Teach English in South Korea, World English Service Ltd. - Sick & Disinterested Children

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Information about Teaching in Korea : Surviving in the Classroom :
	The Reality of Teaching Classroom Conversation Topics Staffroom Dynamics	Chaos in the Classroom Rewards and Bribery Discipline Methods	Student Behaviors Sick & Disinterested Children Body Language & Attitude

Sick, Sleepy and Disinterested Children

• Sick Students
• Sleepy Students

• Disinterested Students

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Many times a student will be sent to school when they are sick. This is because the parent does not want to lose the money they have already paid to the school. ?Green candles? hanging from nostrils are sure sign of infection, so do your best to make the director aware you are concerned for the child.

It is common for colds and flu to spread quickly as they do in any country. When I was teaching in Korea I experienced the most horrible diphtheria like cough illness sweep through my class like wild fire. Sometimes the children went blue in the face. No matter how often I asked the Director to stop the children coming to my class it didnt work. The reply was, the children have medicine from the pharmacy they are OK.

So don?t expect that your caring concern will have the child isolated out of class. Get prepared with boxes of tissues and good ventilation, and most of all try to keep your own immune system up to speed. If you get tired and run down you will find that any bugs going around will surely seek you out. If you do get the same bug the child has, you will be expected to still come to school as well. Don?t think "great" a day off. Unless you are burning up with a fever or covered in deadly rash the school will happily accept you in the classroom while you cough and sniff.

Sleepy Students

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Lets face it, the average Korean family seems to get up early and go to bed late. There is this amazing concept that you can just fall asleep anywhere you like. Hence, the sighting of half a subway carriage of people snoring their heads off or a man stretched out asleep on the subway platform, in the middle of the day!

The students will have to contend with many things going on in their lives and it is inevitable that the younger children will frequently fall asleep in any position in your classroom. I solved the problem by just accepting this was going to happen and had one or two soft toys ready that I gently tucked under their head as support when they nodded off. You can usually leave them until the bell goes, because it is a sure bet if you try to wake them, they will just fall immediately back to sleep.

Older children will also suffer from excess time up, and too many extra studies and fall asleep as well. Do not judge a sleepy child as being bored by your teaching.

Disinterested Children

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Many times students are sent to English lessons by concerned parents. The children themselves have absolutely no interest in seriously learning and often their body language and negative attitude will show this dislike of having to be in your class. Disinterested girls will often act sulky and pout and not communicate or answer your questions etc. Where as older boys will act with aggression and attitude or sometimes sabotage the classroom activities, effectively making your life miserable as they get the attention of their peers.

Design & development by Karere.

Kids in the classroom

Kids in the classroom