Korean Job Discussion Forums

[thefarns]

Several students didn't do their homework yesterday. I taught for most of the class, then at the end did some questioning about the homework. Specifically, about why it was't done. It was incredible. They got this half-smiling, dazed look. Their eyes glazed over and in some cases rolled around in their heads. They couldn't answer simple questions like "where are you right now?" If I didn't know better, I'd have sworn they were drugged. Is this common? Was this extreme? What magical phsychological switch did I push?

[Joe666]

I gave out homework once. A joke. I was just reading another post chock full of what you are describing. I am a newbie, 4 months in and it doesn't take long to realize that most students just don't care about English. That's what I truly believe causes the catatonic states present in a lot of English classes in K-land.

The other major factor is your not Korean. You just don't have the authority to really "drop the hammer" on the students. They absolutely know this and will test you every second they can.

This thread and the other related one came into my life at an excellent time. My frustration level has been at an all time high the last two days because of the "zombies" I see in all my classes. I don't know what to tell you because I am also having trouble dealing with it right now. I guess take comfort in knowing that most of us are dealing with the same thing!

[Yu_Bum_suk]

You must be quite new. 75% of Korean students don't do homework unless they get punished for not doing it. Even then, a certian % of them would rather get punished. You may well be the first ever foreigner to try to make them do homework. This means that you'll first have to teach them that they get punished for not doing the FT's homework as well.

BTW, I don't bother with homework.

[blackjack]

[thefarns]

If comprehension were a problem at other times, this situation wouldn't have been remarkable to me. I taught Korean kindergarteners before this and was able to communicate effectively enough with them. "Blah, blah, blah" was not an issue at this time.

Later on, when I lectured, it may well have been, but it didn't matter. Their role at that point was to appear chastened, which they did with aplomb.

[Tobias]

You know...studies have shown that excessive staring at computer screens, especially after about 8 p.m. can cause sleep disturbances and make it difficult to fall asleep to begin with. Perhaps your students are staying up late playing computer games (instead of doing something useful, such as homework).

[JJJ]

Don't give them homework. They get enough of it from all the academies they go to. Remember, academies are the new schools and schools are day care centers. I've seen my students academy workbooks and homework sheets. They are following the same Korean, English, Math, etc books that the school uses but in more detail. The homework they get is pretty detailed and all geared for the exams. I'm just happy if they listen, participate once in a while, don't fight, sleep or tell me to go F myself.