RANTING/VENTING MEGATHREAD 3.0

Is it normal for Korean shops to not let you try on clothes? Some native teachers and I went to a Korean clothing store but weren't allowed to try on clothes even though there were 2 changing rooms there one of which was free. 

Is this a common occurrence? Has anyone faced something similar?

One of my friends obviously got very upset with this and rightly so! We went out of there and spent our money elsewhere!

Yeah, it always happens to me at those smaller Korean-owned places. Bigger retailers like Lotte won't usually care though.

I just get around it by playing the "dumb foreigner" card and just going to the change room anyways, trying on the shirt without them asking, haha. I don't wear any make up and by the time they notice I've already tried it on 

Wait - is this actually a common thing? I've been told I can't try something on exactly three times in eight years, and in two of those cases I realized there was a sign saying that I couldn't try on that thing, after I asked.

That seems really frustrating.

I'm so confused though about all this. Why even have changing rooms if you won't allow people to use them??

Speaking of IKEA, the last time I was there around 12pm, I raised my voice [wife said I shouted] to some woman over a parking incident. Was sitting with hazard lights on close to a space, waiting on a couple loading their car. See an Avante rolling up from the opposite direction and thought they better not be trying for my space. Sure enough, the car I'm waiting on reverses out but Avante has rocked up opposite me preventing me from reversing. Now, the bay is empty, I see mystery car has moved forward and trying to reverse in but I just reverse faster and beep at the car for attempting to mug me.
Woman in the Avante gets out of the car and comes over and bitches that she's been trying a long time to find a space [maybe, don't drive around in circles and just wait]. I respond that I was already there waiting for the space and she just rolled past and attempted to beat me to the space.

That same thing happened to me, just replace IKEA with Emart, car with shopping cart, parking lot with elevator, and yelling with dirty looks.

My significant other and I were going to Costco and some woman literally walked her physical body and stood in the parking spot that we were pulling into, saying she had it reserved. And I just leaned out the window and asked if she was a car. And then she said no, and we pulled in and she got out of the way because parking spots are for cars and she was not a car. And then she tried screaming at us.

But what if she was a transformer?! WONT SOMEBODY PLEASE THINK OF THE TRANSFORMERS!?!
But for realsies, this kind of behaviour is really stupid.

Back in the day, when I worked at a supermarket, I'd occasionally be a trolley boy. This one night, this lady came up to me with her trolley, when I was taking a full load of trolleys - so I couldn't take anymore, and asks me to take it for her. I mentioned I'm already pushing my physical limit of them, so please take it to the nearest trolley bay (which was literally about 2 - 3 meters from where we were standing (would have taken like 5 seconds). Instead, she puts it behind a car she was standing by, as they tried to back out. The driver got out of his car, went a put that trolley behind her car, while she was trying to back out. She stormed over to me and blamed me for doing that, and went and complained to the manager about my actions. Each time, the manager tried asking me for my side of the story, she'd cut me off. By the end of it, she was like: "I'm not leaving until I get an apology." I said: "I'm sorry that you put your trolley behind a car that was trying to back out, and that the driver of that car, just moved the trolley behind yours, and that you are blaming me and wasting both my own, and my co-workers / bosses, work time over this."

Turned out, we were sold out of her favourite brand of cigarettes, and she had been going spaztic at all our employees over that. :\

Speaking of IKEA, the last time I was there around 12pm, I raised my voice [wife said I shouted] to some woman over a parking incident. Was sitting with hazard lights on close to a space, waiting on a couple loading their car. See an Avante rolling up from the opposite direction and thought they better not be trying for my space. Sure enough, the car I'm waiting on reverses out but Avante has rocked up opposite me preventing me from reversing. Now, the bay is empty, I see mystery car has moved forward and trying to reverse in but I just reverse faster and beep at the car for attempting to mug me.
Woman in the Avante gets out of the car and comes over and bitches that she's been trying a long time to find a space [maybe, don't drive around in circles and just wait]. I respond that I was already there waiting for the space and she just rolled past and attempted to beat me to the space.

