Korean classroom discipline -- words and phrases

[nthsarang]

I've added a whole bunch of useful words and phrases to my Korean learning blog. I've included the Korean, the English translation and the audio.

These were mostly phrases I heard other Korean teachers use in their classrooms when scolding children or giving instructions, and so I wanted to learn how to say them myself.

Look here:
 
Korean classroom discipline --useful phrases and sentences

[wheninrome]

Interesting - will study these!

but....

you might want to look at the honorific levels. they are inconsistent. why would you use 요 form when addressing kids?

[nthsarang]

Thank you for your comment.  There is good reason I included the different politeness levels.

Although a few Korean teachers would disagree with me, but I would never use 존댓말 (with 요) when speaking to just one student or to several students outside of class. So if you are scolding just one kid or if you are talking to a bunch of kids in an informal setting, use the informal forms to scold.^^

However normal practice when addressing a group of kids in a classroom setting is to address them with the more formal ending (요).

But when you are scolding a group of kids you have a choice. You can address them as you normally would when you are explaining something (with 요 or 입니다) or (partly to show your anger and authority) you can switch to the lower level.

I hope that helps. . . let me know if any other part is confusing.

[wheninrome]

Thanks for the clarification 

[nthsarang]

You're welcome!

I hope they prove useful to know although of course it would be better if you never have to use them.  kk I got quite good at using the stern disciplinary look I actually rarely used them. However when I had to say something, they proved extremely useful. And the kids were rather shocked and humbled and obedient and listened from then on after.

I had them on my mp3 player on repeat when I was on the bus and practiced the exact intonation at home quite a bit before I unleashed it on the kids. It was worth it.   

[JahRhythm]

It's cool you're learning Korean but doesnt the use of these phrases in class have some troubling implications?
1. You're there to teach English and learning the phrases associated with a good scolding is part of that.
2. Switching to Korean when you're "really serious" can reinforce the feeling that English time is for play and the foreign teacher isn't meant to be taken entirely seriously until he busts out the Korean?
Thoughts?

[nthsarang]

Oh interesting thoughts.

Actually, for me outside of the classroom I only used Korean. In my office, outside on the school grounds or in the halls I'd always speak with the kids only in Korean. Sometimes during the lesson I would (during games after I had explained to the whole class in English) explain things individually one-on-one with students in Korean if they had trouble.

Sometimes if the game was very complicated, I would explain in English and then again in Korean. Or I would explain in English and put the Korean instructions on the board afterwards so they could understand what was happening. For battleship I wrote up Korean instructions, had them corrected at lang-8 by native speakers. and then put them up on the powerpoint.

I'd also switch back and forth between using Korean commands and English ones when asking students to stand up, repeat, etc.

Because most of my interaction with the students was in Korean (besides when I was actually officially teaching). . . they accepted me pretty much as a Korean speaker.

In the advanced classes when the kids had a writing assignment they'd sometimes tell me their ideas in Korean and then I'd help them find the write English words for it --

I figured if I scold in English either they won't understand, or they'll pretend not to understand or they'll laugh or something. Although I was eager to teach them English I also wanted to be respected by them as much as they respected the other Korean teachers (or more actually :-) ).

[JahRhythm]

The goal is to improve the students English, not your Korean skills or stroking your ego.
I'm fully aware of research that shows an "English only" environment is NOT ideal, it sounds to me like you overdid it.
Translating rules of a game or helping them develop their ideas for writing is one thing, but all the time?
I teach advanced students and I often feel that some of my most effective teaching occurs outside class time, during breaks, etc. just shooting the breeze.
Your students didn't have that opportunity because you just spoke Korean.
Don't you get that?

[i_am_a_toaster]

The goal is to improve the students English, not your Korean skills or stroking your ego.
I'm fully aware of research that shows an "English only" environment is NOT ideal, it sounds to me like you overdid it.
Translating rules of a game or helping them develop their ideas for writing is one thing, but all the time?
I teach advanced students and I often feel that some of my most effective teaching occurs outside class time, during breaks, etc. just shooting the breeze.
Your students didn't have that opportunity because you just spoke Korean.
Don't you get that?

What is the source of this hostility?  It sounds like a flame war waiting to happen .  Here is my 2 cents.    What  nthsarang is trying to do is to establish rapport with his/her students.  What's necessarily wrong with that?    I also use limited Korean in the classroom and I found (anecdotal evidence)  that it motivates students to learn more English than 100% English immersion program in my former hagwon.  That could be because I'm a big white goofy white guy speaking Korean... or the students sense that your are making an more of an effort than other teachers to reach out to them.

Also, we both just assume that the poster is a guest English teacher.  It is quite possible that the poster is a native Korean teacher.  Wouldn't be natural for a native Korean teacher to say directions in Korean and English so the class will understand what is expected of them?

I think the most effective teaching occurs outside of class time for you, JahRhythm is because you are communicating with advanced students who are in interested in learning.   What nthsarang is trying to do, ( I think) is to motivate  other less motivated students to have a intrinsic desire to learn.   

