Korean Job Discussion Forums

[LUCRETIA]

Does anybody have any hints on teaching middle-schoolers? I've been in Korea for about 7 months now and it still does not seem to be getting any better. The class is SO late at night and the kids are SO tired and fed up by the time they get to the hakwon that its like getting blood from a stone just to get them to talk!
So I end up standing in front of the class like a moron, staring at the top of their heads, practically begging for their participation. And if I get angry or threaten them, they only seem to react by keeping even more quiet and flat out ignoring me!!!
I'm kind of at my wits end. While I understand how tough it is for them etc., it still would be easier if they just participated, right? They all seem to have this "too cool" attitude. I know a lot of Korean middle-schoolers are like this - has anybody found a way around this? It's driving me nuts!

[Greekfreak]

Take it easy on them, as they're not getting much more than 5 hours sleep a night at best.

Also, try not to take it personally. They're likely sleeping at their private tutor's class as well. Best you can do is weather the storm. If you have one or two that participate, focus on them.

[trubadour]

There is lots you can do. I have hagwon classes late at night too. Mine are ok with responding. I used to have whole classes who were really difficult, but now they're ok. It wasn't any one single thing that changed them. I kept trying everything. But they are now really changed (the classes are actually different, one late night one doesn't exist anymore - the students being integrated into other classes).

In a way it was a process of learning gauging their level - they may be silent because it's to easy or too difficult. Try understanding what kind of demands they can deal with at that time. Try understanding what they feel comfortable with (and works) and what they don't feel comfortable with (and works). An example of the former is that they quite like missing gap and other simple activities that require a little communication, were they can see the answer, see the progress, and where the whole thing is quite closed.

Otherwise - try and break the routine?
get them to stand up and only let them sit down when they've answered the question/done the dialogue. I sometimes use this for review, or just to make sure they've got it, and to kinda force them to say it, so that they show me they've got it. They hate it and complain bitterly, but they do it and they know it's good. I used to do it at the beginning of every class to get them in line and on task.

You often have to push the boundaries to see what'll move them/surprise them. You could take away all the seats before class one day, tell them they have to earn them back! See if that gets them talking to you...Though middle schoolers are notoriously difficult - I just think you can't expect too much.

Once you've got them going (you will!) most classes like it when they get to take control, so for example if/when they've mastered a certain kind of game, I just let them run with it (and they'll do the same SIMPLE thing for 30 minutes). It's relaxing for them, not too demanding. The best here is an info gap where they write a thing on the board and the rest of the class has to guess what it is (mb using teams). This is cool 'cos they get to take control, walk around a bit, and shout a bit! One they don't like is doing mixed boys and girls dialogues - but I am very serious and force them to do it, and the others actually find it interesting or amusing to watch and listen. Again simple, they're in the lime-light, etc. They won't do it for very long however, and are terrible at not doing it unsupervised - still, I insist.

Just don't give up. Keep doing the same thing over and over until they do what you want. Be more annoying than they are! Did you have a brother or sister you used to wind-up/cheer-up?

-However you should talk to the management and make the problem very clear. This class is unteachable for this and that reason, if they don't do what you tell them, even very simple things so you can't teach them, etc. Be very clear and make sure you demonstrate your concern. Say you are worried about student retention rates because the class is so unattractive to new students who come to practice their English.

And keep trying new things but maybe only do new things once they've learnt to co-operate a bit. Don't be carpet they can walk all over. Try and turn the tables! But, in the long term, try and find a situation you can all deal with. That might mean making it more relaxed - perhaps share some snacks at the beginning of class/ and promise them something at the end. That might mean make it more hyper, with a warm up game or something. You see, it really depends on your particular class - maybe there is something that you can find to get this particular class on board.

But it sounds like, although they have their reasons, they are still miss-behaving - just quietly. Give them the opportunities to do stuff (keep trying) but follow-through with punishments/serious complaints if they don't start sorting it.

[koon_taung_daeng]

i did those late night middle school classes for a little while last year, i agree with you its difficult, i just understand that their parents are working them to hard and try to make every lesson a game. most of their studying is boring open the book and turn to this page crap. try adapting the lesson into a game, if you cant think of any there are lots on this website

[LUCRETIA]

Thanks for the suggestions - I'll try some of them out. I have a pretty rigid lesson plan I have to follow so it'll be a challenge turning some stuff into a game... but thanks for the replies

[alwaysfaithless]

I had the same problem too....but i found what works for me is talking with them. Asking them questions about their public school, their friends, family,etc.

