Korean Job Discussion Forums

Qinella · Joined: 25 Feb 2005 Location: the crib

This just happened and right now I'm still shaken up and a little pissed.

I was playing around with the kids before class started and they ran into the bathroom. I followed after and they all pushed on the door from the inside so I couldn't open it. They do this often, I guess as a way to try their strength against mine. I don't know.

Anyway, the bathroom floor is tile and thus slippery. One of the kids fell and smashed his head against the hinge and started screaming. He was bleeding pretty bad, which is why I'm shaking a little. Blood freaks me out.

So we called his mother and she took him to the hospital, and the other kids are blaming me. They said that I hurt him.

Similar things have happened before. For example, a kid was on the table jumping around. I was yelling at him to get down, but I didn't touch him. He slipped and fell and started crying. Of course, they all say that I hurt him.

I can't defend myself in Korean, and I have no idea what the other teachers really think.

Anyone have some advice about this. I'm angry, because they are blaming me for things they do. When kids play rough, they inevitably get hurt. That's part of being a child, and I certainly had my share of spills as a kid. But they blame me, and I don't want them to think I'm intentionally hurting kids.

What can I do?

Draven · Joined: 03 Feb 2003

Don't let yourself get dragged into those situations, would seem to be the obvious advice. No more horseplay with the students.

Qinella · Joined: 25 Feb 2005 Location: the crib

Daechidong Waygookin · Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2005 11:26 pm Post subject:

casey's moon · Joined: 14 Sep 2004 Location: Daejeon

If I remember correctly, you're pretty new (in Korea, and therefore in your school as well). You need to keep the playing and joking around to a minimum until they respect you as a teacher. Later, when you do horse around, they will respect your authority when you say "no" or "stop" or "game over, time to study." A lot of new teachers in Korea seem to use horsing around to compensate for the fact that they can't communicate very well through words with their students. Animated facial expressions (not making silly faces, but reacting with exaggerated smiles, skeptic looks and mock shock) seem to work as a more teacherly way to have fun with the kids, especially in the first few months.

Qinella · Joined: 25 Feb 2005 Location: the crib

Okay that's all good advice, thanks.

I don't generally play with them during class, just between classes. If I do play in class, it's always learning-related, or somehow involving English.

About ten minutes ago, one of the KTs called the mother of the child who got hurt earlier and she didn't answer her cell. I'm really worried about what's going to happen.

Sucker · Joined: 11 Feb 2003

Same thing used to happen to me when I first came over.

You have to always remember that they are just kids and that they probably don't understand you all that well.

I'm not sure why, but Korean kids will not respect you if you horse around with them like that. Maybe they start to think of you as one of them (a kid).

If it was a Korean teacher who was around when one of the kids got hurt, you can be sure that the kids would not be blaming them.

My policy now (when I teach kids during camps, etc) is to be their teacher first and their friend second - and no physical stuff (picking them up, racing them, arm wrestling, etc). Sure, other teachers may be more popular, but if you stick to this policy you will be respected and they will listen to you when you tell them to sit down and the game is over.

Demonicat · Joined: 18 Nov 2004 Location: Suwon

I DO play with the kids. It was something I learned when I worked with "problem" (delinquent) kids in the U.S. I play with kids between class, but the second cclass begins, I become a drill Sgt. It works. I get more respect then most teachers, AND I'm well liked (annoyingly well liked by the teenage girl crowd).

Yu_Bum_suk · Joined: 25 Dec 2004

I don't like horseplay and I can see one more advantage to this. I also, if possible, like to see the kids for the first time when I come into the classroom, as it works as more of an attention-getter than if I've been playing with the kids around my desk.

rapier · Joined: 16 Feb 2003

see my current thread: http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/korea/viewtopic.php?t=36916

pet lover · Joined: 02 Jan 2004 Location: not in Seoul

If kids are on the other side of the door trying to hold it closed, I do NOT push for the simple reason that someone is most likely going to get hurt. I'm more mature than my students (on most days) and can refrain from getting into pushing contests with those who are much younger and/or smaller than I am. When I find myself in that situation, I tend say/ask one of the following:

1. Homework! (this works with most of them--they open the door apologize, and beg not to have homework)

2. Are you holding the door closed because someone is kissing someone in there? (expect shrieks and the door to be flung open to prove that no such cootie related behavior is happening)

3. FIVE! 4, 3, 2, 1 (I've actually never gotten past 3.) Works well with the really little ones.

4. I guess I'll have to eat this candy all by myself. (I never have any one me, but they don't like to take that chance.)

At my current job, I haven't had that problem, but it's only been four months and I have a two-year contract. I'm sure it'll come up eventually, but I doubt it'll be with students I've taught long--only new kids would try something like that.

drgoo · Joined: 10 Feb 2005 Location: Home, sweet home

Videotape everything.

Yu_Bum_suk · Joined: 25 Dec 2004

rapier · Joined: 16 Feb 2003

So many avoidable accidents happen simply because teachers aren't allowed any real authority, or the right to discipline their classes effectively. If we were allowed to be real teachers, the kinds wouldn't even be pushing the door shut when you try to open it.

You tell them over and over "stop climbng on the tables" etc..they never listen, slip and hurt themselves. Then its all your fault.
Or you physically restrain them from doing so, then you become a molester.
Or, like me, you drag them by the hand, and the hand comes off.

Qinella · Joined: 25 Feb 2005 Location: the crib

Pet lover, I want to ask some questions because I like your ideas. I have one class in particular that does the door pushing thing basically every day, and every time I leave the classroom to get something. It's very frustrating, and now that someone's gotten hurt from it, I'm no longer tolerant of it. So I welcome the advice.