Korean Job Discussion Forums

[beentheredonethat777]

I work at a private school and as the winter season approaches, the classroom heaters will come on blasting warmth into my classroom. (Which I absolutely love)This is the exact opposite of my public school experience.( I almost froze)

Here's the problem:

I have struggled with this for several years now. Could someone please explain to me what is so wrong with taking off your coat or hat if you are "very hot" in a classroom?

My students complain that they are hot but then they adamantly refuse to take off their coats. Is this a culture thing?

Instead they tell me to open all the windows and the doors.

Today one of my students said, "Teacher", my father said," Don't ever take your coat off!"

Another student said, "It's too much trouble to take off my coat, I'll have to put it back on 40 minutes later."

I can't wrap my head about this rationale. Any explanations would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[Chaparrastique]

[basic69isokay]

Korea used to be a painfully poor country.
Most people wear ski jackets indoors, even if the heat is on and its free to use.
It's the same reason people gorge on the free onions at costco.
They dont need it, but they got this 3rd world mindset that will never go away.
Basically, you just sweat it out in summer and freeze your ass off in winter. No matter what. Even if Korea becomes the world's richest country, you can't change it.

[Sesame]

[Chaparrastique]

[beentheredonethat777]

Quote:

A room that seems warm to you still feels cold to them.

[/quote]

Actually, I'm experiencing the exact opposite. I'm cold, they're hot.

But if they took their coats off, they'd feel much cooler/comfortable.


Does this make sense to anyone else?

[Aine1979]

That happens a lot with my students. If they won't take their coats off and insist I turn the heat off/ open the window, I just say 'sorry, but I'm cold so the heat has to stay on or I'll get sick' and continue on with whatever we were doing.

I don't mind opening a window/turning down the heat if it's a kid asking who has taken off their coat and one or two of the five sweatshirts they all seem to wear, as sometimes my classroom can get pretty warm by late afternoon.

[basic69isokay]

[thetawnyman]

My classroom, my rules. If the kids have layers they can shed (or don, as the case may be) then it's up to them to do so. I have no sympathy for kids who sit there all bundled up and complain that they're hot.

Korean parents tell their kids to keep their coats on because Korean adults are paranoid about the cold. Have you ever visited a Korean's house in the winter? The thermostat is set to like 30C.

[tophatcat]

[jvalmer]

Why wonder? In the end you're the teacher, and it's ultimately up to you, or your CT, to control the temperature.

[Weigookin74]

[jcd]

They are messing with you.
I would be slightly passive with them. I would give the two or three students trouble about their behavior constantly and make sure to indirectly link it to the coatgate. When in Rome. Or you could flip your lid.
I once told my student I would open the window if his coat were off. He agreed but had to make up for the loss of heat with an increase in hyperactivity.
Just make the rule, they should follow it since it's very reasonable. If you can't move on and distract them from making an issue out of it,then it's going to be a long year.

[drcrazy]

[Cave Dweller]

With guys like Steelrails, LPKSA, and Kimchi Ninja around, you are setting the bar pretty high.