Author Topic: Students choosing English names...opinions, please (Read 13623 times)

ktotravels · « **on:** February 27, 2013, 12:26:12 PM »

I will be starting my second year at my school on Monday and I really want to learn student names. However, I KNOW I won't be able to learn over 200 student names in Korean. Here's what I was thinking of doing. I was going to make a power point of fun English names (Harry Potter, Hunger Games, etc.) and have students choose two possible English names they would want (to try to ensure I don't have duplicates). AND, if they don't want an English name, they can just write their name in Hangul and phonetically in English and I will use their Korean name. I want to be respectful of their own identities and all that, but also make it a little easier on me. So...your thoughts?

Hongsam · « **Reply #1 on:** February 27, 2013, 12:31:47 PM »

Just use their Korean names. I have their names, according to where they're sitting, on a piece of paper that I keep on the classroom desk.

83travelinman · « **Reply #2 on:** February 27, 2013, 12:54:07 PM »

I use their Korean names, too. I give each group of 5 a white board and they write their names on it at the beginning of class. That way I learn some of them. It also gives me a pool of names to call on when things get too quiet and no one wants to answer the question.
English names could be ok, but I wouldn't recommend giving kids names that don't really exist in our countries--like from the Hunger Games. I always feel kinda weird calling a Korean kid Ted or Irene, either way.

WestMeetsEast · « **Reply #3 on:** February 27, 2013, 01:18:30 PM »

Aside from a single student who was dying to be called Jerry I only use their Korean names. They all have name badges and I generally just read off their badge whilst walking up and down the aisles in my classroom.

Something inside me is just against English names for the most part.

miss_cho · « **Reply #4 on:** February 27, 2013, 01:30:41 PM »

I also use my students' real names. At the beginning of the school year I have them write out their name on the front of a name tag - on the back they fill out more info about them - age, hobbies, favorite movie and music, etc. At the beginning of class I call the students up to get their name tags and occasionally I'll read the back and ask them a question about one of their answers when they get to the front of the class. It only takes a few minutes and though I don't know all my students' names my co-teacher mentioned that I know more than him.

The name tags on the desk also help me address the students by name when I walk around the classroom. Or when I need to tell a student to stop misbehaving/sleeping/etc.

I wish I could learn all their names but I have 300 + students and my memory isn't quite what it used to be.

ktotravels · « **Reply #5 on:** February 27, 2013, 02:37:34 PM »

Thanks everyone! Seems to be a consensus to stick with Korean names. I appreciate your feedback.

FalseFace · « **Reply #6 on:** February 27, 2013, 03:15:22 PM »

Just wanna echo everyone else: stick to the Korean names. Despite my personal beliefs against English names, I've found that the students respect and feel closer to you if you've taken out the time and energy to remember them. I've known some kids for two years and every once in a while, and they're still pleasantly surprised.

Aventine · « **Reply #7 on:** February 27, 2013, 04:33:57 PM »

If they have them then I'll use it but I don't give it to them myself. Boys will choose the wackiest ones out there if given the opportunity.

Nivea · « **Reply #8 on:** February 27, 2013, 04:41:18 PM »

Its hard to learn the names at first but if your at a single sex school it will get easy after a while as Korean names are two character out of about 20-25 common ones. So learn to say a few and you can say all of them.

gtrain83 · « **Reply #9 on:** February 27, 2013, 04:54:40 PM »

I am going to make a seating chart with their names in hopes to learn them. I teach 3-6 grades so it is a lot of students but I know some of their names. I am much better with faces than names though.

Having said that, I disagree with giving them English names. I feel like that is a lazy cop-out and disrespects the students. It tells them right away you have no real interest in them as you won't even take time to try and learn their real name. And don't Korean names have a meaning associated with that name? So I feel like that is important to them as well.

new-waygook · « **Reply #10 on:** February 27, 2013, 05:02:57 PM »

Like others said, once you get the hang of Korean names it isn't too bad. Name tags work well (I do hangul on one side and romanized or their English name if they already have one on the other) and I usually mentally pick two or three students in the class at random and try to commit their names to memory that day and the next week I pick different ones. If you have a copy of the class roster try reading through it often since it's easier to put a face with the name if you are already familiar with their names. Also, this should be obvious, but just trying to get to know the students individually helps as well. Then it isn't just Min-something in class three, it's Minsu who likes soccer and has a pet rabbit. I find it easier to remember them when I have more than just their name to go off of because otherwise they just get all jumbled. Just find what works for you and good luck.

shhowse · « **Reply #11 on:** February 27, 2013, 05:04:44 PM »

I would also recommend against using English names. it feels like you are forcing them into taking on a new identity.

