Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Yu_Bum_suk]

I thought I had heard an awful lot of nonsense so far but what I heard today topped it.

So I took over a class of four utterly unruly 14-ish girls because I was sick of my kindie class and want to trade. Most kids will give you a chance before they go off the wire but with these ones they were appalling to the point of hilarity from the moment I walked in the class. They're the most advanced class at our hogwan and if they're a testiment to our programme no parent should be wasting their money on us.

I do, however, have dozens of ideas for what I could do with them, the foremost of which is that the KT and I, who are both free when the other is teaching, co-teach and enforce a system of discipline that involves detentions, removing whoever's being the worst trouble-maker from class, and confiscating their handphones when they use them to play music and video games. But the KT, who's fairly new, and who can't control them either, already talked to the director, who thinks we should get them to behave by befriending them first. Where did this guy get his head so stuck up his arse? I think it was from the former KT who recently quit, and made up all sorts of BS about how successful she was with them, to compensate for the fact that the kids really didn't like, respect her, or learn much, and that she couldn't speak English herself.

I don't know, but I just thought that of all the educational BS I've heard that tops it: Gain their respect and get them to learn by using absolutely no discipline whatsoever and try to be friends. This from a guy who's been in the educating ... er, BSing to parents ... business ten years.

[VanIslander]

It's not an either/or.

Be firm and friendly.

At any time after class begins, take their cell phones inmmediately upon sight and don't return them until after the class is over. Likewise with MP3 players and food.

They'll get the message quickly.

Do it with a smile. But be firm. No exceptions. Ever. Don't let them put it away. After the class starts, it's taken away if out in the open.

Straightforward and simple.

Be friendly in that you want the class to be fun and relaxed. But that doesn't mean reneging on your role as a teacher.

It's your classroom. Don't let anyone push you around in it. Work hard as a teacher and if the director or parents aren't happy that's just too bad. Teach your way in your classroom. If you're putting out a lot of effort then the director will come around eventually. What are they going to do, fire the teacher who is trying hard to teach? No. From their perspective they'll try to control you, as much as the students will. Don't let them.

I'm in my third year and I don't have these problems. I think you can see why.

[guangho]

It makes some sense. Make them want to please you. Be nice, funny, cute etc but firm. That's a very hard balance tho and I'm still working on it.

[VanIslander]

[Len8]

Can you take them out of the class for an outside activity. Just wondering?

Use them to teach you Korean.

Give em a word search. There are programes on the net for you to make up your own. Korean kids are trained to sit and work at problems. So that should be right up their alley.

Pop songs with fill in the missing words while you play the tape could help too. Maybe "My Love" from West Life. I'll fax the copy I made if you want, but then you gotta get the tape.

[Yu_Bum_suk]

[Yu_Bum_suk]

[Demonicat]

they're 14 year old girls...turn on the charm and make nice. Flash 'em that famous smile and play with them (jokes, pats on the back, etc) and soon they'll all have crushes on you (leave it at that, this ain't spectrumenglish!). I've found that once they have their first crushes on you, they'll be too busy trying to impress you to play games or talk on the phone. This is of couse assuming you're a guy...if not, maybe get them hooked on k.d. lang...

[rapier]

[Yu_Bum_suk]

[JacktheCat]

[guangho]

I have a 12 year old who regularly writes nonsense and draws sketches on the blackboard. If you take away the chalk, she'll scream hysterically and try to bite you. No worries tho- we became buddies when I offered to let her beat up the boys if they get out of line. This gives her something to do, and I get my chalk back.

[peemil]

Mate. It's your classroom. Your rules. It's not a democracy. Just enforce as you see fit.

Just be mean. I am. I am mean to start of with. I set the boundaries and after time I lighten up. But I still enforce the boundaries.

I keep getting new classes with children from other hagwons in the area. These kids are brats. But I've got a few of them in order, just by coming down like a ton of bricks. Even for simple stuff. Because if you don't bite the simple stuff, it's got a habit of growing into big stuff.

[VanIslander]

[Yu_Bum_suk]