Korean Job Discussion Forums

[creeper1]

During the first lesson with the kids in a public school, how do you introduce yourself? I notice in the hagwons that the kids are happy to call their teacher something like "Andy teacher".

In the west we would insist on something like "Mr McDonald". However I note that my job title will be "Teaching Assistant" rather than teacher. So maybe the Koreans would encourage less formality?

[Ukon]

They're just gonna call you teacher or sungsangnim.....don't worry about it.


sometimes you'll get (name)______ teacher/sungsangnim.

[Bibbitybop]

I introduced myself as Mr. Bibbitybop and they ended up calling me by my last name. "Bibbitybop!"

[Teelo]

Have them call you "Mister Creepy One"

[itstiff]

They call me by my first name .. Tiffany, which they love because there's a Korean singer named Tiffany apparently.

In a way I don't like this, but in Korea they never call their teachers Kim sungsangnim, they call them kim blah blah sung sang nim. So I don't know it's what my co-teachers automatically introduced me as without asking me first.

They should start going with Mr/Mrs/Ms <insert last name>, if they one day go to school in a western country or just do a business meeting or something they need to understand the whole Mr/Mrs/Ms thing. You can't call a teacher, teacher.

[TDR]

Introduce yourself how you want to be referred to. Some students didn't even know my real first name for a month or two.

Me : "Hi students, nice to meet you, my name is Mr. TDR."
Students: "What's your first name, teacher?"
Me: "My first name is 'Mr.'. Turn to page three"


Don't wait for your co-teacher to introduce you by whatever they feel like. Tell them how you prefer to be referred to during the introduction before you go to the class and ask how they'd like to be referred to in class. They'll appreciate it and you'll be happy with how you get referred to.

Of course, if you don't care then, by all means, allow the co-teacher to introduce you however he or she sees fit.

[nate2008]

I introduced myself by my real name (first and last), and then said "but you can call me either Teacher, or Teacher Nathan." So far, the kids have taken to calling me "Teacher" while in school, but if they see my on the street or any time that school is not officially in (including 5 minutes after the end-of-school bell has rung) they just call me Nathan. I have to admit, I really don't mind at all. Any formality just makes me feel old, and the title "Teacher" is one of respect, so while we are in the school setting they respect me.

[Perceptioncheck]

[poet13]

Yeah, I had the same thing. I got past it by asking the Korean teachers, "would it be ok if the students addressed you as XXX XXXXX (first name)? Big eyes. "NO, of course not." "
"Ok, well, I'm 43 years old and I have earned the right to be respected by children."

I sometimes let the students choose how to address me. I give them options.

King XXXX.
Your highness.
Your grace.
Your eminence.
Your most worshipfullness.
Your almightyness,
or Sem.

Sem works.

Beyond that, if you earn it, they will adhere to it. If you're a joke, they'll either ignore you or call you whatever they want.