Korean Job Discussion Forums

[karenology]

Hello all,

I am about to take a position as a public middle school teacher in a rural area, and I'm pretty nervous, especially since I have very little experience with big classes! (I've taught ESL before, but only to a small group of young elementary age kids). Does any one have any tips or advice for newcomers? I guess the foreign teachers who preceded me would often resort to yelling a lot when dealing with inattentive / problem students, but I'd like to avoid that as much as possible - I don't really want to reinforce any negative associations the kids might have with learning English.

Also, I'd like to develop a system of rewards and prizes for students who do pay attention, but haven't any clue what is popular with Korean middle school kids. Any advice on this front would also be much appreciated!

[DosEquisXX]

I previously worked at a public middle school in a rural area and your first impression is extremely important. A balance needs to be found between being laid back and an authoritative psychopath.

In the first class, establish the rules and consequences of breaking them and stick to enforcing them to a tee. Don't let anybody get away with anything. Give them an inch and they'll walk all over you. Be consistent with your punishments and rewards. Predictability and transparency are important in discipline. Over time, you can slowly loosen the reins if they are obedient and respectful for enough time.

As for rewards, my middle school kids would rip each others' heads off for a piece of candy. Great reward for participation and good behavior.

Oh and please don't hit the kids. They get beat enough by other teachers and their parents. Some parents can cause serious problems for you if you do that.

[AsiaESLbound]

Try to get to know Korean teachers to gain their respect so they will support you in your work. If the students so think for a moment you are on your own where it doesn't matter to any Korean adults, then they will eat you alive where they just talk in Korean, ignore you, and fail to listen. Don't expect disciplinary support, but do expect teaching support if you work using only positive re-enforcers except an exceptionally rude unruly student can be stood up front or at the back for a few minutes to embarrass them as punishment. I wouldn't do candy while teaching regular curriculum during the semester, but candy, pizza, and soda rewards are good for camps and during the last week of a semester. If you spoil them on a regular basis, they will not be truly motivated in the long term, but only expect more candy for short favorable performances leading to a 100k to 200k a month ding to your personal finances and a lack of being viewed as a teacher. I really read up on this stuff many times and knew not to get anything like candy started, except when these rewards are provided by Koreans. And to never play hangman. It goes much further to teach, get to understand your students, and expect them to work hard on the challenge you present them in learning and speaking English. I'm not an expert, but I try to be. lol

[jvalmer]

The first while you are there you have to be firm and strict, especially if you're in an all boys' school. Once you have a feel for the school, teachers and students, that's when you can start to lighten up. Repeat this at the beginning of every school year for the new incoming students.

[perkxplosion]

Yeah definately act firm and strict to start with. I am all about positive awards, but keep in mind that being publicly embarassed is nearly the worst thing that can happen to a Korean. If you can find a way to make a student's poor behavior stand out negatively in front of the class then you should see some good results.

I had a friend who told me if a couple students were talking he would get the class to become quiet, then he would throw a small piece of chalk at them. Once they turned around he would act like he was still teaching, then repeat the process (once they got back to talking) until they figured out that he was making a joke out of them.

[Fishead soup]

First thing- Walk in, get another students to set up your laptop and connect to the TV monitor and internet. This allows for greater control of the students. Also make sure the room is clean. A filthy room shows a lack of respect in Korean culture. Make sure students pick up all the paper and sweep up. I like to show a short youtube video to get students attention. I don't start if anything is out of order. If something is not working get the students call in someone to fix it. If you are lax with the technology you soon find yourself with no access to it at all.

Make them do the exact same bow they do with the Korean Teachers. This is all about respect

Don't tolerate swearing some K teachers say the students don't know what they are saying this is classic BS.

If you are new don't teach alone if no one shows up wait outside with your material don't walk in without a Korean co-teacher. They will pretend they didn't know they were supposed to be working with you that period this is BS
they were just testing the waters . You showed them you won't budge.

[David Gerrington]

As far as "embarrassing" a student goes, I've always found their name on the board with an X beside it is usually enough. With prospects of a terrible punishment if it gets to 3Xs (like phoning their parents, oooh).

The more observant students will notice that it hardly ever gets to 3 Xs, unless a student is being specifically defiant.

[karenology]

Thanks for all the advice! It seems like from what I've read, students in rural areas tend to be less motivated than their peers in Seoul to study English since they're not on the "fast track" to placement in a top school. Has anyone encountered this, and successfully turned this around?

Also, do you lay out the rules in English or have the co-teacher translate them to Korean for the students? What level of existing English competency should I expect from these kids, or does that vary from school to school?

(Still sort of up in the air about taking this job...the more I think about it, the more I realize that maybe as a newbie I'd be better off in a hagwon! advice on this point would be much appreciated as well...)

[DosEquisXX]

[karenology]

Oh gosh, how depressing! I never expected to have countryside Korean kids reading Jane Eyre or anything, but it does seem a bit sad that motivation is so low. I guess it's not that far off from my own middle school experience, not learning French! I will wait to see what these kids are like, but I'll try not to keep my expectations too high!

Back to what middle school kids in Korea like: pop music? Maybe I can reach a few by convincing them that they need to learn English to sing in a Kpop band? hehe...

[karenology]

Oh, and asiaeslbound: why can't you play hangman?

[winterfall]

when they refuse to do things. just make the most annoying sound in the world or keep repeating things like a broken tape recorder. seriously it works

[jvalmer]

Some of you guys make it sound like that speaking English is a prerequisite for a Korean to be successful in Korea.

[DosEquisXX]