I’ve worked at Foreign Language High Schools, Private Tutoring, and Academies (Cram schools, Hakwons). Here are a couple of lessons I’ve learned, so you don’t have to make the same mistakes.
- Be strict with Korean Students – This means allow them give you respect as a “teacher.” I liked students calling me Paul instead of Mr. Kang, because I was only a couple of years older then them, but they don’t take you as serious if you become too much of their “friend.”
- Don’t become “friends” with your students – Korea is not ready for a “western” mindset in education. Again the lack of respect and violating the code of teacher/student will only cause you problems. I’m into computer gaming, so occassionally I would try to motivate my students by going with them to the local PC bang. They stopped doing homework…
- Have real punishment and accountability – If you say something, you better follow through with what you said or they will keep on pushing the line. Some recommended punishments are calling their parents or … humiliating them in front of the class, in a gentle and respectful way to get them motivated.
- Make a strong/strict first impression - First impressions are important all over the world- especially to Koreans and the Korean students. If you command their respect at the beginning and keep it up, they will listen to directions.
- Korean students lack motivation - Foriegn Language High School students are supposed to be the top of their class, however, some still lack motivation. I’ve used a hybrid approach to carrot-dangling and punishment. This seems to work well. However, I personally think intrinsic motivation is best, but I still haven’t figured out how to teach that yet.
- Qualify your students – don’t let any Joe Kim enter your class. If you have the power to do so. If you have a bunch of trouble makers in class… well that “yeast” will work its way throughout the rest of the class. I like to give insanely hard SAT tests to not only destroy their arrogance, but to humbly help them know they don’t know anything yet.
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Korean students are required to learn English for one main reason: to be prepared for the International environment. By that I mean the student should be able to communicate with another person in English. In order to fulfill such goal, nothing is more important than being able to think and process in English.
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