Korean Job Discussion Forums

Michelle · Joined: 18 May 2003

Hi All,

it has been interesting adjusting to PS.

Anyone have a personal opinion as to whether we should stop letting students / co-teachers say (Name) teacher!?? In favour of My teacher ________, Mr/ Ms _________ .

I have been here in Korea so long taking my own classes that I never figured I would be able to get them to kick this one...

Is it worth the battle?

Also would I be the only one who would prefer to use my first name for the classroom?

oldfatfarang · Joined: 19 May 2005 Location: On the road to somewhere.

I've always taught students to use my first name - everywhere - in class and on the street. I politely correct them from saying: "Teacher" for a few months at the start of the year - but they all get it, eventually.

For older guys, like me, I think it helps break down the "Teacher / Student" barrier in the Korean education system. But for younger teachers, maybe using a title is OK, too.

ekul · Joined: 04 Mar 2009 Location: [Mod Edit]

Just tell them to drop the Teacher and call you by your first name. I understand why they always use Teacher xxxx and personally don't mind. I think it's something that's easy to get out of when the time calls for it. I think the benefit of the students actually getting your attention out weighs the grammatical inaccuracy of the phrase.

some waygug-in · Joined: 25 Jan 2003

Be thankful they are not calling you by just your last name... Shocked

ChinaBoy · Joined: 17 Feb 2007

Strangely, I never tell my students my first name.

poet13 · Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2009 10:23 pm Post subject:

Teacher XXXXX works for me. XXXXX doesn't.

ekul · Joined: 04 Mar 2009 Location: [Mod Edit]

Maybe it depends on how you were allowed to address teachers during your school years? Seon saeng nim is fairly respectful afaik, but when the kids bark Teacher in class it doesn't have the same effect. So I prefer to be called by my first name. I'm just not a particularly formal person.

poet13 · Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2009 10:34 pm Post subject:

I teach younger boys, one third of them experiencing the formalities of middle school for the first time. Elementary school is pretty relaxed. They are required to address their other teachers in a certain way. For the sake of less confusion on their parts, I stick with the same name format.

JJJ · Joined: 27 Nov 2006 Location: Seoul

I use Mr. First Name. My last name is difficult for many and I don't like Teacher So 'n So. Works for me.

Smee · Joined: 24 Dec 2004 Location: Jeollanam-do

I have the students call me Brian Teacher. It cuts down on the helllooooooooooooooooooos and the catcalls, and I don't really think it's appropriate to try and break down the teacher-student barrier in the Korean system, since we're not really invested in it. Besides, I always found the opposite problem: trying to build it back up and encourage the students to be respectful.

mole · Joined: 06 Feb 2003 Location: Act III

Mein Fuhrer.
No exceptions.

Goku · Joined: 10 Dec 2008

I prefer the formal titles for my students to greet me with. More commonly Teacher, as it's their percieved way of etiquette.

1) If my students go to English speaking countries, I don't want them to think that calling everyone on a first name basis is ok. Called me old fashion but Mr. /Mrs. is still a formal and respectful title.

2) Even though I'm not old, I prefer my kids not to address me in a "rude" manner. It pains me to hear my first name from someone I'm less than aquainted with. Even in AmericaI want kids to refer to me by my title and last name.

3) I don't think calling me by my first name changes anything. I could be jim, bob, smith, or Dr.Who, for all they know, it's one in the same without any connotations of familiarity or not. If someone asked me to call them Ming Su, instead of Kim Ming Su... I'm not feeling any less informal despite dropping his last name. A foreign way of informality doesn't make me any closer, as it's a unfamiliar concept.

Also, if I'm allowed to rant, I think having kids address in ways that are unfamiliar to them is propagating the idea they can be disrespectful to us. Saying Teacher is a sign of respect in their culture. To tell them to drop it is admiting we do not view ourselves as "worthy" of the same title. Or "hey treat us different". It's a dangerous tool to play with kids... They already barely understand concepts of manners but to create exceptions and openings in the manner logic will cause them to be more disrespectful to an already... disrespected profession.

Keep in mind this is only how I view things. I'm not judging other teachers who believe that it breaks the student-teacher barrier. I can understand that point of view, I just disagree with it.

nomad-ish · Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2009 11:17 pm Post subject:

i've tried both ways, and i much prefer the ms. (last name) way. i found when they addressed me by my first name alone, they thought of me too much on their level, which may be ok with high school and university kids, but middle schoolers?? by insisting on the ms. way, i'm letting the kids know that i'm not simply their foreign friend, i'm their foreign teacher/elder. with that being said, i am still friendly and joke around with the students when possible, thereby breaking down barriers that way.

Nierlisse · Joined: 11 Oct 2008 Location: South Korea

Insidejohnmalkovich · Joined: 11 Jan 2008 Location: Pusan

Mr. So-and-so or Miss So-and-so seems the most appropriate.

1) It is not annoying Konglish like So-and-so Teacher.

2) It is respectful, which is why they call us So-and-so Teacher.

3) If you use just your first name, you will have a never ending battle with the parents and co-teachers etc. calling you So-and-so Teacher, which means the students will too.