That same thing happened to me, just replace IKEA with Emart, car with shopping cart, parking lot with elevator, and yelling with dirty looks.

My significant other and I were going to Costco and some woman literally walked her physical body and stood in the parking spot that we were pulling into, saying she had it reserved. And I just leaned out the window and asked if she was a car. And then she said no, and we pulled in and she got out of the way because parking spots are for cars and she was not a car. And then she tried screaming at us.

But what if she was a transformer?! WONT SOMEBODY PLEASE THINK OF THE TRANSFORMERS!?!
But for realsies, this kind of behaviour is really stupid.

Back in the day, when I worked at a supermarket, I'd occasionally be a trolley boy. This one night, this lady came up to me with her trolley, when I was taking a full load of trolleys - so I couldn't take anymore, and asks me to take it for her. I mentioned I'm already pushing my physical limit of them, so please take it to the nearest trolley bay (which was literally about 2 - 3 meters from where we were standing (would have taken like 5 seconds). Instead, she puts it behind a car she was standing by, as they tried to back out. The driver got out of his car, went a put that trolley behind her car, while she was trying to back out. She stormed over to me and blamed me for doing that, and went and complained to the manager about my actions. Each time, the manager tried asking me for my side of the story, she'd cut me off. By the end of it, she was like: "I'm not leaving until I get an apology." I said: "I'm sorry that you put your trolley behind a car that was trying to back out, and that the driver of that car, just moved the trolley behind yours, and that you are blaming me and wasting both my own, and my co-workers / bosses, work time over this."

Turned out, we were sold out of her favourite brand of cigarettes, and she had been going spaztic at all our employees over that. :\

The moral: always have a backup brand.

Turned out, we were sold out of her favorite brand of cigarettes, and she had been going spaztic at all our employees over that. :\

When I feel like someone is acting irrationally towards me, I try to remind myself that the person's cigarettes might have been sold out, and I find that helps me respond with a little more sympathy. It's important to consider what others might be going through.

Is it normal for Korean shops to not let you try on clothes? Some native teachers and I went to a Korean clothing store but weren't allowed to try on clothes even though there were 2 changing rooms there one of which was free. 

Is this a common occurrence? Has anyone faced something similar?

One of my friends obviously got very upset with this and rightly so! We went out of there and spent our money elsewhere!

Yeah, it always happens to me at those smaller Korean-owned places. Bigger retailers like Lotte won't usually care though.

I just get around it by playing the "dumb foreigner" card and just going to the change room anyways, trying on the shirt without them asking, haha. I don't wear any make up and by the time they notice I've already tried it on 

Wait - is this actually a common thing? I've been told I can't try something on exactly three times in eight years, and in two of those cases I realized there was a sign saying that I couldn't try on that thing, after I asked.

That seems really frustrating.

I'm so confused though about all this. Why even have changing rooms if you won't allow people to use them??

They're for Korean customers to use.

Is it normal for Korean shops to not let you try on clothes? Some native teachers and I went to a Korean clothing store but weren't allowed to try on clothes even though there were 2 changing rooms there one of which was free. 

Is this a common occurrence? Has anyone faced something similar?

One of my friends obviously got very upset with this and rightly so! We went out of there and spent our money elsewhere!

Yeah, it always happens to me at those smaller Korean-owned places. Bigger retailers like Lotte won't usually care though.

I just get around it by playing the "dumb foreigner" card and just going to the change room anyways, trying on the shirt without them asking, haha. I don't wear any make up and by the time they notice I've already tried it on 

Wait - is this actually a common thing? I've been told I can't try something on exactly three times in eight years, and in two of those cases I realized there was a sign saying that I couldn't try on that thing, after I asked.

That seems really frustrating.

