Korean Job Discussion Forums

[CA-NA-DA-ABC]

So I am teaching in a PS (middle school) and a handful of my students just can't give a damn in my class because they know I have no control over their grades and think my lessons aren't "real" lessons. THe school has asked me to teach with material from outside of the textbooks and that is where the problem begins IMO.
They will just sleep or not pay attention, and accordingly, they have no clue what's going on most of the time. Most of my KTs try their best to make students pay attention but they an only do so much.

any suggestions?

[nuthatch]

where are you ? in Seoul, etc., or a rural town

what proficiency level are the students? beginners?

[Yu_Bum_suk]

It's a pretty common problem that new teachers run into around April - no, they're not going to pay attention just because there's a white person standing up there. I don't have that much trouble this year with my MS students but am running into it with my first-year vocational HS students - and many of them are not too concerned about the marks they get from their Korean teacher, either. It's a careful balancing act between demanding their attention and planning materials that are easy for them to follow. Something as simple as distributing handouts and getting everyone to look at question 1 on side A can take a ridiculous amount of time sometimes.

Setting up a good balance between routine and novelty really helps. So does breaking up your lesson with short videos and slide shows. Also, make sure that things on your handouts are clearly numbered so that students can follow along. Finally, if someone is making a point of ignoring you don't be afraid to call the student on it and make an example out of them. Confiscating items is probably the best and simplist way to do this.

[ekul]

I agree the good old ask the student who isn't paying attention trick works pretty well. Kids definitely don't like to be embarrassed in front of the whole class.

[cruisemonkey]

[CA-NA-DA-ABC]

thanks everyone. some great advice.

I'm in GEPIK btw. and I would say about at least 60% of my class are beginners.

[Underwaterbob]

Right now keeping students' attention is an exercise in futility since their exams are coming up. My policy is if they want to study something else, and can do so without disrupting anyone else, they're welcome to do it. Class runs smoothly when the only students participating are the ones who actually want to.

[D.D.]

I give them tasks like make 5 sentences based on a short video. I put them in groups and send the co-teacher to 3 groups and I go to the other 3. Then I just talk to them in their groups. They talk a lot more if you sit at their table and make small talk.

Trying to teach from the front of the class with students talking to the whole class usually will not work.

No matter what you do some students will have attitude and some try to do nothing or sleep. Try to talk to the ones that care and are nice. I just ignore the rude ones but I do try to talk to the shy ones. I kick out the kids that are too loud when I am talking or passing notes, looking in mirrors ,ect.

It's amazing how nice some classes can be once the 2-3 rude students get the boot.


Find some youtube material they find interesting.

[samcheokguy]

[gregoriomills]

Yes, a very common problem that has a very complex answer. There are many things you can do in class to keep attention and behavior in line. I use a point system, and keep some grades. The trick is to make them THINK everything they do counts for something, even if its just points that you're keeping track of for no reason. No, you don't even have to use them at the end of the semester, but make them think that you are.

Have you tried putting them into groups of 4? Arrange the desks into groups of four and give each group a number (or name). Give and take away points to each team as a whole and reward the best group each month or something. Don't be scared to screw up, we've all been there!

[Jubalum]

I completely agree with gregoriomills.

One of my co-teachers started carrying around a small notebook. When the students break the rules, she writes their name in the notebook and then adds "-1". On the other hand, when they take chances (such as volunteering to speak), they get a "+1." I once asked her what the points meant. Her answer: NOTHING.

Believe it or not, but this kind of psychological trick really works. I work at a public technical HS made up of 90% boys. These students don't care about grades or test results. However, I've seen more than one boy break down in tears and beg to have the negative mark erased.