Korean Job Discussion Forums

[blah]

I did what one poster said: I told the director that I lose face if I am not treated with the same respect as a Korean teacher.

I love to be funny in class, and the kids love to laugh at me while I make an ass of myself. The downside of this is that they think they can get away with more because a clown doesn�t care. So to remedy this, I implemented a few changes that I am lucky enough that my director fully supports � especially since enrolment has increased:

1. If you address me in Korean, I am to be addressed in the same manner as a Korean teacher.
2. If you address me in English, You may not use my name without placing the title �Teacher� before it.
3. The clock does not give you permission to leave the classroom at the end of a lesson. When all students are seated and I have given the OK, that is when class ends.
4. I am an adult and you are a child. That means we are not equal. That means I get away with talking to you in a more casual way than you can talk to me.

Now I can be even a bigger goof. The kids can laugh their selves silly, and it only takes 30 seconds to switch from joke mode to work mode. And I have noticed a huge difference in how much the kids respect me.

I used to train youth workers how to deal with at-risk teens in Vancouver, and found the same pattern over and over again. They all felt that being �Mr. nice guy� (or �Ms nice gal) would help them to establish rapport. But it never worked. It�s better to start out strict and then loosen up after the kids get to know your expectations. Most newbies (and I was no exception) do the opposite. However, I have found that kids in Asia seem to adapt well to changes in classroom environment. It�s never too late to change your style if need be. The kids will quickly forget the �old you�, and adjust their behavior to your newly implemented expectations.

Having said this, the previous poster is correct that you should do whatever works best for you.

[Tiberious aka Sparkles]

[blah]

To tell you the truth, I don�t really care if the kids attach the �teacher� title before or after my name � though for some reason my Korean coworkers feel it should be before.

I think �sir� is absolutely fine. But I don�t think it�s a good idea to let kids call me by my first name. First names are a bit of a sensitive issue here. Just ask one of your students the name of his or her father and watch as the kid squirms in discomfort.

Korean teachers call each other by title, even if they are of equal status. It is not considered good manners to use a first name unless it is between friends of equal status, away from the professional arena. Well, this is what I have been told by my Korean coworkers, anyway. Who knows, maybe they�re just having fun with me .

My experience in Taiwan, as well, has been that I get better behavior from the students if they use some kind of respectful title. Let�s face it, even in North America few teachers allow you to call them by their first name.

As for being laughed at for calling the teacher �teacher,� the title is not strange at all in many cultures (I agree it�s a bit strange in the West).