Korean Job Discussion Forums

[SweetBear]

I have a great attitude towards teaching in general. Twice a week this changes. I get to waste my time with MONSTERS I get to compete with little brats for attention and lose. They spend the whole lesson ignoring me, climbing all over the furniture, grabbing my as* and generally running wild. Oh and I hear everyone say " But they are so cute." Thank God it's only twice a week. I hate it I tell you!

[zoltan]

You sound like you've just started out in which case you have my sympathy. Do a search under kindergarten on this site and also check out
http://aries.lunarpages.com/~tithai2/cgi-bin/ib/ikonboard.cgi?s=d57d68e84d5f472c434dec640cc7b0ae;act=ST;f=9;t=2585

I found this really useful. PM me if you want a few more tips.
Remember, their moods change like the wind - if they're off, look out the window and take some deep breaths. Award happy faces and remove them for bad behaviour. I'm always amazed how seriously they take this.

[hellofaniceguy]

Sounds like you can't control your classroom. It's easier to go into the classroom a hardass at first and then lighten up. You go into the class soft and you'll never gain control. You need to regain control and that entails being a "meany," giving them the stink eye and raise your voice a little.

[kiwioutofthenest]

Im with the OP there monsters, I can control them but it's just soo much trouble....i held one over a bucket of water the other day by his ankles, usually i draw big X's on their foreheads in permanent marker...im sure the parents love me

[rapier]

Oh dear! This makes me realise how fortunate i am! I have 3 classes of KG every day. I enjoy it.
Basically you need a good plan, the help of korean women teachers when you want, and a reward system. Tips:
1) Get a proper syllabus/book to follow. This will give you and them a target.
2) Don't spend longer than 5 minutes on any one activity. Keep the pace up.
3) put a reward, such as candy, clearly visible, above the board. I buy about 50 candies a day for only 100won.
4) Give points for good behavior/answers, deduct for the wrong.
5) Introduce lots of games, songs/chants with actions, to break up the lesson.
Good luck.

[Mr. Pink]

Some people are cut out for it and others arent.

I used to do 3 kindies a day during my last hawgwon stint.

My co workers did 1-2 and hated them.

I actually wanted to do 5 in a row and not teach till late at night, but my supervisor thought I was nuts.

Basicaly I'd go into every class with the mood, they are just kids, and kids love to play more than anything. Let them know that there is a routine, and at the end of that routine is games, fun and rewards. That almost always worked for me. Sometimes it was pretty darn hard teaching a class with the kids, but IMO they were a lot better than some of the grade 5/6 classes I used to have.

Also another thing of note is a lot of the kids 'attitudes' are not so much shaped by you, but by their Korean teachers. If you have great Korean teachers it makes a HUGE difference. And I honestly mean HUGE.

I seriously was considering just being a full time kindergarten teacher instead of taking the highschool job I ended up with. I can honestly say, for job satisfaction, nothing feels as good as those little kids showering you with unconditional love. It's one of the things that gave me patience, endurance and joy doing that part of my job.

Shucks, now I am started to miss some of the lil guys.

[tomato]

Hello, Sweet Bear!

My sentiments exactly--about four years ago.
I hope my Website helps you.

[SweetBear]

Wow, thanks to everyone for the encouragement. I realized seven months ago when I started that I might not be cut out for Kindy, the fact that it still bothers me and that I haven't figured things out kinda proves that.
I will however go in with a fresher attitude and take the advice offered.
BTW today I had one monster grab my brea*t and another fall off her chair, along with the usual Tarzan and Jane antics.
I have mentioned this all to the Korean teachers, but I think they just let the little cuties run riot and don't enforce any discipline whatsoever.
Thank God for the older kids and adult classes. As soon as we get another female teacher guess who's gonna be taking over. Yes that's right, the ONLY reason I'm teaching them is because I'm female.
The teacher I took over from got punched in his private parts so bad they took pity on him and dumped them on me

[girl25]

Sweetbear, I TOTALY feel your pain. I only had to teach them 2x a week and it was pure hell!! My brea*ts have been grabbed, poked, prodded, and even BITTEN by one little monster(she was sitting in my lap innocently watching a movie and then all of a sudden CHOMP!!! after my howl of pain she yelled SURPRISE- i was surprised alright!!!). I had one little boy who if I even LOOKED at him like I was mad, he started crying.... and we all know what unhappy kindys mean....this is the same boy who one time ran from my classroom and dissapeared from the BUILDING...had one kid who REFUSED to come out from under the desk, finally just started giving him his work to do under the desk.
Anyway, just wanted to let you know your not alone:)