Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Demonicat]

SO I just started here in Korea (not an ESL NewB to those few, proud jackdonkeys out there) nad I am torn up constantly by parental complaints. "Not enough homework", "too much time spent on play", "Drawing rabbit faces on A+ papers distracts children". Now if I was a high school teacher I would understand, but the matter is that I teach kindergarten. The boss lady tells me about each call as she is getting more stressed out, due to various things, and I try to adapt. Yet everything I adapt for the mothers (at the detriment of the children) only garners more complaints- so grandmaster sensei (how DO you pluralize that) what do I do?

[fidel]

If I were you I would....

Get all their complaints/issues in writing.
Change your teaching methodology/style within reason, to suit the majority (seems like you have already done this).
Ignore the minority and the ludicrous demands

Get the school to draw up a list of guidelines/policies regards to how/what you should be teaching. That way if you stick to it, your boss can't pass the buck and has to shoulder her share of the responsibility for being unprofessional. If you are doing what you should be, then owners shouldn't listen to complaints from a vocal few rather stick to their guns and tell the whiners that this is how we teach and if you don't like it, you're free to leave. In a normal world that is.

[Grotto]

dont dance to her tune.

That is an old bullcrap technique of hogwan owners here in Korea.

Are your students happy? Have you lost any students?

If the answer to these two questions is no then your boss is probably lying.

Ask for specifics....which games didnt the parents like? Why?

I dont know what it is about Korea but it seems that Korean bosses always like to tell you that you arent doing a good enough job. Every hogwan I worked at, every foreign teacher who worked there went through the same crap.

Not enough homework, too much homework, not enough reading, too much reading.

The best gauge as to how you are doing is your students. If they are learning, having fun and keep coming back then you are doing your job.

[teachingld2004]

Welcome to Korea...the land of the crazy mothers. The mothers who don't speak English and expect their kids to understand everything as soon as they step into the classroom!
This is NOT your fault. Of corse it dosn't do anything to fix your situation, but the other poster was correct. Have you job duties in writing. Have them come in with you and show you how they want you to teach. Are you the only western teacher? If you are, I feel for you.
Children here (for the most part) are not allowed to be children, they are learning machines.
Sorry this is not good advice, but like it was said,
Get everything in writing.
Have the director give you a demo lesson.
Teach to the majority.
Relax. (or try to)
If I can help, ask some direct questions, and I will try.

[crazylemongirl]

ok this is one thing I don't miss about being in a hogwon. But I think that you need to try and put some of it back on the director in terms of 'helpful suggestions' of course this might blow up in your face too.

But basically remember in a lot of cases the directors raison d'etre is to make money. So they want to keep students coming back. Of course the reasons they may be leaving may have nothing to do with you (admin probems, cheaper hogwon, family is running low on cash) but the blame game usually starts with the teacher first.

[Apple Scruff]

Yeah, this isn't just a problem with the mothers - your boss can also shoulder the blame for making your life more difficult. Any competent adult/businessperson should know the difference between a legitimate concern and a rant from some ignorant old bag trying to blame everyone else for her dumb kid not getting into Harvard. You inform the teachers of the legitimate ones, and you lie to the parent about the bull$#!+ ones. "Of course, Mrs. Park! We've informed the waygook that he is no longer permitted to use a green pen when grading your son's work."

Remind your boss (and remind your boss to remind the parents) that these are kindergarteners. There shouldn't even be such a thing as an A+ or a B+ or a C+ for a kindergartener - just a wide array of colorful stickers to give them encouragement and help them forget that they're a kid in Korea.

[marista99]

What about the mothers who come up to you personally and ask you, in English, with this hopeful smile, how their kid is doing? When their kid is in fact a holy terror and/or behaves as though he is possibly brain damaged?

Is honesty the best policy there? I never know what to say.

[Demonicat]

Thanks everybody, I'm gonna work on getting that post haste. Hopefully it will help prevent a horrible situation, though I will never get used to the idea (or even accept it) that all I know of Childhood psychology is wrong and that kids are going to school to memorize words instead of develop emotionally. Thanks everybody

[hadeshorn]

Find the mothers and slap them.

[the eye]

looks like you have to start an ajuma file.

Kim Eun Ji's Mother:
-no bunnies.
-all grades to be written 3.5cm from the right margin.
-double homework on Fridays, half on Wednesdays

Kim Ji Soo's Mother:
-don't make jokes about kimchi in class
-don't use blue marker on the white board

Kim....
-

[The Man known as The Man]

[hellofaniceguy]

We had to teach a group of middle school students at the university winter camp program. Real smart idea I think....being facetious...who learns a language in four weeks!
Yet...parents all had high expectations!
"Exam" time comes...students are "tested" for their English speaking ability...(you either speak the language or you don't) and most of the students earned C's and D's. They were tested on the past four weeks lessons.
You should have seen many of the parents complain!! Gesh! "Why did you teachers give my son/daughter a C!" The teachers I work with all agree on this one thing..(hard to agree on anything!) But this we agree..."teachers don't give grades...students earn them."
Your son earned a C. Yes...I'll change it...to a F if you don't get out of my face. Besides...your English speaking skills are awful! Your son speaks better!
I don't agree with "giving" students A's. Or even B's every single time. Most can't hold a decent conversation. Either the student is making progress or not.

[peppermint]

[Yu_Bum_suk]

It's a shame I'm too lazy to pick up in one year enough Korean to be able to have a brief conversation. I have all the families' numbers on my attendence sheet, and on my last day, after I've received my final cheque and bonus, I'd love to ring the moms of at least half a dozen kids and give them my honest opinion of their hopeless little shits. Thankfully there are as many for whom I'd like to get a really cool present and tell their parents what a wonderful job they've done.

[peemil]

"The kids a 'tard. Have you considered heavily sedating him?"

Or my favourite. "Well Mrs Park I'd love to teach your child but it seems he was dropped on the head when he was younger."