RANTING/VENTING MEGATHREAD 3.0

On a somewhat-related note, you ever get those students that treat you like you are the dumbest of the dumb because you mishear, for example, Jiyeon as Jiyeong? It's like, c'mon man, gimme a break. It's one sound off and a hard sound to catch on the tail-end of a syllable, and besides that, you're not helping with the bored mumbling voice you used to tell me your name. lol

I don't generally allow goofy nicknames like that, but being a nerd has helped me work around some of them. I had one class full of boys that all wanted superhero names, and I wasn't about to have Spiderman and Wolverine in my class, so I just told them a bunch of alter ego/secret identity/ "real" names for the heroes they liked. Tony and Steve were better than Iron Man and Captain America  .

On a somewhat-related note, you ever get those students that treat you like you are the dumbest of the dumb because you mishear, for example, Jiyeon as Jiyeong? It's like, c'mon man, gimme a break. It's one sound off and a hard sound to catch on the tail-end of a syllable, and besides that, you're not helping with the bored mumbling voice you used to tell me your name. lol

Hahaha yes!

Now I take a leaf out of Korean books and repeat it a million times.

A: 재원
B: Jaywon?
A: 재원
B: Jwun
A: 재원
B: Jeewone?
A: ㅈ ㅐ ㅜ ㅓ ㄴ
B: Aaaah 제웡

 

On a somewhat-related note, you ever get those students that treat you like you are the dumbest of the dumb because you mishear, for example, Jiyeon as Jiyeong? It's like, c'mon man, gimme a break. It's one sound off and a hard sound to catch on the tail-end of a syllable, and what's more you're not helping with the bored mumbling voice you used. lol

Yeah that's just teenager/kid behaviour. I felt dumb too until I heard the K-teachers mangle the hell out of some names during roll call a couple times. The kids gave no quarter then either, so it's not just the waygookins getting the treatment 

At least they're equal opportunity nit-pickers

On a somewhat-related note, you ever get those students that treat you like you are the dumbest of the dumb because you mishear, for example, Jiyeon as Jiyeong? It's like, c'mon man, gimme a break. It's one sound off and a hard sound to catch on the tail-end of a syllable, and besides that, you're not helping with the bored mumbling voice you used to tell me your name. lol

Hahaha yes!

Now I take a leaf out of Korean books and repeat it a million times.

A: 재원
B: Jaywon?
A: 재원
B: Jwun
A: 재원
B: Jeewone?
A: ㅈ ㅐ ㅜ ㅓ ㄴ
B: Aaaah 제웡

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dd7FixvoKBw

On a somewhat-related note, you ever get those students that treat you like you are the dumbest of the dumb because you mishear, for example, Jiyeon as Jiyeong? It's like, c'mon man, gimme a break. It's one sound off and a hard sound to catch on the tail-end of a syllable, and besides that, you're not helping with the bored mumbling voice you used to tell me your name. lol

Hahaha yes!

Now I take a leaf out of Korean books and repeat it a million times.

A: 재원
B: Jaywon?
A: 재원
B: Jwun
A: 재원
B: Jeewone?
A: ㅈ ㅐ ㅜ ㅓ ㄴ
B: Aaaah 제웡

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dd7FixvoKBw

Don't give me no attitude, 재재원!

Yeah that's just teenager/kid behaviour. I felt dumb too until I heard the K-teachers mangle the hell out of some names during roll call a couple times. The kids gave no quarter then either, so it's not just the waygookins getting the treatment 

At least they're equal opportunity nit-pickers

Oh, I know! We've got a new English teacher at my school, so I was witness to his first time learning names, and he struggled even more than I did because he's shy, poor guy. And the kids were relentless!

Sorry, should've specified I didn't feel this was waygook-hazing or anything.

In the after school program that I worked English names were a requirement. I hated it. I'm a South African, forcing people to have English names leaves a bitter taste in my mouth. However, that being said it was amusing to call out names like "Sweetie" Cutie" "Loki"and my favourite (he had two names) "Parker Money".  My CT actually had those names on the name list they could choose from. (not Money, that was Yongmin's choosing).

But some of the names on that list were truly bizarre. I don't know where she found them. It included Apple, Peach, Darling and more, 

If they like it its cool, but are you letting them pick or telling them to make one? If someone they didn't want to would you push it? Thats what i have a problem with. If they want it then thats their choice, I had a girl who wanted to be called garlic last year 

Agreed. If people want an English name (or any other name for their language course) then great, that's why we're here.

Making them take one and then potentially reprimanding them over failure to use it? Absolutely not.

There is nothing wrong with their name. Their name is beautiful and it represents who they are. Korean people should not have to change their names or their naming practices to make westerners feel more comfortable. This is English class, not brainwashing you to serve western masters and adopt their values class.

