Korean Job Discussion Forums

[ESL Milk "Everyday]

I've been struggling with this for a while, trying to be diplomatic about the enormous difference between the kids' reactions to a foreign teacher and their reactions to the Korean teacher.

Anyway, the idea I've come up with is to try very hard not to get upset that the kids will always act differently around me-- and I try not to call it racism and instead chalk it up to their expectations.

I tell myself that they just expect me to be different, that's all-- it's not that they're incapable of respecting me as a person or that I'm lower than they are, or that they want me to humiliate myself for their amusement, it's just that they expect less discipline and more 'fun'. Instead of thinking this is unreasonable, I try to tell myself that there is some truth in it-- most of us are from a far more liberal environment-- socially and psychologically, our behavior is more likely to be 'left' of theirs.

So maybe instead of feeling misunderstood and fighting to get them to understand us, we should try to understand them-- instead of just getting up there and expecting them to listen, maybe it would be better to do exercises where they have to tell us about themselves... like get them to write five sentences about themselves and what they like, and then try to talk to them about it.

I think... well, I HOPE that by making an effort to know who they are they might just respect that we're trying to build a bridge and understand them more, and not just get through another day on a job we don't care about or don't really believe in. I don't want to believe that the situation is irredeemable-- there has to be the potential for some kind of breakthrough, however minor.

I think that in most situations, it's possible to still get through the book and 'build bridges' at the same time. I mean, even if we are thought of as 'clowns' sometimes, we're still in a position where we can influence the kids and hopefully do something to redeem their perception of foreigners, and I suppose they can also redeem our perceptions of them. Instead of tearing down those perceptions, maybe we can both change them or even clarify them so that we both get a little closer to the truth.

Anyway, I would welcome any thoughts or suggestions on how to build more bridges and help these kids and ourselves to be more open to the experience of living here!

[Masta_Don]

I use the classroom in lieu of a shrink's office. I go in and act out however I feel like, talk about what's bothering me - not like they understand - and go home feeling relieved. Don't know if that helps foster a more positive preception of foreigners but sure makes me feel better. I enjoy acting 'the clown', it's like making faces at yourself in the mirror.

[Yu_Bum_suk]

[spliff]

I deport myself as I would anywhere 24/7...don't act like a "clown"acting like a clown is for clowns or idiots, IMHO.

[Dome Vans]

I think that when I see the Korean teachers teaching the students I notice a lot different things. A lot the students are talking or walking around, not really bothered, messing around, then the teachers will massage the necks of some of the students to get their brains working??, They don't seem particularly bothered, as is it with most students as I remember when I was from school. SO I understand your point about them expecting something different from you.

I think that not acting like a clown is important. Speaking from a personal POV, the one thing I enjoy most is making my lessons nothing like the korean lessons, boring, droning, 2/3 korean 1/3 english. I get all the students attention and won't start until I have it. No messing around. Making the lessons interesting and inclusive and different is what I want. Rather than just being seen as somebody who prints out from Englishraven and hands them out or just playing hangman for 45 minutes, you can actually make them excited to have you teaching them, and not because it'll be an easy ride for them.

I have one bad middle school that the students grades are bad for all subjects, it seems to be general apathy from the teachers to do anything about this. If I ask them about the exams this week all the teachers, say the same thing, 'aw, terrible no good students' 'we won't do well' If that's what the teachers think what chance do the kids have. If I can make a few lessons of their week interesting and fun and they might, just might, learn something. This can be done easily without being a clown, a little bit more extrovert but not clownish.

[Jizzo T. Clown]

I forgot who said it here, but ensuring that the kids have something to look forward to every week is really important--if they associate having fun, being relaxed, or generally not having any bad feelings, with your class, then the battle is half over. The other half is keeping it that way.

In the beginning I would get absolutely livid when I would see kids sleeping or not participating. Now I know that a lot of them come from broken homes, work after school until very late at night, and will probably end up working in Lotteria until they marry someone who has a decent blue collar job. So yeah, it's not everyone's priority to learn English--and these same students sleep in their other classes too, so it's nothing personal.

I really do feel for these kids, having to go to school 12 hours a day 6 days a week, so I do my best to make my classes upbeat and to give them a 50 minute break from the rest of their dreary week. It's not about being a clown (heh-heh) but doing what you can to make the students' lives better in whatever way we can.

[ddeubel]

I really appreciate thoughtful posts like this one. They deal with real fundamental, classroom issues but in a very reflective and constructive way.

You are right -- get the kids interested by focusing and directing the content/curriculum towards their own personal world/lives. Whether that be through games/making story books about their lives/favourites/personal response and presentation / likes and dislikes and so many more. I think all us teachers have to always filter our lessons with the thought "how am I making it relevant to the world they live in?"

I also think you are going through the process of change -- from teaching a subject to teaching students. Big difference and I think teachers should reach towards the latter, move towards looking at students and their needs and facilitating the teaching with that in mind. ....

DD