Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Mr. BlackCat]

I can't take it anymore. I teach in an elementary PS and all the kids do is talk, talk, talk. Then talk. Shut up. Just shut up. They had to give presentations today and the whole class just talks through it all, I can't even hear anything. When I speak, there's 15 different full blown conversations going on. When the Korean teacher speaks they don't stop. I tell them where I come from, if a 10 year old dared to out volume a teacher in class...I don't know what would happen. Because it wouldn't. I had to sit through 6 hours of school and couldn't speak unless spoken to. Sure, I didn't go to hogwans, but I also didn't talk through them either. No wonder they 'study' for 10 hours a day. Maybe if they stopped talking long enough to listen, they wouldn't need to.

And it's not just the kids. During meetings here, the teachers just chat the whole way through when the Principal is talking. They chat through the national anthem, they talk through weddings and funerals and movies and sleep. Shut up. Just shut up. This is just one indication of the total lack of respect Koreans have for other people. Just shut up and listen. Or just shut up and don't listen, I don't care. The important thing is that you shut your little pie hole long enough for someone else to express their ideas, you ignorant little selfish princes and princesses. Your mothers might tell you you're important, but you're not. You're really not. No one cares what you have to say. Shut up.

For those of you who are going to say, "At least they don't carry guns to school!", well at this point I'd welcome it. Maybe then they'd shut up.

[VanIslander]

Koreans and manners.

I actually played this for a class of mine: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-NzUwnVCm0U

[ernie]

i refuse to talk over anybody in my class. explain to them that this is extremely rude behaviour. if the class is old enough, i apologize in a very sarcastic tone for having interrupted their conversation with my lesson. since they apparently don't need to listen to my lesson, why don't they come up to come to the front of the room and teach the class? hahahaha

my solution is to raise my hand (and stop talking, of course) whenever the chatter gets to be too much. i start my stopwatch (it's on my cell phone) and then keep all the students after class (at their desks and quiet) for 3X the time on my phone. works like a charm!

[Mr. BlackCat]

Just back from the next class and calmed down a bit. I mean, this one talked just as much but I have to accept it for my own sanity.

I don't talk over them. I even had a 10 minute information meeting with every class last semester to explain to them why it was rude (I had examples, a video of a guy always interrupting people, etc.). I explained to them the benefits of listening (less studying!). I had a meeting with my co-teachers to help them understand expectations of students in Canada, so they would know my frame of reference.

I do the stay after class thing, but it's not really reinforced by my co-ts as they always tell me the students are too busy to stay behind. Besides, there's only 10 mins between classes so that's the max I'd be able to take from them. Today I threatened to come back at lunch time and use that time to make them sit and be quiet which seemed to work for a while. But I can only do that with one class a day.

I actually don't even blame the kids that much. It's learned behaviour from their teachers and parents. Just like pushing in the subways and shocking eating habits. They're just doing what they see the adults do. If I can just save one of them from this life....it'll still not be worth it.

[Yu_Bum_suk]

Yesterday I started a class and then stopped dead in my tracks when half the class was starting to chat amongst themselves; I waited about ten seconds, and then gave them a 90-decible LISTEN!


It didn't make for a very cheery beginning and I felt a bit bad about reaming them out like that, but they sure STFU after that.

While I think that listening for general meaning is more important than listening for specifics I tend to do a lot of the latter in my lessons just because the kids seem to need to have tasks to follow when listening or else they see listening as pointless.

[Fishead soup]

The Role book makes a very loud irritating thud when it hits the desk.
You do this several times and they will start saying" Cho Young Hey" to each other. They are self policing.

[ernie]

those 10 minutes between classes are like GOLD to students in korea! tell your co-teacher that since they are wasting your time, you will waste their time. it is essential that your co-teachers back you up on this issue.

[Ukon]

Your school is the opposite of my Elem.

[panchotino]

i actually got called into the principal's room today because other teachers complain about my shouting. Apparently they are fine with the racket the kids make but as soon as i raise my voice, there are some very upset teachers. My response to my co-teacher/translator?
learn to control YOUR students and teach them some respect for the white teacher and maybe i can talk at a normal volume, not go home evryday with a sore throat and a headache and maybe other teachers won't complain. saying that though, they will always find something we all do wrong ( i:e parking my scooter in the car park !!!! ).

[Smee]

OP hit the nail on the head. Those kids are loud, but Jesus Tapdancing Christ it's not just the students. When the principal is giving a speech the teachers are talking, or playing on their cell phones. Never a moment of silence over here, that's for sure.

It still bugs the hell out of me, and I do need to holler once in a while . . . but what put things in perspective for me was at an assembly last winter. The students and teachers were all chattering away, and the MC (math teacher) was trying to get everyone to quiet down for ten minutes. On a microphone. Still no effect. The same audible murmur continued through the principal's speech. If they don't listen to the school's big wigs, what chance does the English monkey have?

That said, most of my classes are good . . . but damn it, those bad ones . . .

[teachergirltoo]

I do not blame the students for anything. If there is any speaking in the classroom I immediately point to the co-teacher to indicate to him/her to take care of the problem. That is on their list of duties to do during class. If there are ANY behaviour problems during class I always tell the co-teacher after that they need to do their part in the classroom better. I know that may sound harsh, but I believe that if I am teaching, it is their responsibility to make sure that everyone is being attentive. I suggest that if you are having talking during class that you speak to your co-teacher and make sure they understand clearly the part they play in the class. If my boys don't get the hint from the co-teacher immediately (we don't believe in more than one warning) the co-teacher has instructions to take them into the hallway, punish them appropriately, and bring them back into the room. We are very disciplined but it seems to be effective.

[VanIslander]

[Tobias]

[Smee]

[Fishead soup]