Yikes.

Did you guys ever take language classes in grade school? Is my experience just that uncommon? I assumed it was commonplace to get a name in a language class, since I did in different classes at different schools, but was that just a string of oddities?

Seriously, it's completely bizarre to me that it'd be characterized as " brainwashing you to serve western masters and adopt their values." It's just learning a new language and getting a language-appropriate name to use in that class.

When I took Russian I learned how to "Russianize" my name, that was easy enough. But none of the teachers were ever insistent and threatened us with punishment if we failed to use it.

The reason I mention this is that you get these teachers (not you I'd say, because you seem to enjoy getting into the role and would probably run with it and have a blast) who insist on English names, but you get them in a Korean class and the Korean teacher giving them a Korean name? They would throw a fit.

Like I said, do it if they want or just do it for fun as a "take it or leave it" kind of thing. No problem. Great way to spend a class period or two and have some fun or break the ice.

It's not you. DeMartino has a few....issues.
As you said, every language class I've been in has done the "choose a name in _______ and use it in class" thing.
Obviously forcing names on kids and punishing them etc is stupid. But that is common sense.

I put those things in strong terms so maybe people would wake up and examine whether they did that or were hypocrites about it, like in Korean class.

There's a scene in the Korean movie "Please teach me English" which sees things from the other perspective. The lead character specifically mentions the name change thing and the rather insulting nature and inequality of it.

I've also had multiple Korean people who lived overseas express their displeasure with this and they seriously had questions why it was up to them to have to change their name to make things easier for westerners (not just overseas but in Korea too) yet it wasn't the responsibility of westerners to properly learn how to pronounce their name. Again, there was a fundamental inequality to that whole concept. And as I said, you see this reflected in the attitudes of some teachers who will insist on English names in their classroom and refuse a Korean one in the Korean classroom.

It was after watching that movie, hearing the opinions of Koreans who had lived overseas, and witnessing the behavior of other English teachers that I resolved to address each person by their Korean name unless they wanted an English name. However, for 5th and 6th graders I would continue to address them as Mr. and Ms. (Last Name) simply out of formality (and convenience, let's be real 'Lee' or 'Kim' is easier to remember, also I believe that children above the age of 12 are adults when it comes to responsibility and moral conduct [not other stuff you sickos]).

Anyways, I'd strongly recommend teachers out there to use their Korean name unless they explicitly request otherwise or have an obvious inclination to a nickname or something. It's part of the fundamental respect you show them as human beings.

I think you are overestimating the phenomenon. I agree Koreans shouldn't have to change their names.
I taught at an international school and Koreans and to a lesser extent Chinese, were the ONLY ones who took English names. Japanese never did. SE Asians never did. Euros never did obviously. Middle Eastern students never did.
No one was forcing anyone to do anything. But Koreans took it upon themselves, for whatever reason, to choose to have an English name. Why were the only ones? I still dont know.

Also Koreans mangle my name. I dont give a toss.

My point is that you are making out this to be a pervasive thing forced upon them by some kid from Manitoba , when in reality its usually some harebrained hogwon owners scheme to impress parents. Or as Pecan alluded to, a activity in one of the text books. Very very few teachers here would be forcing english names on students.

Back in uni, a lot of Koreans exchange students I met would insist on only telling me their English names.  I was actually kind of disappointed because I wanted to learn their real names.  Some just liked the novelty of having an English name whereas others were overly concerned that their Korean names were too difficult for westerners to pronounce (or maybe they were simply tired of their names being butchered). 

I think choosing an English name for English class is completely different from being expected to use an English name after moving to an English country.The latter is obviously absurd, and I'd call out anyone I saw try to pull that sh!t on an immigrant. Immigrating is hard enough without people springing nonsense like that on you.

In class, though, it's just using a new name for 45 minutes, two or three times a week. Outside of class, you're still you. You aren't doing it to make things easier on a group of people too lazy or pig-headed to learn a name they aren't used to, you're doing it so everyone can practice using the names that are common in that language while they're in class studying it.

Somewhat related, but sometimes immigrants to a new country go by names more common in their new countries because they're sick of hearing people butcher their names  . Even when dealing with people who are willing to try to pronounce it, they might just not want to hear their name being mangled anymore, haha.  I remember one of my math professors at Uni trying earnestly and repeatedly to pronounce the name of a Chinese exchange student, and the student eventually just said "You can call me Emily." 
(EDIT: Ninja'd by yirj17, haha)

Back in uni, a lot of Koreans exchange students I met would insist on only telling me their English names. I was actually kind of disappointed because I wanted to learn their real names.  Some just liked the novelty of having an English name whereas others were overly concerned that their Korean names were too difficult for westerners to pronounce (or maybe they were simply tired of their names being butchered).