That said, for INTEREST sake only, in my classroom I usually kept lists from baby name websites of the most current trends for names, and also the most popular names from the year that class of students was born. Some students would look at them between classes and joke around about choosing this or that name, but I personally would only use their Korean names.

Mattaru · « **Reply #12 on:** February 27, 2013, 05:34:36 PM »

I teach at two country middle and high schools, with about 100-130 students in each one.
So about 200 students give and take, it's quite easy for me to remember names.

One of my students has insisted on being called Angelina though, and well, since she's the brightest, I indulge her.

My students were really pleased when I remembered their Korean names, since my predecessor gave them random nicknames like 'the boss' or 'stranger' . . . :S

aklimkewicz · « **Reply #13 on:** February 28, 2013, 10:27:02 AM »

Quote from: Nivea on February 27, 2013, 04:41:18 PM

Its hard to learn the names at first but if your at a single sex school it will get easy after a while as Korean names are two character out of about 20-25 common ones. So learn to say a few and you can say all of them.

I think that working at an all girls school makes learning the names a bit harder because they are all so similar. For instance, three of my co-teachers are HyunHee, HyunJeong, and JeongHee. I've gotten it straight now, but the lack of variation to me makes it more difficult.

Still, I recommend using Korean names in class. It'd be impossible for me to memorize 400+ names (especially only seeing them once a week) but if they have name tents on their desks, then that makes it a bit easier. Now, making them keep their name tents will become the issue . . .

Garth · « **Reply #14 on:** February 28, 2013, 11:30:48 AM »

Whatever you do, don't change their names unless they change it themselves.

bammertheblue · « **Reply #15 on:** February 28, 2013, 01:00:59 PM »

My school lets students choose English names, and most do. Some don't, and that's okay, too. But they have to be real names. So "Harry" is fine, but "Harry Potter" is not. The English names are easier for me to remember, but my class sizes are quite small, so it only takes me a few days to learn all their names anyway. If you're gonna do English names, I think they should be actual NAMES, not things like "Pink Dragon". That defeats the whole purpose of having an English name.

83travelinman · « **Reply #16 on:** February 28, 2013, 01:30:48 PM »

I do have one student who insisted that I call her "Lady Gugu." I obliged since it got laughs from a class that was normally board and not interested.

shhowse · « **Reply #17 on:** February 28, 2013, 04:28:46 PM »

While I'm against the idea in general, I absolutely agree that IF they want to choose a name then you should go by what they ask you to call them (by choice only not by force), and it should go without saying that it must be a real name, not a thing (dragon) or celebrity's full name (Angelina - ok; Angelina Jolie - no!).

Tyshine · « **Reply #18 on:** March 04, 2013, 10:03:28 AM »

I had my students choose English names in winter camp. I don't see why people are anti-English names. We used Spanish names in High School, and everyone liked it. My kids didn't mind at all. They liked that they got to pick their own names. I think it's ok whether you want to use their Korean names or have them choose English names.

new-waygook · « **Reply #19 on:** March 04, 2013, 11:15:02 AM »

Quote from: Tyshine on March 04, 2013, 10:03:28 AM

I had my students choose English names in winter camp. I don't see why people are anti-English names. We used Spanish names in High School, and everyone liked it. My kids didn't mind at all. They liked that they got to pick their own names. I think it's ok whether you want to use their Korean names or have them choose English names.

Personally I hated using Spanish names in high school. I never responded well to being called Maria all semester because my name is not in fact Maria.
Some students like English names and some don't. I just try to call the students whatever name they tell me, if it's English fine, if it's Korean also fine. However, I think that students respond much better (and quicker) when you call on them using their real name rather than an English name.

Author Topic: Students choosing English names...opinions, please (Read 13623 times)

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