Korean Job Discussion Forums

[John_ESL_White]

I'm on my third private academy.

My first school was pretty good. The students were mostly middle school kids with above average speaking ability. I taught writing and TOEFL speaking. It was fun and interesting. I never dreaded teaching a class.

My second school had a lot more elementary kids, but the kids were well disciplined. If there was a problem kid, I kicked them out and a Korean teacher would hit them with a stick. The same kid would seldom cause another problem. Even though their speaking/ reading levels were lower, I never dreaded going into a class because they were so well behaved.

Now I'm at a crapwon academy. The curriclum the Korean teachers teach is pretty crappy. It's some franchise crap that mostly involves story books and the all too crappy "English Times" book published by KELT.

I fell like I've walked out of heaven into hell at this place.

The kids are well-below average. 6th graders can't answer simple questions. Middle schoolers can't comprehend very simple reading passages.

But,

worse than the abilty of the students is the lack of discipline.

If I have a screaming, crying, crawling on the floor, throwing punches kid, I'm told not to discipline him/her, but to tell one of the Korean teachers. If I tell the Korean teacher, they talk really sweetly to the kid..."what's wrong Min Su?", "can I get you something to drink...", etc.
(so, I discipline the kids myself- even though I've been warned not to)

It's insane.

But, even more insane is that two days out of the week, I have 25 minute classes with a Korean teacher present in the class. When these little kids act up in my 50 minute classes, I deal with them myself. When they act up in the 25 minute class where a K teacher is present, I let them act out and just ignore them. Why? Because I feel that it is the K teachers responsibility.....

Is this wrong? The one time I threw a kid out while the K teacher text messaged on her phone, I was told never to throw a kid out..... so, I stopped and now I just let the heathens be heathens and give the k teacher a "why aren't you doing anything" look when Bum Suk stands in his chair and starts making barking noises.......

[tomato]

Here are some techniques which have worked for me:

approach misbehaving students

If a child is drawing pictures or reading a comic book, continue teaching without a break, but walk toward the child and stand over him. This will usually make the child uncomfortable enough to stop.

repeat an activity until you can finish the activity uninterrupted

If you are reciting a sentence in the book while a student is interrupting, say, "Let's start that again and see if Suzy will participate." If you repeatedly start the sentence because of Suzy, the class will help you put pressure on Suzy.

reinforce students who are responding

If a student is reciting good and loud, say "Thank you, Johnny." This will usually get other students reciting good and loud also.

reinforce students who don't speak Korean

Keep a list of students who speak Korean during the class. Every few minutes, check to see which students are not on the list. Then chant, "One two three four, who are we for? Chris, Chris, Chris!"

For any students who have not spoken Korean by the end of the class, let them go five minutes early.

make misbehaving students sit next to you

Ask the misbehaving child, "Do you need to come over here and sit next to me?"
Ask that question in a soft and affectionate voice, so that the child will know that he is being infantilized.

turn the spotlight on the misbehaving student

In a mock affectionate voice, say, "Oh, Bum Suk, you're so cute. Do it again, Bum Suk." Then ask all the other class members to turn toward Bum Suk and laugh at him.

Then say, "Bum Suk, can we get on with English class?"

put a misbehaving student in the back of the class and put all the other students in the front of the class facing you

This is so that the students can't pay attention to the misbehaving student no matter how much he acts up. I do this as a last resort.

[ddeubel]

Tomato,

Personally, I'm disappointed by that list. (many I agree with but some definitely not) They obvious "work" for you but there is a difference between "work" at the moment and "work" over the long term and for the benefit of that student. I suggest with classroom management and discipline - we have to look at both short and long term.
Some of what you suggest is just teacher bullying by any other name.

Johnny

THESE TIPS might help. I'd also suggest searching for "Discipline" on EFL Classroom 2.0. We have several great discussions chalk full of ideas and resources to help you with this situation... HERE

I think when a child/student is misbehaving we have to think of two things.

1) Did we really spend enough time creating a learning culture and fostering a "team" mentality. Learning is social, especially a language and if you really do this well the first month, it will pay off. Focus on the student's self, self - expression at this time. Team building and cooperative exercises. Create a class that works together and is not just a bunch of individuals.

2) Do I make each lesson so that the students can feel they "achieved" and feel successful? Meaning, maybe the material is too hard, too difficult. This is the primary source of discipline problems. Think this through and maybe give the students who are causing trouble, extra help or material that they can feel a sense of accomplishment from.

Just a couple things.

DD
http://eflclassroom.ning.com

[SharkDiver]

Tomato, those are some good ideas. I've used some but you have some others I'll try.

Gotta be careful with getting others to laugh at a misbehaving student. The kid could complain and you'd be blamed for picking on a child. Besides, I think some students just misbehave for an attention thing and may love the attention they get when you single them out.

Don't forget to walk out of the room when it gets real bad and count to ten out loud in front of the director. They get the picture and often help out.


That BD child you described crawling on the floor sounds like a student (Tony) I used to teach.

[Yu_Bum_suk]

[Jeff's Cigarettes]

Really, I could care less if a student is drawing pictures or even sleeping as long as they don't bother the students that are participating I leave them to it. Their loss.

[samcheokguy]

the threat of castration works well for male students
*I'm spliffing you*

[GreenlightmeansGO]

[Suwon23]

[Suwon23]

[sojourner1]

Sounds like my old job. A franchise school that teaches a lot of stories and English Times books. Uh, are you also doing Hooked on Phonics with morning kindergarten by any chance?

[Dazed and Confused]

With younger kids who get out of their chairs I'll usually say "Sit down please. Sit down please." until they actuallly sit down. They do get the point or the Korean teachers will get the point and come investigate.

[njp6]

Put three or four stars on the board. When the students complete an activity well, give them a star. If a student mis-behaves, erase a star. When all stars are gone, make the students sit boy-girl and give them a dictation test. Dictation tests are great as all the students have to sit and listen. Award the students if they get enough stars.

A friend told me this one. If a students misbehaves or talks Korean in class, she makes that student come to the front and stand with their arms raised. That student then looks for other students that are misbehaving. If another student misbehaves, and the student up front catches them, they switch places. This makes the students the classroom monitors and leaves you free to teach.

I understand not everything works for everyone. I hope you find something that works for you.

[njp6]

Also, do the students know what your rules are? Many times we just assume that students know the rules: no talking when the teacher is talking, come to class prepared, etc. I always write my rules on the board and have students copy them in their notebook. I know that hogwan discipline can be difficult as no director wants a cash cow to walk away, but I think they need to remember that trouble students waste everybody's time and money.

I also have a method to silence my students. I count from 5-1 and by the time get to one they need to be attentive and ready. If they are not, there are consequences. Practice this with the kids a few times and don't over use it.

[yingwenlaoshi]

I'm good at disciplining them, but was basically fired for doing so (last week). The students follow my command and we work together, but too many students complained. I was told that I'm not "generous" enough with the kids. If there are problems, I know what to do. Loud voice, kick the students out, talk to my boss, etc. But I was not allowed to do that. The biggest problem was with the grade sixers that I only taught once a week. They're seen as nothing to worry about since they're going into middle school, but at the same time management gets a call from a mother who's worried about finishing the book (which is impossible and useless to do).

Most of these places couldn't find their arse with both hands.