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pangaea
Joined: 20 Dec 2007
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 Posted: Tue Feb 01, 2011 5:52 pm Post subject: Why aren't my students cold? |
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| I have gotten accustomed to freezing in Korea in the winter. The poor heating inside buildings here makes it impossible not to get used to it. Of course, I don't like it, but I dress in layers and often wear my hat, scarf, and gloves in class. What I don't understand is why some of my students don't seem to feel the cold. Some of them even complain that they are hot and want me to turn off the heat in the classroom when it is actually still chilly. One day last week, the heater in one classroom wasn't working properly and the temperature on the unit said 10 C. It felt colder than that in the room and I'm sure it was, as the temperature gauge is right next to the heating vent. I was shaking with cold and my fingers and toes felt like ice. I asked my students if they were cold and they said no. It seemed like they didn't even notice the cold. Does anyone else have this problem? Are the students so used to the cold that they don't notice it? I get annoyed with my students when the classroom is freezing and they are whining that they are hot. |
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johnnyrook
Joined: 08 Nov 2009
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| Posted: Tue Feb 01, 2011 6:15 pm Post subject: |
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testify!
My classroom just has a space heater, which I'll often just point at myself at the front of the class if anyone complains about it being too hot. I'm selfish like that. |
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gypsymaria
Joined: 08 Jun 2010
Location: Anyang-si, Gyeonggi-do
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| Posted: Tue Feb 01, 2011 7:36 pm Post subject: |
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I have the exact opposite problem. The heat in my building gets REALLY toasty, so I wind up turning it off when I feel too warm, thinking that my students will get overheated. Then they come bundling in with their puffy coats and scarves and hats and refuse to take them off, saying that they're cold. Of course, when I turn the heat back on, they complain that they're hot, but refuse to take off any layers anyway!  Silly kids. |
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DorkothyParker
Joined: 11 Apr 2009
Location: Jeju
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| Posted: Tue Feb 01, 2011 7:43 pm Post subject: |
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Kids, especially small ones, are little heaters. They are full of energy and their metabolisms are all revved up. Seriously, their heads feel like they are on fire.
I also run the heater and will point it to myself if they get too hot. Granted, I still keep it cooler than I would otherwise and will do this along with wearing a sweater or coat.
When I worked in a bank, I got sent to the "box" (a separate drive up building) a lot and I would crank the heat up to 80. NICE! |
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Lastrova
Joined: 30 Dec 2010
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| Posted: Tue Feb 01, 2011 8:31 pm Post subject: |
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| DorkothyParker wrote: |
Kids, especially small ones, are little heaters. They are full of energy and their metabolisms are all revved up. Seriously, their heads feel like they are on fire.
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Exactly. And because kids here are used to it. It's always been that way for them. I wouldn't be surprised if their homes also had a few "cold" spots. |
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interestedinhanguk
Joined: 23 Aug 2010
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| Posted: Tue Feb 01, 2011 11:10 pm Post subject: |
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They also never take off their jackets if they are hot.
Conversation I've had a million times:
Student: Teachuh, I'm hot!
Me: Take off your jacket.
Student: ??? |
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gypsymaria
Joined: 08 Jun 2010
Location: Anyang-si, Gyeonggi-do
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| Posted: Wed Feb 02, 2011 2:28 am Post subject: |
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| interestedinhanguk wrote: |
They also never take off their jackets if they are hot.
Conversation I've had a million times:
Student: Teachuh, I'm hot!
Me: Take off your jacket.
Student: ??? |
THIS. Exactly! |
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eperdue4ad
Joined: 22 May 2006
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| Posted: Wed Feb 02, 2011 4:27 am Post subject: |
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| The younger ones are likely dressed with clothes under their clothes (naebok) |
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pangaea
Joined: 20 Dec 2007
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| Posted: Wed Feb 02, 2011 5:49 am Post subject: |
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interestedinhanbuk wrote:
| Quote: |
They also never take off their jackets if they are hot.
Conversation I've had a million times:
Student: Teachuh, I'm hot!
Me: Take off your jacket.
Student: ??? |
Thirded!
Or, I will have a student sitting in a seat under the wall heater directly in the path of the vent and complain that he is hot. There are other seats to move to but of course the student doesn't want to because he wants to sit near his friends. Usually, the student decides he's not so hot after all after I tell him he can move or deal with it because I'm not turning off the heat.
One of my classes is particularly bad about complaining. I have tried to explain things as reasonably as I can. I just don't get it. It's winter. It's below freezing outside. There is snow on the ground. I am wearing three layers of clothes, including three pairs of socks, and my feet are still cold. My nose is frozen and I can't feel my fingers. Yet I still have to deal with, "Teacher, hot!" |
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TheresaTheresa
Joined: 24 Feb 2010
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| Posted: Wed Feb 02, 2011 7:29 am Post subject: |
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| johnnyrook wrote: |
testify!
My classroom just has a space heater, which I'll often just point at myself at the front of the class if anyone complains about it being too hot. I'm selfish like that. |
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fadedgirl
Joined: 26 Nov 2006
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| Posted: Sat Feb 05, 2011 8:29 am Post subject: |
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so would this then be classified as another cultural difference?
My students get in the classroom, shut the door and open the window. ARGH! I get in the classroom and it feels like Antarctica. |
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