Korean Job Discussion Forums

[tintinus]

I have recently taken on a new position. It is a great school and the kids are really nice, however, for some reason they act like a frenzied mob about 2 minutes into the lesson. My voice suddenly goes and they can't hear me. I keep telling them to listen to me, 54321, take points away, but everything I try them disemble within seconds and then beat me down. Can you advise anything? Also because I am female they seem to think I need man to give up to and some of the little kids end up getting beaten up at school because they say a girl can't look after them.

Would appreciate any advice.

Thanks.

[bbunce]

Make sure you enter the classroom first before your students if at all possible. Then hand the students a worksheet to complete as they enter. Something that will take them at least 3-5 minutes. It does mean more work for you though. That should get them settled down. Anyway, make sure they have a routine when they enter. Also, ask your co-teachers what works for them. Don't let it get you down. Good luck and keep us informed on how you are doing.

[amnsg2]

I used to have this same problem, but I've found the worksheet thing^^^ really helps. And make sure you walk in with the assumption that they'll pay attention, and immediately launch into some kind of opening activity. Keep them on their toes, and make sure they're living in fear that you'll call on them to read aloud their work or practice something from the board. Obviously, if they say they haven't done it give them a few moments to quickly ask their friend for help or finish while you call on someone else, but always go back to them.

Memorising their full names (if possible) is also helpful, because I think it a) shows that you care and b) scares the living daylights out of them when you call on them for misbehaving. "YA! Kim Jeong-Bin!?" *Kim Jeong-Bin has a mini heart attack*

For kindergarten, write their name in Korean on the board. Don't explain why it's there or call attention to it at all, but when they start working erase just a little bit of it at a time until it's all gone. They HATE seeing their name up there! I don't know why, but it really freaks the little ones out but it makes them feel proud when it disappears.

The points system isn't working if they don't care. Try and reinforce what the reward is if they finish their work or participate well, and make sure you're awarding lot's of points for kids who go the extra mile in class. Try and emphasise it as a reward system, rather than as a punishment.

I hope that's helpful. When I started at my last hagwon, I was completely useless and I thought I'd never get the hang of it but slowly I think I'm getting there...

[pkang0202]

For exactly the OP's reason I loathed teaching elementary 6th graders. The Korean teachers don't care. They say "Oh, the kids will be in middle school soon and they life will be very difficult. Let them be".

[lemak]

Vocab dictation once they start getting noisy. Will buy you 5~10mins since they have to listen.
If their finish time is 2.50 for example write 2.47 on the board. Every time the volume goes up + one minute. They'll work out very quickly that if they STFU they get let out a couple of minutes early, and if they are noisy it eats into their free time (*You will however need a supportive boss for this one, since many don't like you letting the kiddies out early or late*)
The students will make sure the others keep the noise down since they're collectively being punished or rewarded.
Are they noisy in English, or Korean and how old are the students? I'm assuming Korean. If it's supposed to be an English conversation class start enforcing the "English only" rule, as then many of the lower level noisier ones will only talk if they really *have* to. You can enforce this with the time thing also.
Good luck.

[RK12]

Say 조용히하세요. It means "be quiet" on how a teacher would be expected to talk and since you're a foreigner and speaking Korean, they will marvel at that fact along with the meaning and hopefully quiet down.

[RK12]

Say 조용히하세요. It means "be quiet" on how a teacher would be expected to talk and since you're a foreigner and speaking Korean, they will marvel at that fact along with the meaning and hopefully quiet down.

[soomin]

I also will shout in Korean... there's a great website (http://acquiringkorean.wordpress.com/language-for-korean-classroom/) that has a bunch of things that teachers usually yell at their bad students ^.^

I also make them stand up with their hands up. They get really annoyed but want to sit down and don't want the passing teachers to see them visibly in trouble... if they still act up whilst standing, just tell them to get in the corner and face the wall ^.^

[young_clinton]

I microphone will help, but also since the kids lose thier attention you could do a game at that time.

[ddeubel]

Just two tried and true tips.

1. Speak softly to get students speaking softer/calmer.

2. Signal, Focus, Wait. Never continue speaking until you have everyone's attention. At first it will feel like an eternity but keep waiting, keep waiting.


Not really a tip but a consideration - make sure every student can learn. So much noise and off task behavior is really just students who are bewildered and who aren't learning because of the activity design. Every kid wants to learn, even if they profess no. It is inate. We should turn that on as much as possible.

DD
http://eflclassroom.com

[thunderbird]

[Julius]

[schwa]

There are different ways to "own" the classroom & theres no one-size-fits-all formula. Depends on the particular teacher, depends on the predisposition of the kids, but some aspects of good classroom management are givens.

Teacher needs to always appear confident, prepared, energetic, kind, trustworthy, & cheerful. Earning the students' liking is half the battle. It can take time.

Lessons & activities need to be engaging, varied, & multifaceted, with stuff both low-end & high-end students can relate to.

Writing handouts & quizzes are good ways to settle unruly classes temporarily, but they need to be interesting.

Good teachers monitor their own speaking very carefully. Repetitive & simple & constantly checking for understanding. A strong voice helps. Humor helps. Shouting & microphones do not.

Over the long run, a consistent reward system will be more effective than punishment.

Remember that kids are kids. They're in the process of growing up & can change quite rapidly. Even the worst hellion in your class has a nice side to his or her personality. Endeavor to uncover it.

Try to love what you do.

[bbunce]