Korean Job Discussion Forums

mspencer1983 · Joined: 17 Sep 2007

Hi all...

just wondering what people's thoughts are on who makes a better student...children or adults??

i have taught kindie through highschool...but havent taught college level or beyond

are adults easier to deal with generally? i mean they must WANT to be there at least, so i assume they're there to learn...

but can they be just as disrespectful towards the foreign teachers as children?

a friend of mine said some of the ajumma students would complain about him if he didnt smile enough "if i pay you should smile"...that seems a bit ridiculous

when are they going to learn we're teachers not entertainers or sideshows.

reactionary · Joined: 22 Oct 2006 Location: korreia

Not all "adult" students want to be there. I teach at a hagwon for college-aged kids. Guess who makes them go there? Their parents. So I have some really unmotivated sloth-like creatures. Unlike kids, I can't discipline them (what am I gonna do, yell at some kids a few years younger than me?). Trying to teach essay writing and one student constantly commits obvious plagiarism. Again, I can't do anything, neither can/will the hagwon.

Also, yeah, I'd imagine complaints would be even more rampant. If a kid dislikes the hagwon (is bored or whatever), he may or may not complain to his parent, who may or may not complain to the hagwon. I'll bet a bored adult will complain directly to the hagwon.

"This class is just fooling around! it's not educational!!"

or

"This teacher is too dry and boring! Why can't he be more fun!"

Take your pick.

The funniest thing is my students always want me to hang out with them after class. But since they're still basically living at home, think they're gonna pay my tab? Nope...so..see ya in class!!

Pak Yu Man · Joined: 02 Jun 2005 Location: The Ida galaxy

Like the poster above said...they can be better or much worse.

If you think uni level students want to be in class OP, you are wrong.

There are some adult classes that want to learn and some that are horrible. Years ago I taught a bunch of executives at LG. They were a little above ABC level. That was my worst class ever. Now I'm teaching a bunch of guys at Samsung and they are great. Usually the conversatin gets steered towards girls or booze, but I try to keep them on track.

There's the good and the bad. Just like kids, there's going to be great students and little fuks you want to smack upside the head.

tomato · Posted: Mon Oct 01, 2007 5:36 am Post subject:

It's all a matter of personal preference.
You can't say which is better any more than you can say which is better, popular or classical music.

I can come up with lots of ideas which children like.
When I try them with older students, they complain that they are too boring or too babyish.
If I spend the whole time on the textbook, they complain that that is too boring too.
If I try to have free talking, they don't participate.

ghost · Joined: 06 Dec 2006 Location: Many congenial places

I don't usually like teaching kids, but my best experience in Korea was teaching at a small Elementary school (70 students total, grades 1-6, average of 10-12 per class!!) in the countryside near Asan and Anjung.

The kids were so appreciative and affectionate. I was the first foreign teacher they ever had. Some of the kids would get dropped off at school in the morning on .....dad's tractor, no kidding! I actually enjoyed going to work there every day. It was so rewarding and heart warming. These were kids who live in simple country homes, and who are appreciative of a game of soccer on the school grounds.

In comparison, I have found teaching adults in Korea to be frustrating, because they will smile at you in class, but then complain to the director behind your back. Very difficult to read. Many of the male students just seem to sit there like robots.

I find Korean kids at the elementary level much more enjoyable to deal with and teach. As they get older, and exam pressures increase, the students seem to lose that spontaneous spark that the younger kids have. Many middle and high school kids just sit in class and refuse to speak. It is frustrating.

The only times I have conversations in Korea with people, are either with elementary age school kids, or the 'old' 'harabojis' (grandads) and 'halmonis' (grandmothers).

Ghost in Korea

reactionary · Joined: 22 Oct 2006 Location: korreia

yeah, free talking! that can be an awesome experience with high level students. makes you want to grow a beard and sip espresso.

however, beware the lower level adult classes. they're your worst nightmare. and every adult student thinks that's what they want too.

"i just want to know how to talk to foreigners freely."
"start by not being such a goddam weirdo."

lastat06513 · Posted: Mon Oct 01, 2007 3:09 pm Post subject:

It depends on which job you feel comfortable doing.
Some people feel better teaching children while others feel better in a classroom full of adults.

oldfatfarang · Joined: 19 May 2005 Location: On the road to somewhere.

Teaching English is teaching English. Or more specifically, helping people use English is helping people to use English. But each age group has it's rewards - and challenges. I've taught the range from Elementary to High School, uni, adults and business students. They were (and still are) great fun to help. But, somedays in my middle school (usually around test time), I wish I was back with adults. I don't think it's entirely natural for adults to be communicating with kids all the time. Sometimes we need adult interaction in our teaching.