Korean Job Discussion Forums

[flicknut]

I'm moving to Korea next month to teach at a public elementary school, and I'm somewhat concerned about learning the names of so many students. I think I will have about 300 students total. Any ideas? Thanks.

[rvintage]

ENGLISH NAMES

[mrsquirrel]

I teach 10 classes each with 50 kids in.

It's easier just to remember their numbers or by any physical anomalies that they have.

e.g. 3/1 no.22 - boy with no neck

3/2 no. 25 - boy with wicked pigeon toes

5/1 - no. 2 girl with bong eyes

6/12 - no 32 girl who doesn't understand english.

I always get no 32 mixed up though with no 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19....

[saybanana]

I do not know any of my kids names in Korean.

I usually ask them if they have other names. If not I associate them with something, like the boy who plays soccer. The sad girl.
English names do help a lot, because it sticks and youl'l remember them more than any other students.

TO choose students in class. You can do several things. One, call their name for a roster (*months in and I have trouble since I cant speak Korean and I butcher so many names). Two, call their numbers randomly. ( I do this 90% of the time) Three just pick a clothing feature. For example. Yes, you with the red shirt (during the world cup, hey you with the red shirt was everyone).

You get to know who are the better English speakers and will take the time to learn their Korean names.

I have about 1000 students, I cant remember them all.
Be careful first week. Everyone is going to come to you and say.
Hi, my name is No Hong Chul. Nice to meet you.
After the 50th person. It gets old.

[Ekuboko]

In the first class, I have the students make namecards. A5 paper, folded into four parts and then sat in a triangle shape on the desk.

One side has their name in Hangeul, the other side is that same name written in English. I keep them in a box in my classroom and the students use them every time we meet.

English names are meaningless outside of class (sure it's novel for the kids and easy for you, but they will not respond to anything but their real name in the hallway, and if you have discipline problems, how can you identify them to the homeroom teacher?)

I taught about 800 kids last year, and while I could not remember everyone, I did pretty well considering. My namecard system was a huge help, and also the kids really do like it when you remember their name outside of class or school.

[VirginIslander]

nicknames: Annie-Annie Bannie Boo, Roy-RoyGBiv, Ron-Ranaldo, Joe-Big Joe, Lane-Insane in the Brain Lane. The kids catch on quick and reinforce their names but be careful with choices. I called a girl named Minsoon monsoon and the other kids heard monster, and the name stuck.

[crazylemongirl]

I don't my kids' names. Fortunately, they are written on their school uniforms.

[flicknut]

Thank you for all the great ideas.

[huffdaddy]

They all use either Jun-Joon-Jung-Jin-Ji-Jung-Jae or Su-Sun-Soo-Su-Sah-Seh-Suk in their name.

It's much easier to call them by their last name, Kim.

[kimchi story]

After a class during my first week of teaching a student with a little extra gumption left an impression. After class I asked my coteacher what the kids name was. He had nooo idea.

Ditto crazylemongirl, when you learn to read hangul you will know all of your students' names. I teach them all - 1200 students know my name. I know, honestly, three. In Canada I am proud of my ability to have names dialed in the first week or two - it's a big part of classroom discipline. Not here.

[OculisOrbis]

Take digital photos of each student in the class and print a color thumbnail compilation of each class. Write the names under each picture and keep it close at all times and always call the students by name. Its handy to look at it at night if you are keen to learn the names faster, but just using it in class sticks the names to memory very quickly.

[OiGirl]

Oculus, I had just decided I was going to do that the next time I have classes. It was the last day of classes today so we took group pictures. Would be so much better if we'd done it a month ago! Just yesterday I realized I've had a Bum Suck in my class for two weeks...only he likes to spell it Bome Soke.

[Ekuboko]

[Letiz7]

[Sash]

Draw pictures!