Korean Names

[Dinkymoo]

I'm really struggling to remember the students names. It took me 3 months to get the hang of the teachers names. I don't have much hope for remembering 360 students. Any comments on this?

[Sara]

Why don't you give them English names? I haven't done this for my students as I teach k-2 but I have heard from others that the students really enjoy it. If you don't want to do that, there's always name tags...

[k_belle]

Can you read Korean? Why don't you write their names on paper and draw them out of a hat? Or on the end of wooden chopsticks. If you can't read Korean, write the English equivalent, or have the kids choose the paper/chopstick/whatever and read out the name. Then, that student can pick next and so on.... think that'll work?

If you call out their names you'd be surprised how many you start remembering ^^

[Darkeru]

Make a seating plan and enforce it, if you have that power. Use a chart to call their names.

If you have an English room, some people name the seat, rather than the student.

You'll likely never remember all of them. I just try remember the ones I see more often - I try to link the name to their appearance. If I call on someone in class I usually point or say 'the girl with the Elmo' or something.

[RufusW]

My students all made name cards (A4 folded in 4 to make a triangle shape) at the start of term.  It's got their name in English - Yu-Jung etc...  They could have things they like on the back, or their name in Hangeul - you'd get good at reading Hangeul quick.

Or they could choose an English name (many might have one from Hagwon).  Apparently this is good because it gives them a character/name to hide behind when doing roleplay and will make them come our of their shell.

[marchingocelot]

I've got about 600 elementary kids, and it bums me that knowing all their names will be likely impossible. I've started making notes for myself, with vague physical descriptions of mnemonics and their names, which I'll just ask them outright.

That, or I'll read their names when they write tests.

[tovarivera82]

Yeah... I have 750 kids. I'm *NOT* going to be able to learn all their names, no matter how badly I want to and how hard I try.

I do nametags in my classes. They wrote their Korean names in English, then illustrated something for each letter of their name. For example: Soo Jin ~ squid, octopus, opposite, jelly, ice cream, nose.

They enjoyed it, and some of the name tags are really cute!  :)

[Rowanteacher]

I'm useless at names at the best of times, I still don't know the full names of all my co-teachers (a lot of them have English names and never told me their Korean name so I just have to work that out) and as for students, well I see 920 students a week and I know the names of approximately one of them. :(

Next year I'm going to enforce strict seeting plans, have teams and take photos of all the teams and their members, and maybe make name badges of some kind too.

The problem with all this though is I just know my students will try to mess with my head and impersonate each other, they already tried that trick while doing the speaking tests, they nearly caught me out a few times.

I'm unsure about giving the students English names, I sort of have mixing feelings about it, some people seem to think its insulting to Korean culture etc, personally I'd have no problem with being given a Korean name at Korean class so long as it wasn't something like 원빅호!

What do other people feel about giving kids English names?

[mr sam teacher]

I had one class that consistently gave me trouble. I learned all their names, and it's made a real difference. But in general, I don't worry about it...too many students. Ask you coteacher if you can make copies of the class photo roster, and if you can't read hangeul ask if they can write the students' names phonetically in English.
As far as English names, I don't give them to my students. If they already have one, I'll use it. But I don't make them choose one. I don't think it's insulting to Korean culture, however. In Korea, it's quite rude to call an adult by their name. Usually people use titles. English names seem to be viewed as a kind of title, rather than as a name. Thus, having an English name makes it much easier for Koreans to interact with foreigners. I just feel like choosing an English name is too personal for me to do it class by class...

[suzettec]

I'm in a very small rural school.  There are only 31 students here and all but two have English names.  When I started some already had them and they asked me to give names to the students that didn't.  I try to pick something that is already close to their name... like Min Jae... I named him Jay.  It does make it easier and they seem to like it.  I also asked them what name they like.  They get rather upset if I accidentally call them by the wrong English name and will say... Teacher NO!!  Christine!!!  or whichever name they have.

[mycalmiles32]

My students all have a number assigned to them... (1-30).  Ask your co-teacher if they have a number, and then you can use that to call out numbers in class when you need to choose a student.  Another teacher also did something similar.  She had them line up by birth month, gave them all a number, and then at the beginning of each class, she has a sound off.  They all say their numbers in order so she knows who is there and who is not.  I have also chosen 1 student, and asked them to choose another student, then that student chooses the next one, etc.  If you find that the students are always picking the same people, narrow it down by telling then they have to choose a student from a certain row or area in the room. 

I was a little uncomfortable at first at the thought of using numbers to identify the children, but they all have them and are used to this type of system.  It also helped me to more evenly call on students.  I found I was always calling on the students whose names I could remember.  This way, it is always random, and the students don't feel like any one is being singled out or favored. 

Another way to pick students is to call out a color or an item they are wearing...if you are wearing blue socks stand up, glasses, hair styles, etc...I try to use something that has something to do with my lesson when possible. 

[Morticae]

I probably know the names of maybe 6 students. I knew a handful of other students, but I use nicknames with them. I see so many students it wouldn't be possible to learn their names, or particularly useful.

I don't know the names of most of the teachers, because I was told (on my 1st day) that in Korean culture it is rude to ask an older person their name. So, I didn't ask, and they never told me!

[Gunpo_Erin]

Name cards work= they have to bring it every day and put it on their desks.  Make sure that the print big enough so that you can read it!  It helps- I did this when I taught at a high school last year.  I am going to do the same when the new school year starts in March for the elementary school.  It's nearly impossible to remember every one's names- especially when some names are so similar

[cassie123]

The name cards do work. My kids could put their Korean name written in English, choose and English name, or give themselves a nickname. Middle school boys will immediately lose theirs, so I have them as class sets and hand them out at the beginning of class (that's how I really learn their names) and collect them when the bell rings. On the back of the name tag is their point card for participation. I uploaded the nametag/pointcard on the thread about level-up experience points if you wanted an example.

[korr]

I have about 1,000 students and I only see each class twice a month, so even though I have access to the student attendance sheets and the seating charts, it's taken me two years just to memorize a couple hundred names.

Having the kids make nametags helps a lot. I taught them how to romanize their names and then had write them on half a sheet of A4 paper with a black marker and decorate them. I don't try to give the kids English names, but if they decide to call themselves something strange, I go with it. I've got one sixth grader who decided his English name was Mr. Bread Delicious sometime last year, so that's what I call him in class. He loves it.

[mteacher]

Just be careful when giving them English names... I have a friend who has an elementary girl who wanted to be called Venus.  (Now I'll give you a moment to think about the Korean way of saying "V") ...  ;)  Just a thought..

[teacher_del]

I've got one sixth grader who decided his English name was Mr. Bread Delicious sometime last year, so that's what I call him in class. He loves it.

I have Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Bill Tennison, and Moon, to name a few. 

My husband has or has had Snow, Dragon, and Beyonce. 

Whatever works!  At least they're memorable!  :)

[Koreak]

Benus? 

[mteacher]

Try it with a P :)

[teacher_del]

Now I'll give you a moment to think about the Korean way of saying "V") ...  ;)  Just a thought..

Benus?

Perhaps mteacher is a Star Trek fan. 

Also, I think we're getting a wee bit off-topic here. 

I personally think giving out English names is fine in a language classroom context.  The kids have a nickname that will be used for all of two hours a week.  A lot of kids WANT English names, so they are quite happy about it.  We used Spanish names in Spanish class when I was a kid, and I know people who had assigned French names in French class.  It's the same thing.  I'd have more of a problem with it if they were called by this name all day at school, that would approach an attempted erasure of their cultural identity.