I'm so confused though about all this. Why even have changing rooms if you won't allow people to use them??

Oh they are used by Koreans. I was the only foreigner in line and everyone in front of me got to try on the clothes.

Is it normal for Korean shops to not let you try on clothes? Some native teachers and I went to a Korean clothing store but weren't allowed to try on clothes even though there were 2 changing rooms there one of which was free. 

Is this a common occurrence? Has anyone faced something similar?

One of my friends obviously got very upset with this and rightly so! We went out of there and spent our money elsewhere!

Yeah, it always happens to me at those smaller Korean-owned places. Bigger retailers like Lotte won't usually care though.

I just get around it by playing the "dumb foreigner" card and just going to the change room anyways, trying on the shirt without them asking, haha. I don't wear any make up and by the time they notice I've already tried it on 

Wait - is this actually a common thing? I've been told I can't try something on exactly three times in eight years, and in two of those cases I realized there was a sign saying that I couldn't try on that thing, after I asked.

That seems really frustrating.

I'm so confused though about all this. Why even have changing rooms if you won't allow people to use them??

Oh they are used by Koreans. I was the only foreigner in line and everyone in front of me got to try on the clothes.

That's when I would make a big scene and take out my wallet, count out a few hundred thousand, fold it, put it in my shirt pocket, tap it, and shake my finger saying, "obsoyo manwan!"

Is it normal for Korean shops to not let you try on clothes? Some native teachers and I went to a Korean clothing store but weren't allowed to try on clothes even though there were 2 changing rooms there one of which was free. 

Is this a common occurrence? Has anyone faced something similar?

One of my friends obviously got very upset with this and rightly so! We went out of there and spent our money elsewhere!

Yeah, it always happens to me at those smaller Korean-owned places. Bigger retailers like Lotte won't usually care though.

I just get around it by playing the "dumb foreigner" card and just going to the change room anyways, trying on the shirt without them asking, haha. I don't wear any make up and by the time they notice I've already tried it on 

Wait - is this actually a common thing? I've been told I can't try something on exactly three times in eight years, and in two of those cases I realized there was a sign saying that I couldn't try on that thing, after I asked.

That seems really frustrating.

I'm so confused though about all this. Why even have changing rooms if you won't allow people to use them??

Oh they are used by Koreans. I was the only foreigner in line and everyone in front of me got to try on the clothes.

That's when I would make a big scene and take out my wallet, count out a few hundred thousand, fold it, put it in my shirt pocket, tap it, and shake my finger saying, "obsoyo manwan!"

Jokes aside, she should have made a scene. I believe on calling Koreans out on their xenophobia.

Is it normal for Korean shops to not let you try on clothes? Some native teachers and I went to a Korean clothing store but weren't allowed to try on clothes even though there were 2 changing rooms there one of which was free. 

Is this a common occurrence? Has anyone faced something similar?

One of my friends obviously got very upset with this and rightly so! We went out of there and spent our money elsewhere!

Yeah, it always happens to me at those smaller Korean-owned places. Bigger retailers like Lotte won't usually care though.

I just get around it by playing the "dumb foreigner" card and just going to the change room anyways, trying on the shirt without them asking, haha. I don't wear any make up and by the time they notice I've already tried it on 

Wait - is this actually a common thing? I've been told I can't try something on exactly three times in eight years, and in two of those cases I realized there was a sign saying that I couldn't try on that thing, after I asked.

That seems really frustrating.

I'm so confused though about all this. Why even have changing rooms if you won't allow people to use them??

Oh they are used by Koreans. I was the only foreigner in line and everyone in front of me got to try on the clothes.

That's when I would make a big scene and take out my wallet, count out a few hundred thousand, fold it, put it in my shirt pocket, tap it, and shake my finger saying, "obsoyo manwan!"

Jokes aside, she should have made a scene. I believe on calling Koreans out on their xenophobia.

I wasn't joking.

