Korean Job Discussion Forums

[jgrant85]

First, I need to explain something. This past Friday I had 2 classes back-to-back, and in both of them I gave a test. They wanted to go outside to play together, so I thought I'd be nice by offering to let them take the test together to give them more time to play.
I recently found out that some of the parents of my students might be trying to blame their kids' bad grades on me rather than on the kids themselves. They used the example of that test to say that I don't structure the class properly. I asked the bad students how much they study, and they all said they didn't study much. Maybe this goes against Korean culture (I don't know), but I have very little pity for a student doing poorly if they don't even devote the time to study. My first responsibility is to teach the students, not to cater to the parents' every wish. Am I in the wrong here? Also, how do you suggest I appease the parents but also see to the kids' education? It almost seems like I have to choose between one or the other, lol.

[halfmanhalfbiscuit]

Keep them in class.

[andrewchon]

If the students were outside unsupervised by you, then you are at fault.

[jgrant85]

[andrewchon]

Have you done any 'admonishing' on students who don't study?
Not 'punishment' (corporal or fatigue types), but like "I'm very disappointed with you, Kim Minsu". Maybe some teary voice or actual tears add to the students' shame. This doesn't mean they'll start to study, but at least the students can't say "my English teacher don't care" to their parents.

[Goku]

Any parent that blames their teacher for their child's laziness is being irresponsible. Parents are supposed to work WITH their teacher to solve their children's issues not against them. More importantly you are doing a favor by giving them bad grades. It serves as a warning to the parents of the future to come if their behavior doesn't change. Their opinion won't change, no amount of convincing works on those types of people as they prefer to shove the responsibility into your hands instead of acting as a parent and taking care (or even acknowledging) the issue as part of their own responsibilities. Yes you have a civic duty for your students, but parents are the ones who should take matters into their own hands.

Anyways, people are naturally lazy. People follow the path of least resistance. They are, either by genetic or learned nature wanting to do nothing. Some teachers then concoct the idea that schoolwork should be fun. Which is utter BS in my mind. You can't create the illusion that English is fun. Because in a few years they will learn the cold hard truth that verb agreement has nothing to do with a clown suit, and us dancing and singing the alphabet won't help them in high school exams.

Students need to accept it for it is what it is. In order for them to do work, they need to be convinced it's the best possible choice, or aka. the laziest option they can choose.

So frame everything in a manner of worse alternatives. For example, you could say do your work. Or you can frame it in options. Such as, "Either we finish this worksheet today or we will have to stay after school and clean up the entire class." I use this on students all the time. I'll probably never ever have them stay after but if you give them two options they naturally choose one.

Actually, salespeople know this technique well. Instead of asking for the sale... such as saying "do you want to buy?" They frame it like "Which color do you prefer black or pink?" They assume the sale and give you options that make you naturally follow a path.

[Fishead soup]

[Perceptioncheck]

[Reise-ohne-Ende]

Hmmm...might I suggest that only the students who score well be allowed to go outside and play?

Tell students that if they keep their grade above a certain level, they will earn privileges.

Then again, in Korea, it might be more helpful to say that if their grade goes BELOW a certain level, they LOSE privileges. This takes advantage of the whole shame culture too.

Up to you to decide what would be more effective. Then, while the higher-scoring students are playing, you can do extra review with the lower-scoring ones, or make them study.

[gillod]

Dude, this country is 100% about appearances. You could be in class reading them Amazing Spiderman and they'd say, "What a wonderful teacher!". The minute you LOOK like you're not teaching- You take them outside- they THINK you're not teaching. It's all about appearances, not reality. Sucks, but the sooner you learn to work in the box, the more chill thing sget

[Goku]

[Perceptioncheck]

[halfmanhalfbiscuit]

I don't know why you let them outside. Let the KT take the lead if they consider it too warm or the students are listless. All you did was reward them for not wanting to be in the classroom. I mean, who gives a stuff if they want to play, they don't pay you.You have 2 classes, you should simply do your 2 classes. They can run about after the bell.

[Draz]

[Perceptioncheck]