Korean Job Discussion Forums

[plus99]

has anyone refuse to teach specific students at a hagwan?

there is an especially difficult class at my school that hasnt gotten any better in four months. i dont fault the vast majority of the kids when they act up in class because i dont think they mean it. i think they are just kids and get excited and carried away.

but this specific class ejnoys upsetting me. its visible on their faces: the more upset i get, the happier they become.

needless to say, there is very little english being taught. ive had the korean teachers punish them, and these punishments have been pretty severe in some cases but the next day it is like nothing ever happened and they are back to their old selves.

so i am just curious if anyone else has refused to teach a class. i feel bad about it because i know another teacher will have to pick up the class but i dont deserve the effort these kids drain out of me and the other kids dont deserve my lack of motivation to teach afterwards. is flat out refusal too extreme?

[Saxiif]

[Yu_Bum_suk]

How old are they and can you keep them late? If they know they're not going to leave until they do at least some work, they'll most likely get on with things.

[plus99]

no, they have to catch a bus.


its such a ridiculous situation, the grades are meaningless, theres absolutely no leverage in these situations.


half the time i tell them to do something, they flat out refuse. i'd probably do the same if i were them. there are no real consequences.

[mistermasan]

talk with the schedule maker. see if the gang can be broken up/rearranged. it is amazing to see how individuals react when placed in different peer groups.

[twg]

we have a class that has driven every last teacher to demand to be taken off of it. They've had about six different foreign teachers and five Koreans over the last year, and every last one of us has hated their guts by the time we got taken off of it.

Bunch of middle schoolers who have been spoiled by their mommies all their lives.

Of course, the boss doesn't want them to leave, and the parents don't want to accept they're little creeps. The kids know that no matter how they act in class, they're still going to get a good score on their report card, and the Korean teacher is going to downplay their rudeness to the moms when it comes time to make the monthly calls... if they mention it at all.

Anyway, the way I see it is that you have two options: Put your foot down and tell your boss that if you're on that class for any longer, they'll have to get a new teacher.

Or, you can ignore them, half-ass it, and hope they take you off of the class for under performing.

Either way, you're stuck between the boss and his Lexus and you're screwed no matter what you try.

[wylies99]

One of my favorite punishments/rewards is to give some candy to the previous class and let the kids standing in the hallway SEE me with a huge bag of candy, (from Lottemart), and then, as they're coming in, put the candy away.
If anyones asks "Teacher, candy?"- say "Only for good students."

[The Hammer]

[plus99]

its a good point but i really just dont like them as people. not that im proud saying that about kids, but its true.


im really just curious if anyone has refused to teach a specific class. im the only foreign teacher at the school and i know ill be shifting the burden onto someone else.

[plus99]

[bellum99]

Yup..use the candy bribe. Everyone says that the most important thing is the kids. I disagree. The most important thing is you surviving the job in Korea. Do what it takes to get it done and get your money.

[The Hammer]

[kimchi_pizza]

"Okay, class? Meet Mr. Camera, Video..Camera. He'll be joining our class for the next week or so. Now he is here only to watch us as a guest however if you should misbehave he may show the director and mom & dad what he's seen. Do we want that?"

That's the quick, superficial and temporary fix. If you want a more challenging but rewarding method(s) of taking control of your class and gaining their respect you'll have to try harder. YOU are the adult, YOU are the teacher, don't allow yourself to be bullied by children. Even the most difficult classes can be managed but you have to be prepared, firm, consistant in discipline techniques and complements/rewards, fair and emotionally indisturbable (is that even a word? Is now!).

[yeremy]

Once I refused to teach a specific, test-oriented class at a hagwon I worked at. My director and his boss, the owner, were not happy about it, but I figured out later. I believe that they held it against me later.

Today, I think it wasn't the best move but I don't work in a hagwon anymore. In one way, I wish I had. I could have gained some teaching experience with the English conversation section on either TOEFL or TOEIC. I don't remember which test it was for because it was a long time ago. Since most contracts for NET's in Korea are for one year, teaching a class you may not like that much but is in demand could be a good strategic move. But that's only my opinion.

[plus99]

theres nothing in-demand about these kids