[skinsk]

I am constantly on my feet, walking around the room. I carry my bound stack of notecards (with sticker photos) they did the first week and try to ID them. . . most are not offended if you don't match them to their old HS photo. I started checking books each day, now I note quietly in my attendance sheet "nb" (no book) or "nwb" (no work book) and "nw" (not working). . .by week 2 or 3 someone discovers this, asks me about it, and realized, oops, she's paying attention. I explain that it's the only way I can give a proper participation grade, 20% of the total. If the class is noisy, I stop and smile-- this has taken up to 15 minutes-- after all 50 loud people sometimes must notice. I explain that I do not want to interrupt them, as that's rude. I stop each time a noise builds. And smile. Hard-line might work for many, but rules (handed out in Eng and Kor and kept to a minimum) given early on and then quiet, friendly consequences, work best for me.

Public humiliation doesn't work, at HS at home or here. It builds up resentment from the whole class. Losing it is never good, as it shows YOU are not even in control of yourself. I'd rather let them go 15 minutes early than yell, degrading not just the students (a few of whom want to be there!) but myself.

Some of this boils down to person style, but after 4 years teaching Uni in Korea, 2 in the US, plus HS for years stateside, some subbing K-12 and volunteering/guesting at schools on several continents, being nice, patient, and genuinely interested in your students helps. Get to know them (or some) as individuals and don't judge them by the norms of the era and culture you were raised/went to school. Share some of yourself. Even if 85% understand les than 15% of what they say, they pick up on your attitude.

I've overheard teachers at the Unis I've worked at yell (Korean and Western teachers) and I've heard foreign teachers complain how "dumb" their students are. . . well, judged on my ability to communicate in French, much less Korean, I'd be judged somewhere around early elementary level (or 3-4 year old Korean).

As I walk around the classroom, continuously, I check their books (pointing out errors individually-- later I cover problems many students had with a mini-lesson on the board), and also comment on their T-shirt, the picture of their girlfriend, etc. I ask them questions. . . before I travel to a new city, for example, I check my index-cards and if there is a student from there I will say, "Next week I'm going to Gurye. . . which way do I exit the station to get . . ." etc. Even if it's my worst student, he is psyched and wants to help!

I am fortunate to have writing classes, including advanced electives. I encourage students to go beyond: I am 21. I am a XXUniversity student. My major is police. My family is 4, mother, father, younger brother and me. I am from XXX. My hobby is sing a song and video game. These are forbidden sentences in my class. I read their journals, glean for clues about them, and start asking questions. Sometime I ask a question at the top of a new page and suggest they write the answer below.

"Don't let the "15 hour" weeks fool you! Uni teaching is time-consuming, but can be fun!! You can go out drinking with your students and they pay!! I try to do much of my work in busses, trains, etc. . .

Hope this is coherent and helps; it is the end of the semester and I should be working and not on the computer!!