Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Corporal]

What?

Today I taught a class of virtually-no-English littlies at a daycare just to see how it went (I'm job shopping at the moment). The director was supposed to be "co-teaching" with me (though this consisted entirely of her clapping and cheering the kids on when they did something right. ) Anyway, to get started I asked the kids "what's your name?" The director then said, "They don't understand that. You need to teach them "what's your name". And she waits expectantly. Well if they don't understand what's your name (or any other English for that matter) and I'm not allowed to speak Korean, I fail to see how I'm supposed to entrench that concept in their little minds. Anyway. Then as I start showing them how to shake hands when I say "nice to meet you," the director says, "Don't you like kids? You should hug them as you meet them." Well some of the little tuckers don't look like they want to be hugged, they are rubbing their eyes and pulling back and looking scared. So I say diplomatically, "What if they don't want me to hug them?" She laughs and says "oh don't worry, they do." I'm unconvinced but I still give each of them a little hug in turn as they are dragged to me. I mean, some had no problem with it but WHY did she feel the need to force some of them to hug me, or vice versa? I complained about this to my husband but he just laughed and said Koreans love kids. Yeah, well, four-year-olds don't love scary new Western teachers that they've never seen before and don't understand.

[Squid]

It's a slippery slope girl!

I'm English, so naturally I allow absolutely no-one to touch me at any time. My wife, of course, is an exception... with an appointment she can touch me.
Neither do I touch anyone, ever.

Imagine my disgust then, when faced with a class of kindergartners last year that I was obliged to make physical contact with... After a while they were leaping all over me and hanging off me out the staffroom like i'm a fucking jungle-gym. By the time I'd seen out my contract I was everyones favorite harabodgi, just won't do I tell you.

I fully understand and sympathize with your predicament.

Squid the anal retentive.

[Howard Roark]

[peppergirl]

[Crois]

It wouldnt be British if we were allowed to make contact with kids. It's seen as kind of paedophillic (spl).

[maxxx_power]

I'm an American and I don't like anyone touching me for any reason other than a girlfriend or an immediate family member.

When I had Korean guy friends I was constantly telling them not to touch me, don't put your arms around my shoulder, don't slap my ass, and so on. They kept telling me that's what Korean men do. I don't give a *beep* about that custom, it's creepy.

Don't violate my personal bubble please and do not touch me for the love of all that's holy.

My kindy kids know my limits. Yes, I too love children (as long as they're not mine).

[batman]

[quote="Corporal"]"but he just laughed and said Koreans love kids. "

That statement always makes me laugh too.

" Yeah, well, four-year-olds don't love scary new Western teachers that they've never seen before and don't understand."

If it makes you feel any better my son doesn't like it when the scary Korean ajumas in all their painted glory attack his cheeks and try to force feed him sticks of chewing gum.

Seriously, I love teaching kindergarten and appreciate (and understand) the fact that it requires a certain degree of physical contact but it sounds like this is one director who is out to lunch.

Better to keep on looking.



K

[rapier]

Keep searching. You don't want a director who tries to inflict his/her own preconceptions onto you.
I love kids to, especially kindergartners. But they take time to get used to you and feel free to hug you or wrestle with you. Some kids have a quite serious concept of personal space, some don't. Nothing should be forced.

[The Man known as The Man]

[Bulsajo]

It's true- you (the foreigner) don't love kids (real ones, not adoptees) as much as Koreans can (and do) because 'skinship' is a Korean concept that foreigners can't understand (don't let the fact that this term is Konglish fool you).


[taken from the CPA handbook, chapt. 5 subsection 2 paragraph 9]

[Mr. Pink]

Whats the deal with some of you not being able to handle contact with your students?

Ever hear Koreans go on about "skinship" - they are all into the touching thing. Even the older dudes, when they go drinking they get all friendly.

I personally think it gives foreigners an opportunity to get closer to Koreans.

I've read a couple threads where people talk of "alienation" and being "outside" the Korean circle. If you are not willing to change a bit to fit into a Korean mold, of course you will feel those things.

I taught kindergarten and elementary, and NEVER had a problem with the kids hugging me or hanging off me. They are KIDS and they like to show their affection.

I teach high school - I kinda don't like any girls hugging me, as I don't want to be put into a wierd situation, but I have no problem with guys who want to hug me. At our graduation last year, quite a few guys I taught hugged me and thanked me for helping them so much. On another note, the girls are always hugging the female teachers...

What's the problem with contact?

[peppergirl]

[mindmetoo]

[Mr. Pink]

[Saxiif]

Ya, waygook shock can be pretty big at times. I had one kindy kid who I get along fine with now who the first time he saw me did nothing but cry all class because I had a "scary face." That said, there's nothing wrong with physical contact once they get used to you I usually lift kids up to demonstrate "up" and "down" and if kindy kids are good/finish their work/whatever I sometimes swing 'em around a bit (which always gets a corus of "nado" "nado" from just about all of the kids).