Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Pablo]

1) What do you do when an occasional (non-adult) student puts their head down on their desk because they are sleepy or need to sleep? (Please don't let the fact that sleep deprivation is recognized internationally as a form of torture impede your response.)

2) Do you teach at a public or private school?

3) How do you respond to administrators who reprimand you about the occasional student sound asleep?

[sml7285]

[comm]

[Skippy]

Use my judgment. If they are tired, I will let them sleep/rest. Also, when students are sick. If too many students start to sleep, then I start to wake them up.

Bored resting or sleeping, I will wake up.

If a student is resting or asks to rest, they are to rest. NO playing with hand phones, talking with friends, doing other school work. Do not take my kind behavior and use it against me.

I work at a hagwon.

If management complains, I plead ignorance. I am a bit lucky as no camera or prying eyes. It is good to practice "looking good". As above, if one student is resting, fine. If three or four, then it will look bad if somebody sees. You need to wake them up. You never know who might see what and when.

[Steelrails]

1. Say their name and make a gesture with my hand telling them to raise their head. This works 99% of the time, often don't even have to break stride. Repeat offenders get direct eye contact and a more forceful gesture.

If they are a "bad class" that day, simply say their name and point to the back and have them put their hands up.

2. Public

3. Don't ever let it get to the point where a student falls asleep (unless ill). That's what "teacher's eyes" are for- wide field of vision, picking up of the slightest in wrong behavior.

[YTMND]

In high school classes it's simple, you have one student pick someone in class to ask a question to (something in regards to what you were teaching). They usually pick someone who won't know the answer, someone who isn't paying attention, or when possible someone who is sleeping.

It's a great way to unite with the class.

[jonpurdy]

1. If it's an isolated incident, let them rest.

2. If it happens often, change my teaching style.

[iggyb]

Set the tone at the start of the semester. Be strict at first and you can loosen up over time. It is almost impossible to do it the other way - especially the older the students.

So, when I see students put their heads down or pass notes or write on their desks or other such, I get onto them right away and every time.

As time passes, as the class has settled down to a routine I'm happy with, if a student puts his head down or something, I might let it slide for awhile to see if they pick it up or whatnot. If more heads start to go down, then I'll step in.

I've let individual students keep their heads down on their desk for awhile or didn't say anything if I saw someone passing a note. After the tone is set at the start of a semester, I care more about whether or not behavior is lowering the quality of the time for the whole class. If a behavior is isolated, fine. If behaviors are popping up here and there, it is time to get strict again.

I mean, there are plenty of things you can do to punish students or let them and the class know a behavior is something you'll call out.

The key is to be strict at the start of a semester or whenever you get a new class in a hakwon.

Another important thing: once the students have gotten used to you, if you start seeing heads go down or other distractive or disruptive behavior, you can check yourself. Is it a case your preparation or material selected is failing? If you can't change it up in the middle of class, then try to spice things up the next class.

I've taught in hakwons (all ages) and public school in Korea (elementary) and the US (high school).

I was about to say it is easier to keep heads up in elementary, because you get more respect or fear, but too many memories reversed it. Classes are always different. You can't predict what you're going to get whatever the age.

[northway]

[Son Deureo!]

I teach college.

If a student falls asleep in class, I wake them up and invite them to go get a cup of coffee from the vending machine or splash water on their face. If they fall asleep again I wake them up, kick them out, and mark them absent for the day (-5% penalty to their final grade, 4 absences = automatic failure). Each class gets a warning about this at the beginning of the semester.

I don't think this policy would work in a public elementary school.

[andrewchon]

1. First response is nothing because discipline is handled by my co-teach. Next response depends on the lesson schedule:
a. we might be soon going to sing-and-dance
b. we might be soon going to game time
c. we might be answering questions and a reponse from an individual is required
2. public rural elem
3. I tell them I will try to make the class interesting and interactive so that students are not apathetic and disinterested.

I am such a doormat, I know, but that's what dharma tells me.

[viciousdinosaur]

I let them sleep.

Honestly, if they can sleep through my lessons, they must be pretty damn tired. I have a loud voice and I talk the whole class.

I feel bad for the kids. They're sick or exhausted from too many hagwons.

The only reason I would wake them up is if I thought I would get in trouble.

[luckylady]

tried to teach haiku once to a young but advanced class.

after several minutes at the board I turned around and one student was sound asleep.

I never even thought about teaching haiku again.

[ewlandon]

I work in a hogwon and ive had students put their head down cause they are bored and I just say their name and the snap their head up. I've also had students who were so tired that their eyes would fall and their pen would drag across their paper as they were trying so hard to work but couldnt. Those students i gently tap on their back and ask why they are so sleepy. They are usually embarassed but I go really easy on them cause if they are that tired they should probably sleep. If the same student is like that for more than one class in a row I have had them stand up and do their work at my stand because I cant have students just not doing work.

[lowpo]

I work at a public school.
1. I tell them to get their head off the desk.
2. If they do it a second time. I take their chair away from them.