I've even come across that here in Korea several times. One even explicitly said "My Korean name is too difficult, just call me Blablabla."

I know my pronunciation isn't perfect, but c'mon, man. Give a guy a chance.

I feel like I am filtering the entire atmosphere of Incheon with my lungs, and they are definitely not up to the task. My face just exploded with symptoms. We need a downpour or a stiff breeze or something; I've never reacted this badly before. Maybe it's the new 3rd graders; they are veritable Petri dishes of disease.

Has anyone else been hit hard by the dust season this time round? I usually have zero problems related to my lungs or breathing, even when suffering from a nasty cold.

You're not alone. I'm in what is considered a "clean" part of the country and I have been really ill for the past few days. I woke up to swollen and burning eyes today. So I think it's a combination of walking petri dishes and the dust.

Yeah. I'm generally not sensitive to environmental changes or anything, but I've been feeling *rough*.

Seoul Had the Second-Worst Air Quality in the World This Morning
http://www.yonhapnews.co.kr/society/2017/03/21/0706000000AKR20170321050000017.HTML?template=2087

I have a bigger problem with the names that people give the kids than whether or not they give them names at all. One of my classes has 2 Milks, 1 Bread, an Onion, and 3 Dottys. I had to arbitrate when the Milks had an argument about which one was the real Milk.

I have a bigger problem with the names that people give the kids than whether or not they give them names at all. One of my classes has 2 Milks, 1 Bread, an Onion, and 3 Dottys. I had to arbitrate when the Milks had an argument about which one was the real Milk.

Two years ago I had three boys want to be called Van Persie. All in different classes.

Last year they all got moved into the same class and by some magic of student numbers at the same table. (They did get moved around and then back together.)

It became a running gag with my CT to shout Persie at the table just to see all three if their heads pop up. So much fun that even other students started trying it.

I've always thought to concept of changing ones name to be kind of odd. I never liked the idea of forcing them to do it (which my one CT did).

Some of my CTs were all for it. Others were a firm no. A lot of my students who initially had English names in lower level grades switched back to Korean later on. It took some practice but I did it.

My future BIL is Korean and I actually don't know his real name. He just won't use it.

I've always thought to concept of changing ones name to be kind of odd. I never liked the idea of forcing them to do it (which my one CT did).

Some of my CTs were all for it. Others were a firm no. A lot of my students who initially had English names in lower level grades switched back to Korean later on. It took some practice but I did it.

My future BIL is Korean and I actually don't know his real name. He just won't use it.

It might be embarrassing.  I met a guy named BumSuk once.

I've always thought to concept of changing ones name to be kind of odd. I never liked the idea of forcing them to do it (which my one CT did).

Some of my CTs were all for it. Others were a firm no. A lot of my students who initially had English names in lower level grades switched back to Korean later on. It took some practice but I did it.

My future BIL is Korean and I actually don't know his real name. He just won't use it.

It might be embarrassing.  I met a guy named BumSuk once.

Ha, funny story. That my cousins name. My BIL is named Eunsuk. Admittedly those are one of those unfortunate cases where it might actually be a good idea.

I've always thought to concept of changing ones name to be kind of odd. I never liked the idea of forcing them to do it (which my one CT did).

Some of my CTs were all for it. Others were a firm no. A lot of my students who initially had English names in lower level grades switched back to Korean later on. It took some practice but I did it.

My future BIL is Korean and I actually don't know his real name. He just won't use it.

It might be embarrassing.  I met a guy named BumSuk once.

I was dating a guy whose name was Geum Suk, hard G sound. Since I was pretty new to Korean, it was a particularly difficult name to make sound right.

So, I ask the 4th grade teacher what happened to my printer. She tells me that the repair guy came to pick it up, last Friday, and it's being repaired. She doesn't know when I'll get a new one.

Since today was my writing lesson day, it was a giant pain in the ass that I couldn't print my worksheets before class. I had to run to each teacher's classroom and make prints just before each lesson. I ask if I may use her printer to make prints, before class... She says, no.
Confused at her bitchiness, I ask the 5th grade homeroom teacher.

On my way to the 5th grade HR teacher's class, I walk past the 4th grade teacher's empty class and realise why she didn't want me to use her printer. The damn cow had taken my printer, to replace her old one and obviously didn't want me to notice.

Steal it back.

I had a little folding legs dinner table go missing from my room over winter vacation last year. The school had brought in workers over the break to fix some things, so I thought one of them took it. I tried asking around at the admin to see if they could contact the workers, and also asked my co-teacher to ask the other teachers about it. No one knew anything.

Fast forward a year, and I'm walking in the halls after getting back from vacation and I see that one of the teachers who said she didn't know anything about my missing table had taken it. I stole it back.