Korean Job Discussion Forums

[beentheredonethat777]

Today my boss came into my class and said to give all of my students homework every day. Is this common? He said parents are very happy when their kids have lots of homework. Is this true?

Most of them are also studying Math, Science, Korean, Social Studies, Grammar, and Chinese at this school. I know for a fact they get a ton of homework already.

[fezmond]

Do what he says.

Doesn't matter if they do it or not. Half will probably do it on the bus there or copy from a classmate. What's gonna happen if their homework is crap? Nothing. At least you can say it was given to them.

[NYC_Gal 2.0]

Just give them a couple of pages from whatever workbook corresponds to the textbook that they use (if there is one). In a week your boss will probably say that the parents are complaining that their precious babies have far too much homework, and you'll be advised to stop giving it.

[beentheredonethat777]

[WadRUG'naDoo]

I think your boss should be quiet. Let them do the workbooks and your boss or a Korean teacher can correct them. Or like another poster told you (I think), have them review what you'll be teaching them next class. Write it on the same place on the board every class.

[Boodleheimer]

give them lots of work. parents will be impressed. worse case scenario, they think you're really serious about your job.

[NYC_Gal 2.0]

The journal idea is a good one.

[whiteshoes]

When I worked at a hagwon my boss (a super nice guy, btw) I had a conversation about this same topic. I was a little worried I was being too strict with kids. He told me, "Hahahahaha Whiteshoes Teacher. Parents never complain about that. They only complain if the kids have too much fun, or not enough homework. Don't worry, you are doing a good job."

[bmaw01]

Make sure you use a red pen when you're marking their work. Parents love to see their children's work covered in red pen.

[le-paul]

if you want to make everyone happy, yourself included, buy a book that has a korean and english text. Photocopy a page or two, give it to the students, tell them to take it home and get the parents to sign it. Then sign and date it yourself on return and tell them to put it in their bag - NOT in the trash.

alternative -
same homework but tell students to 'read it to a parent' and then get the parents signature. That way the parent can see the homework themselves.

If they don't want to to do it, they'll cheat and get their mate to sign it.

If the parents check, you've given them homework.

If the boss checks, you've given them homework and its been signed by yourself and a parent.

If they want to do the homework, they'll do it right.

This system also means you don't have to spend any time checking homework. Remember, your korean co-teachers will be giving vocab and writing homework, so yours is a balance.

[le-paul]

[beentheredonethat777]

[beentheredonethat777]

[wylies99]

Don't give homework during holidays like Chuseok. I've had parents get upset about that, like the homework was mandatory.

[Mr. BlackCat]

Yeah, Korean kids have tons of homework. But none of it really matters, just like the tests and other assignments they have here. Are they going to fail? No. Do they get real grades? No. What's more difficult: 5 pages of homework that will be checked, graded, added to an official score and expected? Or 10 pages of nothingness that doesn't really have to be done, is repetitive, rote, easily copied and counts for nothing? Don't believe the hype, Korean kids may not be allowed to have as much fun, but they certainly aren't any more busy than kids back home.

Half the kids won't do the homework, and as soon as you try to tell the parents they'll complain that you're giving too much. It's never their little snowflake's fault. Besides, what? You're going to fail a kid for not doing it? That doesn't happen in PS, it certainly isn't going to happen when money's on the line.