Korean Job Discussion Forums

mountain goat · Joined: 18 Dec 2006

I have a horrible 3rd year (middle school) class. I thought I had seen the last of them before Christmas but I didnt realise that they would come back for 4 days before graduation. Their attitude is so awful they dont have respect for either myself or my co teacher, in fact they reduced my Korean co-teacher to tears twice and I was only there for 6 weeks before winter break...both times she said she didnt know what to do-I could only come up with the lame reply of "I dont know either". Anyway, I dont know what to do with them as I have another 4 lessons with the b*stards. They dont stop talking, spitting on the floor, randomly walking out of class and even fighting. Actually, one time one went to the convenience store during the lesson, came back and started to distribute food and drinks. My co teacher did nothing.

I know its too late now but for my reference in the future-How would you have controlled them? In the short time I tried everything I could like of to make the lessons interesting for them. I feel like I should be able to motivate them or at least make them behave.

rothkowitz · Joined: 27 Apr 2006

Make them kneel on their chairs when they get too much,make an example of one and nipple cripple him to near tears,carry a big stick and whack the desk of one,send them all to the teacher in charge of school discipline,record their behaviour-especially if fighting-and threaten to show their parents....etc etc

Yu_Bum_suk · Joined: 25 Dec 2004

Their homeroom teacher would be the first source to go to if they're out of control like that. Just show them DVDs for this week and take a new approach with your classes for the upcoming year. Don't rely on your co-teacher for anything and handle all disciplinary problems yourself.

spliff · Joined: 19 Jan 2004 Location: Khon Kaen, Thailand

Wack them upside the head w/ a cane, if they continue, wack them again harder. Or, make them stand in the back of the room w/ a finger up their nose and the other hand down the back of their pants/skirt.

tiger fancini · Joined: 21 Mar 2006 Location: Testicles for Eyes

Unless you can speak Korean pretty well you will always have problems with kids like that. If it gets that bad, drag them down to the teachers room and explain to the other teachers/vp what they've been doing (using an English teachers translation skills of course!) I had to do exactly that yesterday, six first-grade little horrors who acted up all through class, as per usual. They were still smirking and laughing on the way to the teachers room, but once they got in there and the Korean teachers heard what they'd been doing their expressions soon changed.

Re the leaving class and returning with snacks. Why did you even let them back in? Spitting on the floor? Keep them behind and make them clean the whole room.

sock · Joined: 07 Oct 2006

Single out a ringleader or two. Mock them, make fun of their behavior, ooh, yeah, I'm too cool for school. Most of the other kids will laugh, effectively reducing their perceived control. You have to be able to do this well, though. If you can't keep the upper hand, you'll lose control over EVERYONE and EVERYTHING. Although it sounds like you might already be at that point.

I have to say that one of my favorites is to think up an embarrassing punishment, like what Spliff said, or to have them write their names with their butts in front of the class (got that idea from Dave's some time ago). Have everyone else take out their handphones and capture the kodak moment. Assa! Blackmail!! And not only blackmail, cutting off their power. Exposing their Fonz-like exterior for the fraudulent front that it is. You'd be surprised at how many of their underling peers jump at the chance to do that.

I think the only thing that works when things get really bad is exposing their vulnerabilities and letting them be humiliated in front of their peers, cruel as that sounds. Sometimes, it seems to be the only effective way to maintain social control of those "Lord of the Flies" classes.

EDIT: PS, if you're really a mountain goat, you could always threaten to head-butt them. Or just eat their shoes.

spliff · Joined: 19 Jan 2004 Location: Khon Kaen, Thailand

Another technique that I employ is to explain to them and the rest of the class that their behavior is a reflection of their parents and that their parents are not good people...this usually produces some results.

mountain goat · Joined: 18 Dec 2006

Thanks for the good advice, I will definitely try it next term, I dont want to have any more of the same next semester. "lord of the flies" class is absolutely spot on.

Yu_Bum_suk · Joined: 25 Dec 2004

Sod_em_and_begorrah · Joined: 20 Nov 2006

mountain goat · Joined: 18 Dec 2006

The foreign teacher that was here before me left after two months. They told me he left because didnt have enough energy to deal with the students and to and I dont blame him. I heard that the kids also made fun of him because of his weight, poor man, and that was the other reason. Of course this is just what the other teachers have said.

It's really getting me down and I have thought about leaving myself but I like the other teachers. Like I said I have only been teaching properly for 6 weeks (not including winter camp) so I am still learning and dont want to give up without a fight.

tiger fancini · Joined: 21 Mar 2006 Location: Testicles for Eyes

ilovebdt · Joined: 03 Jun 2005 Location: Nr Seoul

Mountain goat, YOU ARE THE TEACHER, YOU ARE IN CHARGE.

When faced with a new group you have to act like a real hardass even if in reality you aren't.

Make sure of the following:

You are in class, prepared and ready to start when the bell rings.
Don't let the students stand around chatting to their friends get them into their seats and preparing to study.
Go round the class making sure that everyone has their text or the worksheet and a pen.
Stand tall at the front and speak loudly, clearly and confidently.
When the students are working walk round the room, don't loiter at the front make your presence felt.
While you are talking keep an eye on what is happening in the classroom and pounce on even the slightest bit of misbehaviour.
Also, have a punishment ready for persistant offenders and if they don't do it the next port of call, as tiger said, is the teachers in the teachers room.

You have to show them you mean business from day one and once you have established a routine and mutual respect you can lighten up.
However, bad behaviour is never acceptable.

Just because you have a bad co-teacher it doesn't mean all is lost.

ilovebdt

TheUrbanMyth · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Location: Retired

hubba bubba · Joined: 24 Oct 2006

That is awful.

Here's what you (I) do"

1. Hit them. Then hit them again.

2. Send the whole damn class back to the homeroom teacher.

3. Call a meeting with you, coteacher, homeroom teacher, VP, etc. Explain that you feel like you have to look for a new job because the Korean kids have no respect for their elders. This is not a bluff.

It's important to not be angry when you do this too. Just be calm, and matter of factly about it. Nobody will take you seriously, kids or peers, if you are a raving lunatic.

I don't like the whole public humiliation thing. Just seems wrong and unprofessional, although ti does work

Good luck

Hubba