here. I would like to share them with you if I may:

Make eye contact for more than three seconds with each person. This shows that you are trying to direct the attention straight at them.

Move around the room in circles. This forces students to turn their heads and you can see who is paying attention. This also forces you to keep your eyes moving and you can also direct your glances around the room. This also keeps kids from playing with cell phones, writing notes, or whatever under their desks because they never know when you are going to stop behind them.

Keep your hand gestures close to your chest and neck. This keeps students looking at you and it is an easy extension to bring their eyes to yours. This helps maintain focus.

Ask pointed questions at pointed people. Look right at someone and ask "Do you understand" and go around the room. This shows that each student is important and it gives you the chance to see their reaction. Many will say yes but not really understand. A blanket question they can dodge, pointed if they don't understand you can read their body language and know the truth.

Try not to hold negative grudges. If a student was "bad" today, give him or her the opportunity to redeem themselves with a fresh slate on a fresh day. Afterall a batter with no balls and two strikes in one inning doesn't start the next at bat with the same count. Fresh day=fresh start.

Try to compliment each kid on ONE thing everyday. Even if it is a "bad kid" sitting still for 20 minutes. Tell him or her after class "thank you for sitting still and paying attention I really appreciate it." They notice that you noticed they did something right. They don't feel the only time you notice them is when they do something bad. It gives them hope.

Make an ass out of yourself at least once a day. We are teachers, not prison guards. We are allowed to laugh and be laughed at too. Allowing the kids to act up a little now and then is ok. Maybe that is what it is needed to bring a shy child out of their shell.

When doing lessons, pause. Silence is good. Speak a few sentences, or explain a concept and then give them a few seconds to think about what you just said. Silence is ok and it gives them an opportunity to get the courage or find the words to ask a question.

Ok that is all I have for now, if I get favourable responses I will see what else I can remember. If anyone else has any tips about how to "even the attention" then please share them.

Don't just direct the comments to the good looking posters.


Polarbear

[laogaiguk]

[Yu_Bum_suk]

I know this sort of topic has come up before, but I'll say it again, it's impossible to generalise. I've taught mixed hogwan and girls MS / HS (and uni undergrad back home at a uni where English was many students' second or third language) and I don't think any of the generalisations above hold up very well. Girls don't fight or hit? Yes they do. I've only had one real fight break out at public school but they play fight all the time. Girls are naturally quieter? I've eaten lunch at the cafeteria of a nearby boys HS and our girls beat them by at least 20 decibels. There are smart ones and not-so-bright ones, fast learners and slow learners, and hard-working ones and lazy ones in every class. I certainly wouldn't base my expectations on what sex the students are.

As for Spinoza's point, when I worked hogwan I think that at the elementary level the girls got more of my attention but at the MS level the boys did. I think that was mostly because I had a group of MS boys in one class I connected with really well.

[laogaiguk]

I also think it would be better to generalize between social environment before gender. Sure, there are differences, but you will find an average boy with a loving home do significantly better than a brilliant girl with an abusive one...

[own_king]

I find I generally talk to the girls more because they usually talk more to me. And they seem to understand and speak English better. If yelling at the boys to behave counts as talking, then I guess it is more like 50/50

[SPINOZA]

Only 4 women have voted compared to 26 guys. Could be that only dudes are reading, I know, but assuming the thread has been read by approx 50/50, what if anything does that tell?

[Yu_Bum_suk]