[JahRhythm]

The source of my irritation (hostility is a bit strong) is that I worked with a female teacher last year who always used Korean with her students. Even though the kids were advanced and didn't need to use Korean to understand the material (except in extreme circumstances).
Rather than helping them get more comfortable with conversational, idiomatic, or advanced academic language, this "teacher" chose to use her classes as free Korean lessons. It was like she was being paid to practice Korean!
Furthermore, she seemed to revel in her status as the "cool" foreigner and brag that the kids "respected her more."
She was eventually reprimanded over this, but it continued in the hallways, during break time.
I don't know the OP and he seems like a nice, bright guy with the best intentions.
I'm not trying to sound like a jerk here. Just pointing out that we are paid to teach English and a big part of that (regardless of level) is PRODUCING English.

I am not advocating 100% English.
I agree that showing an interest in their culture and language is a great way to build rapport.
My point is don't over do it.
Remember it's about the students learning. It's not about you.

[i_am_a_toaster]

I do not disagree with you in the slightest.  We are paid to speak English, although motivating students to learn and remain interested in learning should be a priority as well.  Pardon the cliche, but the devil is in the details.  It's all about finding a balance between being ,"cool" and providing new material in the source language.

I don't work with advanced students at all now, so I'm afraid it's difficult to relate to your situation currently .   I used to work with gifted and talented students at my old hagwon.  I used to ask my advanced students what certain words meant in Korean and have them explain them to me in English.   So Korean initiated the lesson and the students were more engaged then they otherwise would have been.
In regards to the OP,
80% English and 20% Korean is a good ratio: Children need to struggle first to find the answer in English.  Maybe only a hin in Korean keeps them from giving up.

  For elementary public school learners and in classes with an inept co-teachers you are much better equipped to teach with an arsenal classroom commands than blind ignorance or shouting in English and hoping body language carries over.   I have 3rd grade classes where the teacher drops off the kids and then LEAVES the class to me by myself.   
I need to be able to tell the boys from stop hitting each other and to shut up 





 

[nthsarang]

ㅋㅋ Yes, I (I'm a white native English speaker btw) was pretty much completely in control of most of my classes and couldn't depend on what was technically the co-teacher for really anything. And most of the kids I taught were kids who wouldn't even try to approach me or say anything if they didn't know that I could speak and understand Korean.

But I found that knowing Korean even helped me build rapport with the more advanced students. Even if you know a language well there's always times when you just can't express what you want to say in the language you're learning (in this case English) -- and it's nice being able to just blurt it out in Korean.

One other thing: Korean culture depends heavily on the language. By using Korean I was interacting much more with their worldview than other teachers. . .and allowing them to interact with me according to their culture. Then I could use my rapport to introduce them to other cultures and to English.

It's a bit racist or cultural bias or I don't know what. . . but Koreans in general feel most comfortable when they can speak Korean.

Naturally in the classroom English should be used as much as possible. The way I figured time outside the classroom was rapport building time and this could best be done in Korean with the majority of students (although I always encouraged kids to ask me questions about hagwon homework or anything else English they were curious about.)

It's been almost a year since I left my school but kids still write me (in Korean) long e-mails telling me how much they want to study English even more than before so that they can talk to me in English. I think knowing me and becoming friends with me in Korean only increased their desire to learn English while I was there and (it seems) even after I left.

Besides building rapport and encouraging them to study English harder I think speaking with the kids in Korean also helped me to understand them better. It's pretty cool when instead of just talking about surface subjects with your students you can discuss their dreams, hardships, Korean books they are reading, family life, friendships, parents. . . things that most students would have a impossible time discussing in English. Suddenly they are treating you as a normal Korean teacher or mentor and not as this weird white person that just plays games with us twice a week.

[amanda949]

It's interesting to learn some of these phrases that I've heard my co-teachers say....

I would probably only occasionally use Korean in my classes, and it's mostly as a joke, as the kids think it's funny to hear me speak Korean. But I agree that using too much Korean in class would be more hindering than helpful.

[WorkingTitle3484]

...Suddenly they are treating you as a normal Korean teacher or mentor and not as this weird white person that just plays games with us twice a week.

Hmmm, rosy dreams abound...I think it's great that you want to resonate with them, but IMO we shouldn't be treated as a normal Korean teacher.  I have issue with your assumption that other NETs are treated as weird white people...especially because I personally am not white...or a person...I'm actually a brown hamster that enjoys jumping up and down on keys as I've disposed of my human master ages ago...anyhow on with the point.

I'm not sure of your angle in class, but we are here to improve their English.  Yes, they struggle with expressing themselves, but the idea is to help them through that frustration and communicate effectively.  I don't know if it's naivete or what, but obviously people will 9 times out of 10 revert back to their native tongue.  You shouldn't enable it though.

I study and speak Korean actively as much as I can, but NOT in the classroom.  I use it sparingly or to recapture their attention.  If you get kids into a pattern or habit, you can just about use any hamster squeak to use discipline and they'll get it.  You don't have to speak Korean, even if you really want to.