I also walk around the class talking to each kid individually, always praising their work no matter how medicore it is. Sometimes I sit on a desk in the middle of the class joining them in conversation. I deliberatelyy contradict myself too, anticipating how quick they are to point out my "stupidity"; it gets them talking and laughing at the same time.

Kids love to teach the teacher too, so I ask them questions about Korean words i.e. spelling/pronounciation. I ask them what are the best places to visit in Korea, where can I buy this/that, etc. Anything to get them talking about real life.

Surprise them with treats once in awhile; bring in your laptop and have them watch old american TV shows, especially kid shows. The girls love the Brady Bunch. I tell them this is practicing their listening skills without Korean subtitles.

I still follow the lesson plan which only takes up about 45 minutes of class in a 70 min class.

After 7 months, I am finally enjoying my classes. I am never bored and neither are most of my students. Lots of laughter and great conversation...I am learning alot from them and I hope they are learning something from me.......

[Peter Jackson]

I had a similar situation at a hagwon a few years back. I would play a Wheel of Fortune type game, having the students pick the phrases from their books. The students would pretty much run the game. I would assign each member (there were only six in this class) a duty. Any other kind of trivia game like Jeopardy, Who wants to be a Millionare, etc were also effective. You could always bribe the students with a game they like after they have done their work for the day.

Do group work, pair question and answer sessions, Give treats or candy on occasion, have the students help by drawing on the board, etc.

Good luck.

[kiwiduncan]

Are you stuck with set texts? How many students are in the class?

Try to do lots and lots of group and pair work. Use lots of pictures that they have to describe and make up stories with together. Collect zany pictures from google images that they have to describe - you know, guys covered with tattoos and body piercings. Don't be afraid to very slightly push the boundaries of good taste - students love making stories about gangsters, crime, adventure and boys and girls. Do lots of activities which involve not just asking each other questions to each other but making guesses about each other. That kind of stuff is particularly good for practicing adverbs of frequency etc.

eg student one 'I think you never go to nightclubs because you are too young'

student two 'No, I sometimes go to nightclubs because I like dancing

Make a handout with loads of model sentences like the above with just gaps for the adverbs of frequency and the reasons. It'll be a bit stilted at first but after a few the students may warm to it. With a little luck you'll have them shouting 'you are a gangster! you never have a shower!

The main thing is getting them used to the idea of talking directly to each other. If you know any Korean use it as a prompt. Just force them to talk to each other and they'll soon get used to it. Also, as much as correction is important, don't do lots of correction until they are comfortable talking with each other.

The key thing to good teaching is less teacher talking and more student chat.

Good luck[/i]

[ddeubel]

[tanklor1]

I teach everyage from Kindy to Middle school. I actually enjoy teaching middle schools kids the most. I'd rather have a bored out of their mind middle school kid any day over a snotty sixth grader.

I've only been teaching for about two and a half months, I am very much still a rookie when it comes to teaching, so please take my advice with caution. The first thing that I noticed is that middle school kids are busy as hell. I mean a few of my students are also studying Chinese as well as English on top of their regular course load. That's a lot of stuff to deal with.

The first thing is to know what you're teaching them if you have materials and books that they use then use them. Routine is very important. As for lateness. I do have a couple students that show up late. If you know who is going to show up late than prepare for it. You've been teaching seven months now, you should know whose going to be late. Ask the student why they are late? Makes sense to me. If they are coming from another place and they will always be late than have the student make sure that they are still responsible for the class time that they missed.

Also we've just come off on one of the major exam periods. During that time I rarely saw a middle school student and when I did they ended up falling in sleep in my class. Why? Becuase they've been up studying all night. The Korean Education system is a tough beast and I don't think that I would have had the will power to survive it.

Honestly though the kids are wiped by the end of the night. But they still need to work. So my main advice is to just push them to work. Push them like everyother teacher they've known before you has pushed them. But at the same time remind them that you also went though this type of stress. You have to get them to relate to you. It's much esaier to get them to work.

This works for me, but I'm only the tender age of 24 so that might have something to do with it. If you take away my dirty blode hair and blue eyes I could almost pass for one of them. From a distance of course.

Like I said the education system is a beast and you're a part of what makes it so bad. Make them work. That's what you're here for.

[wylies99]

OP- is your class all boys? all girls? or a mix? The hardest to teach is a mix.

A lighter touch would be best-less homework and more fun discussions. Try to be LESS teacher and more older sibling. Ask them about their day and if they need any advice.