Korean Job Discussion Forums

sineface · Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Location: C'est magnifique

Problem student.

I'm trying to figure out if my new student is just weird or has behavioural difficulties. I'm guessing the latter, but of course I have no real idea. I know this happens a lot. I've had a fair few I think had ADHD or something similar, but it couldn't have just been all the b*starding sugar.

He's in a medium level class, about 11 years old, and he can talk quite fine. Yesterday we set the class to drawing plans of their homes, just a wee 10 minute filler after a pretty hefty writing day. And he didn't do it. Just sat there, looking bored. His expression changed from desperately angry to desperately sad within the course of minutes, but that's nothing new. I put it down to him being a wee bit weird / having social problems.

Anyway I figured he was just being difficult, so I asked him to draw one for homework. Of course he didn't do it. So I asked him to draw it in class today. And it was literally like he couldn't understand how to put pencil to paper and make a picture. He can write, although not well, and pretty much just what is dictated to him. I didn't push it because it was becoming clear to me that there's something I need to figure out about this boy in order to help him in any way at all. I don't want to be in the situation again where I keep asking him to do something, and he actually CANNOT do it because of some undiagnosed issue. No one needs a teacher making them feel like a freak. People bandy around terms a lot (autism, aspergers etc) but beyond what google can tell me I'm clueless. Any insight?

nobbyken · Joined: 07 Jun 2006 Location: Yongin ^^

Do you have a co-teacher or other K-teachers about who can ask (they probably already know).

sineface · Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Location: C'est magnifique

poet13 · Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2008 5:49 pm Post subject:

I'm curious about the thread title....

sineface · Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Location: C'est magnifique

ernie · Joined: 05 Aug 2006 Location: asdfghjk

OMFG!!! a student not doing their work?!!! have you been teaching long? did you attend public school? visit ANY class in ANY country and i'll bet half the kids aren't doing their work...

sorry about the sarcasm... i wouldn't worry too much - he might be having a bad day, or maybe he doesn't understand the assignment, or maybe he hates stupid drawing assignments... you can't FORCE a kid to learn!

i've taught a few kids like this and i've found the best way to deal with them is not to push them too hard... if they don't want to play a game, then don't make them... hopefully they see how much fun the other kids are having and will decide to join in... i think of my job as being a facilitator for having fun in a new language... i'm not about to punish kids unless they are outright rude to myself or another student...

i've had a few kids like this improve quite surprisingly, and although every few days would be an 'off' day, overall they seemed much happier, comfortable, and willing to participate in class!

spliff · Joined: 19 Jan 2004 Location: Khon Kaen, Thailand

Probably wondering why his teacher is asking him to sit around drawing pictures in a language class.

bassexpander · Joined: 13 Sep 2007 Location: Someplace you'd rather be.

I just discovered a Freshman student in my class who has a really bad tick when he's nervous. If I call on him, it becomes very apparent. He snaps his head back about two times a second when he's called on. The other students noticed it, and I felt sorry for him. Now I hate to call on the guy.

mrsquirrel · Joined: 13 Dec 2006

You should attach a whip to his head and call the student when the rest of the class are sleeping. A quick head whip of the whip around the room would no doubt wake them all up.

fancypants · Joined: 22 May 2005

sineface · Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Location: C'est magnifique

sineface · Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Location: C'est magnifique

Eh, bump, because I still don't know.

plus99 · Joined: 30 Dec 2007

dumbest thread title ive ever seen.

cbclark4 · Joined: 20 Aug 2006 Location: Masan

Your not a doctor please teach.

Khenan · Joined: 25 Dec 2007

Well, I am certainly not an expert. My knowledge of this comes from a couple of courses on behavioral studies/ special needs students. I've also had a small handful of students that sound something like what you're describing.

Is the student able to complete other fine motor skill tasks, like tying shoes, buttoning shirts, etc? If not, then he may well suffer from dysgraphia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dysgraphia. This is only a guess.

At any rate, you're definately on the right track. You've noticed all the right details. In my non-expert opinion, your student sounds like he may have some sort of learning disability. As far as hoping for a diagnosis, this is not the place to find one. No one could diagnose your student without speaking directly to them, so talking to you through a message board is certainly not going to work. However, here is some advice: Does your school have a counselor? I don't know how PSs in Korea work, but in the States, every school has someone on staff to work with troubled children. Ask you see your student's records, if you can read them. The history will give you some insight.

If none of that is useful, then try different approaches with your student, vis-a-vis learning. Have you studied Howard Gardner? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theory_of_multiple_intelligences It may well be that you can connect with this student in some different way that he excels at. Is it only drawing/writing that he can't handle? What about speaking and listening comprehension? Or acting (kinesthetic intelligence)? Perhaps you could design lessons that emphasize cooperative learning (in pairs or teams), and assign him to work with another student that can compliment his skills?

Let me know how it goes.