If there are deeper inherent issues of wanting to live and be treated like a Korean person, good luck to you.  You'll need patience, understanding, and an incredibly long fuse.  It's not impossible, but if you're here for a year or 2 for adventure, forget about it.  However, this sounds bold, but it has no place or bearing with them learning English more effectively in the classroom.  None.

Bottom line is: Don't strive to act like a Korean teacher, because surprise surprise, they have plenty of them who are better at acting like Korean teachers than you.  It's harsh, but once Korea finds out that they don't need NETs here, they'll get rid of us.  Wanting to be treated like a Korean teacher won't help.  This is simple business-sense.  They employ us because we offer something different; if we act the same, what's the point of having us?

Be careful with how you approach them in class, because your intentions of reaching common ground can turn into the "Look at how well I can speak Korean" show.

[nthsarang]

It's interesting to learn some of these phrases that I've heard my co-teachers say....

Yes. ^^

I would probably only occasionally use Korean in my classes, and it's mostly as a joke, as the kids think it's funny to hear me speak Korean. But I agree that using too much Korean in class would be more hindering than helpful.

Well it depends. I tried to used it sparingly in class but I definitely didn't use it as a joke. .  .

Every situation is different but in my situation I was stuck with a lot of kids (30+) where I was often the only adult responsible for the good behavior and discipline. The quickest I could get them to all focus on me and listen carefully, the quickest we could start the content of the lesson and really learn English.

[nthsarang]

Hmmm, rosy dreams abound...I think it's great that you want to resonate with them, but IMO we shouldn't be treated as a normal Korean teacher.  I have issue with your assumption that other NETs are treated as weird white people...especially because I personally am not white...or a person...I'm actually a brown hamster that enjoys jumping up and down on keys as I've disposed of my human master ages ago...anyhow on with the point.

Yes, I agree. sorry. I wasn't trying to imply hamsters couldn't be perfectly good NET teachers. I've known several myself. I guess I should have said 'weird foreigner' instead. kk

I study and speak Korean actively as much as I can, but NOT in the classroom.  I use it sparingly or to recapture their attention.

Yes I agree as well. Like I mentioned in the other posts I used it very very sparingly in the classroom. In general I feel I can use simple enough English. .. and the students can guess from context, hand motions, and the like what I mean. However, I did find that once or twice I needed to say something quickly in Korean. In those cases I wanted to be understood quickly and obeyed quickly so we could move on to the meat of the lesson, which of course is in English.

Because I am fluent in Korean and spoke regularly with the kids outside of class in Korean the few times I had to quickly scold them in class I wasn't seen as 'oh this hamster trying to speak korean,  oh how funny'. Instead kids pretty much just listened to the content of the scolding and got their act together fast. I actually barely scolded ever so when I did students knew they had done something really egregious.

----
When I posted these Korean classroom discipline words and phrases i wasn't trying to say that everyone should use them or something like that. I made them originally last year for myself and found them useful and helpful in my situation. They helped me build rapport and quickly focus the class on English instead of having some kids chatting in the back or doing whatever.  Just recently I realised I should upload them and format them nicely so they can be a resource to other teachers who might also find them useful. But if you don't find them useful, no biggie.

[WorkingTitle3484]

When I posted these Korean classroom discipline words and phrases i wasn't trying to say that everyone should use them or something like that. I made them originally last year for myself and found them useful and helpful in my situation. They helped me build rapport and quickly focus the class on English instead of having some kids chatting in the back or doing whatever.  Just recently I realised I should upload them and format them nicely so they can be a resource to other teachers who might also find them useful. But if you don't find them useful, no biggie.

I'm not trying to argue, I just want to explain how I feel about this.  It's not that I don't think it's useful, that couldn't be farther than the truth.  I do call into question your reasoning for posting this.  Call me a Fancy Nancy, but check out how many times in this thread you mention "Korean (language)" in comparison to language related to "building rapport".  Writer's 101: Repetition and saying the same thing in different ways really establishes your intention.  I'm happy you've put in the crunch time to master Korean, but from a teaching standpoint, you are not helping them at all.

To show that I'm more than some weirdo who fantasizes about being rodents (all day), here's a little background for why I say this:

I worked at a university teaching English to international students, mostly Korean, some Saudis and Turks, fewer Latinos, not many Europeans, etc.  When I first started, I was so excited to speak Spanish with the Latino students.  I remember one guy, William, sweet as Colombian pie but he didn't speak a lick.  I spoke with him outside the classroom in Spanish for about a year, and it didn't hit me until later that I realized why he wasn't progressing.  We were always speaking his native language.  I wasn't helping him, even though it was really fun for me.  Once I apologized and told him we couldn't speak in Spanish, I really started teaching him.  In about 3 months time, I really started seeing his improvement.

All I'm saying is, if you choose to speak in Korean with them all the time, then you're refusing to really help them.  I don't mean any disrespect, but this really feels like you're flexing your Korean muscle...(not that one you 변태 s!)

[nthsarang]

Oh I"m sorry you didn't understand my intention.
I tried to make it clear.

[BSTIMELESS]

You have such a great blog!
Will start reading and following!

Thanks for sharing~! ^^;

[nthsarang]

Thank you!