Korean Job Discussion Forums

[mayorgc]

I know the kids at school can be cruel towards them. But what about their personal home life?

Do they have money? Do they get presents? How is their home life? Who takes care of them in the orpahanage? What happens to them after they finish elementary school? What are their future prospects?

Anybody have personal experience with orphans (elementary age) in Korea?

[Xuanzang]

Several of my students live with their grandparents. I've heard they have a single parent in some cases but in Korea that is as good as orphaned. One boy's mom left home suddenly and the home situation has been rough. His father doesn't care about him and his older middle school brother bullies him. I know this because he is involved in every "free" after school program our school offers.

Another third grade boy lives with his grandmother. This one is an absolute terror. His home situation is low income and he has some form of ADHD. He steals from my candy jar and disrupts my class. Gives me the FU in the hallways and says "you die". On good days, he just runs about the class touching everything.

[toadhjo]

One of the teachers I teach English to at my elementary school apparently goes to see her daughter at her grandparent's house every weekend...so I'm assuming this means she's a single mom?

[warmachinenkorea]

My wife, myself and many other waygook in dul were volunteering at an orhanage in Daegu this past weekend for a Christmas party.

My wife likes to get involved right away while I observe.

This orphanage is an older villa used set up for an orhanage. They have about 25 kids. Boys and girls ranging from 20 months to 3rd grade HS. Many sibling groups. I was surprised, which I shouldn't have been it is Korean culture, by the lack of structure. The kids were running crazy and screaming no one was batting an eye. However, after some time the kids got settled and used to the people being there and seemed to really make an effort to communicate(body language, random English words) as best they could. At the end of the night they seemed not to want people to leave.

[mayorgc]

I just found out that one of my kids is an orphan. I've known her for over a year. She's always been a good kid. Not necessarily a bright kid, but definitely never gave me trouble. She said hi to me, gave me candy once I think. She had an excellent attitude and I was shocked to find out that she was an orphan.

My co teacher spent the entire class reaming out all the kids. She does this maybe once every few months. I don't know the reason, but I just keep my mouth shut and let her scold them.

After she was done scolding this time, she told me that the students in that class have been giving the orphan a hard time. Teasing her and making fun of her for having no parents. I had no idea she had no parents, since she was always smiling and talking and I've never seen her cry.

I'm trying to figure out if there's anything I can do for her. She was in my after school class last november and that semester, I did a horrible job of teaching. I was literally FOB at the time and had no idea what I was doing in a classroom. I know she had to pay the afterschool fees to attend the lessons, so now I feel like crap for wasting her money (she still can't read).

What are living conditions like for orphans? Are there like 10 kids per bed or something? Do they share clothes? If I give her things, will the evil head mistress steal it?

[DeMayonnaise]

I live in a very rural area with a mix of students. Some are pretty well off and have lived/studied English in English speaking countries, and some are very poor with not so good situations at home. My coteacher told me one student lived with his grandmother and his parents were divorced (or never married, not sure). I was surprised to hear this, since he's a bright kid, never gets in trouble, mostly keeps to himself and studies hard. He placed 3rd in the all-school English speaking competition, even beating out some kids who've lived abroad. I held extra practice sessions after school before the contest, and he was there every time working on his speech, really getting the hard words down. Also took my advice on delivery...making eye contact, pausing, speaking slowly and clearly, knowing which words to put the emphasis on. I think the kids generally treat him like everyone else, but I'm not sure....

My coteacher was kinda down on him, saying his home situation was bad, basically saying he had no future, but he's the hardest working student in the school. I wonder if he's going to the better high school next year or the "agricultural" high school...

[Xuanzang]

[lovebug]

to be orphaned is considered one of the lowest statuses in korea because bloodlines and family are so incredibly important.

orphaned males don't have to serve in the army.

[BoholDiver]

I bet life isn't very good.

They made a point a few years ago of barring foreigners from going on trips to the Orphanages. Kimmigration said it was a violation of visa status.

It's really sad. Some groups from Adventure Korea and others used to visit them.

[morrisonhotel]

[mayorgc]

[morrisonhotel]