There's something wrong with Korean children. Something very wrong. They are the most superficial group of human beings one can imagine. I've noticed this before, and today I posed the question to some of my classes, "What qualities does a good friend have?"
First answer: friendly
Okay, I'll allow that.
Second answer: pretty/handsome
Really? That's the second thing you come up with? Alright, what else?
Third Answer: rich
What the hell?
It went on like this.
Another problem with Korean children, or at least my students, is disrespect. Some of my younger classes are out of control before I even walk into the room. When I do walk in I am greeted with a shrieking chant of, "PLAY! PLAY! PLAY!" My attempts to convince them that they can play after class are ignored, and chaos reigns.
(By the way, you don't know true terror until you've walked into a room full of children, each drinking a bottle of soda and eating candy, and are expected to exercise any sort of control over them.)
For the older kids, the disrespect is more blatant. Whether they are incessantly playing on their phones, talking to each other in Korean, or simply ignoring every word I say, the theme remains the same: they couldn't care less. Maybe I'm just not any good with kids. My response to that accusation would be: that very well may be true, but I'm not dealing with kids, I'm dealing with monsters.
I try to remain optimistic, but I'd hoped that these kinks would be worked out by now. Any optimism I do have is evident by me showing up everyday 60-90 minutes early to prepare a battle strategy of some sort; a strategy that usually gets shot to hell.
I'm completely ineffective and the job itself is not much fun. I feel like shit. I feel like I'm disappointing people. I feel, as much as I hate to admit it, like quitting. I try not to think about quitting, because if you give a thought like that an inch it will take a mile, but it creeps into my head regardless.
At the end of the month my schedule is changing, so I'll have some new classes/students. Maybe things will get better then. If not, I can't imagine making it another 9 months.
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ReplyDeleteGive the first kid that takes out his phone a huge bitch slap in the face when you get your new class, that will set the tone.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure corporal punishment is accepted there. Have you asked other Americans or Canadians if they act as incorrigible as they do in your class? Either way the new class will be an opportunity to change the feel of the class or receive the opportunity to hate a whole new group of kids. good luck man.
Can’t you punish them. Isn’t there detention. I think you should follow in the footsteps of Matty and take some P90X. Get all bulked up and go on a roid rage. Slap the first kid that looks at you funny. Oh wait, that’s all of them, you know cause they have funny eyes.
ReplyDeletei feel like this is the first in a series of 3 posts that lead to u goin all columbine. easy boat. put the gun down. i havent seen u this distraught since we werent invited to the hot tub party. hang in there buddy. by the way guys didnt i say back in 06 that sims downfall would come at the hands of asian school boys? whos retarded now?
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