Korean Job Discussion Forums

[sqrlnutz123]

I've been working for about two weeks and already two kids, one boy and one girl have suddenly started crying in the middle of class. I never see what happens to start these episodes, and I can't understand what anyone else says to explain it, if they are even attempting to explain it. So far the protocol is to pretend it isn't happening. I'm really wondering what the deal is though. Why is this happening?

[The Gipkik]

They're just entering puberty and all kinds of sensitivities are getting busted: name calling, peer pressure, jealousy, revenge...You're just catching the tail end of it, a tiny piece of the drama. Just keep an eye out for the instigators. You'll know them and identify them soon enough. But in grade six, what walks like, talks like, and looks like an evil kid, could totally change right in front of your eyes. I've had kids I was convinced were evil to the core turn right around. It's like an onion. Layers and layers.

Oh, yeah. I've had sixers cry in class too.

[Fishead soup]

You really should have a Korean co-teacher deal with this. Where was he/she?

[andrewchon]

It's normal for everybody to cry.

[hockeyguy109]

If you were a sixth grade Korean, wouldn't you cry too?

They're about to head into a decade of 15 hour school days. The fun of elementary school is over. It's time to stay at Hagwons for ridiculous hours.

[venus envy]

I think it's pretty typical for their age. When I taught elementary last year, I would have several crying incidents a week (boys and girls).

[halfmanhalfbiscuit]

Stop crying!! I'll give you something to cry about!!

[Whitey Otez]

Yes, it's normal. It's most likely not your fault. Let them bawl and get it all out there without paying them much mind. If you highlight it, it might exacerbate the situation - or even worse, the kid's friends might try to rope you into the blame.

Meltdowns are extremely common with children. And around here, adults, too. You'll see twenty-five year old women throwing tantrums regularly if you go out in public after dark.

[sqrlnutz123]

My co-teacher was there. He ignored it. Both times it came out of the blue. One minute everyone's ok, the next minute someone's sobbing at their desk.

[schwa]

I made a 6th-grade girl cry last week. The class was being rambunctious & the last straw was catching this girl hit a groupmate on the head with her pencil case & the contents spilled out on the floor. I scolded her. The tears streamed.

In quick hindsight it was just two friends being playful. The spillage was accidental. The girl is a good student & felt mortified to be singled out by my overreaction.

I gave her a chocolate at the end of class & apologized. We're pals again now.

[cruisemonkey]

[aboxofchocolates]

You remember what it was like to go to school. There is a wonderful and complex world of drama and adventure going on right in the middle of class that a teacher will never see. It probably isn't you related, and unless you are fluent in Korean you aren't the best person to help them out with it. But I kind of think if a kid is crying in class that means a little help of some kind can't hurt. Maybe just a nice gesture later on during the day to make them feel like they can approach you.

[BoholDiver]

I have kids crying at least twice a month in my class.

I evaluate the situation and student. Some of our students do it to try it on, and others are legitimate good students not faking it.

[Draz]

[schwa]