Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Qinella]

Sigh..

For a small class of fourth graders today, who are each very interested in learning English and fun to work with, I thought I'd try out a new lesson idea. I printed out fake names and short personality traits for each name, using the grammar and vocab they'd most recently learned. The idea was to assign a role to each student, and they'd take turns reading their script. The other students would have to listen and answer questions.

Target skills: reading, listening comprehension, grammar/vocab review.

I was really looking forward to it, because I'd made the scripts funny, and I knew they'd get a laugh from some of them. Also, they are really bright kids, and I enjoy seeing them succeed. I worked about 30 minutes on the scripts, making them just difficult enough to provide a good challenge.

So class begins, I hand out the scripts, and immediately two girls who are friends start looking at each other's papers. I quickly told them not to look, as that would completely demolish the listening aspect of the lesson. To ensure the girls wouldn't cheat during the question portion, I asked one of them to move. It wasn't like I was making her sit alone somewhere. The table setup was like this.



So I just asked Mary to sit at chair X. Still within proximity of Janet, and definitely not out on her own somewhere where she'd feel singled out. But when I told her to move, she refused.

- I told her several times, and let her know this was an order, not a request.
- I tried the 3, 2, 1 countdown, which usually works.
- I took her chair away, which usually works.
- I stared at her angrily, to remind her of our relative social positions, and repeated the command.
- As she stood there, refusing to move, I considered putting my hand on her back and guiding her toward the chair, but as soon as she saw I was about to touch her, she flinched wildly and screamed.
- Finally, as the situation had become extremely tense and unsettling, I raised my voice at her. Not a shout, but a firm, loud demand that she comply.

At the last move, she broke down into a horrible crying fit, and doubled over like she'd been punched in the stomach. At this point, I decided any attempt to have a light-hearted roleplaying lesson was completely out of the question, so I took away all their scripts and made them do rote for 40 minutes.

I was so upset about the incident that I lost my appetite and was forlorn for a good two hours. I wanted to cry, also. I was really looking forward to the lesson, and she completely ruined it by acting like an obstinate, spoiled brat. In my 9 months of being at this school, this is seriously the first time I've had a student absolutely refuse to obey. Every other time, one of the steps above has worked. I just could not understand why this girl did what she did.

After class, I told one of the K teachers about it, and she called Mary at home to see what her deal was. Mary wouldn't say anything, and just started crying again.

I guess you could say that I blew the situation out of proportion. Perhaps I place too high an emphasis on student compliance. I could've just let her sit there by Janet and undermine my authority in front of the other students. I just thought she'd eventually obey. Nope.

Sigh.. What a horrible, miserable mess.

Q.

[ontheway]

Qinella,

This "temper tantrum" problem occurs with kids every now and then. As your final backup, it helps to have a supportive wonjangnim. You can then ask for help to have the kid removed from class. Essentially, the kid gets a lecture and a time out. Either the kid goes back to class and cooperates or the kid gets sent home.

However, it helps to have some inbetween steps. Something you can do the lets the kids know that you're serious, but is amusing so that the kid can back down from his/her tantrum without losing face. Once the kid has dug in his heels, he won't back down because to surrender is to lose. So, you need this next step. I have several things I use, but each teacher needs to develop something personal and outrageous to diffuse these situations.

But whatever happens, you need the final option of "out the door baby!"

[jacl]

Next class, just do Christmas songs and play cards or something. Focus on her with a hint of forgivness and regret and treat her and everyone else nice and have fun. Then try it again later.

[Qinella]

[Qinella]

[Grotto]

When she comes in for the next class have nameplates set up and have her at a different table by herself....or....move the other student to a different table.

I would make sure that she knows her behaviour was inappropriate and will not be tolerated.
Having a K teacher there to make sure everything is clear would be a good idea too.

[canuckistan]

Whenever I'd run into the obstinacy thing with a student, I wouldn't let it get me all upset. I don't try to force them either, there could be some other reason for the behaviour that I'm unaware of.
He/she doesn't want to play along? Fine. You're g-o-n-e! Next!!
Penalty box for 10 minutes, or sit them out of the group/game.

One of the worst things you can do to a kid in class is cut them out of the group. They hate it. Especially when they hear/see the fun the rest of them are having--without them.

Don't fray your nerves on this stuff.

[Ya-ta Boy]

Sounds like a lousy situation. I think I'd consult a K teacher about why the girl screams for attention on regular days and see if anyone can come up with a solution to that problem. And then I'd make sure I asked the other girl to move when someone needs to be moved.

You might want to consider pushing the problem girl in front of a bus and save the next teacher a headache.

[denverdeath]

Maybe that "Jack" kid smells REAL bad and she wanted to remain as far away from him as possible?!? Anyway, don't forget that the chairs can also be used as sleds. When they do the passive-aggressive thing, tip the kid back in it and slide them wherever you want them to go saying "Wheeeeeeeeeeeeee!" as you do so. The problem there is that they try to bump-shuffle their way back, and that's when the velcro wall and ceiling fasteners have to come into play. Electrodes might work, too. Don't worry about it.

[Yu_Bum_suk]

Oh some posts make me feel glad I don't teach elementary. I would have just picked her up and carried her out the door. Actually I probably wouldn't have cared and just them sit wherever they wanted.

Seriously man, don't let things like this make you lose your appetite.

[Ya-ta Boy]

I had to do (against my protests) a short stint with middle schoolers in a summer camp thing. A kid was acting up and I was in no mood for it. When he refused to leave, I picked up his books and pencils and tossed them out in the hall. He left.

[manlyboy]

[ulsanchris]

i find girls are the worst for this sort of thing. I find girls are usually better behaved than boys but if a girl misbehaves or becomes stubborn i find them far worse than boys.

[blunder1983]

Don't get down Quin. I have the odd little brat who are just totally uncoperative. Its not the material or anything, this week one refused point blank to make a christmas card. I mean glitter and stuff, the rest of the kids had a laff.

I fully reccommend doing fun things and excluding her, don't back down thats just a recipe for the others to start challenging your authority.

[joe_doufu]

I have two classes that have the same book and are the same age. One group likes games and, though they converse and draw pictures a lot during class, they generally follow my instructions and enjoy the games. They had a lot of fun with the "interview your friends" type activities in the book, and I didn't have to force them to speak English to do it.

The other class has a bad attitude and it took me and the other teachers a while to get it into their heads that they can't simply be punks and call me names because I'm a dirty foreign devil. They take the same fun book and games and refuse them - just like your student. The worst part is that if one jerk student fights with me, they all take his side and the whole class is against me.