My CT at my second school wants me to make my classes more difficult in order to motivate the students (these students are very much low-level mind you). I'm trying to tell her that they don't have motivation to begin with. Making it harder for the sake of "challenge" won't change a thing, especially when there isn't much consequence for not trying. Even games don't motivate a lot of these kids.

I'm curious as to what you guys think. Should I try to challenge the kids, or keep doing as I do? I'm not afraid to disagree with my CT, she's new to this school and I'm close to the Principal so there's not much worry there.

Is it normal for Korean shops to not let you try on clothes? Some native teachers and I went to a Korean clothing store but weren't allowed to try on clothes even though there were 2 changing rooms there one of which was free. 

Is this a common occurrence? Has anyone faced something similar?

One of my friends obviously got very upset with this and rightly so! We went out of there and spent our money elsewhere!

Yeah, it always happens to me at those smaller Korean-owned places. Bigger retailers like Lotte won't usually care though.

I just get around it by playing the "dumb foreigner" card and just going to the change room anyways, trying on the shirt without them asking, haha. I don't wear any make up and by the time they notice I've already tried it on 

Wait - is this actually a common thing? I've been told I can't try something on exactly three times in eight years, and in two of those cases I realized there was a sign saying that I couldn't try on that thing, after I asked.

That seems really frustrating.

I'm so confused though about all this. Why even have changing rooms if you won't allow people to use them??

Oh they are used by Koreans. I was the only foreigner in line and everyone in front of me got to try on the clothes.

That's when I would make a big scene and take out my wallet, count out a few hundred thousand, fold it, put it in my shirt pocket, tap it, and shake my finger saying, "obsoyo manwan!"

Jokes aside, she should have made a scene. I believe on calling Koreans out on their xenophobia.

I wasn't joking.

I woukd just drop everything on the floor and say goodbye and walk out.

My CT at my second school wants me to make my classes more difficult in order to motivate the students (these students are very much low-level mind you). I'm trying to tell her that they don't have motivation to begin with. Making it harder for the sake of "challenge" won't change a thing, especially when there isn't much consequence for not trying. Even games don't motivate a lot of these kids.

I'm curious as to what you guys think. Should I try to challenge the kids, or keep doing as I do? I'm not afraid to disagree with my CT, she's new to this school and I'm close to the Principal so there's not much worry there.

If amazing game templates from waygook.org doesn't motivate them, I'd say keep doing as you do.

My CT at my second school wants me to make my classes more difficult in order to motivate the students (these students are very much low-level mind you). I'm trying to tell her that they don't have motivation to begin with. Making it harder for the sake of "challenge" won't change a thing, especially when there isn't much consequence for not trying. Even games don't motivate a lot of these kids.

I'm curious as to what you guys think. Should I try to challenge the kids, or keep doing as I do? I'm not afraid to disagree with my CT, she's new to this school and I'm close to the Principal so there's not much worry there.

Definitely challenge your students. You can challenge students with things that aren't games. Consider throwing them some easy questions using vocabulary that they have studied or learned, but formulated in new ways. Constant games aren't always the best motivator, especially if they're confusing and require lots of explanation, which some games do.

Don't try to pander to their interests too much, but also don't underestimate the power of a question that's within their capacity to understand. If there's one thing almost all people like, including students, it's to talk about themselves.

Finding the sweet spot of not dead-easy and not too difficult is the hard part, though. Don't aim for something they don't know. Aim for something they already know, but have to put a tiny bit of brain power into answering.

Also, as an aside, regarding 'being close with the principal' and not having to worry about your co-teacher says about you - I believe you said this is your second semester teaching EFL in Korea. In most cases, that's not really long enough to be feeling quite that secure. And never underestimate the potential of a complaining coteacher to make your life difficult. It's always a possibility, especially for new native teachers.

My CT at my second school wants me to make my classes more difficult in order to motivate the students (these students are very much low-level mind you). I'm trying to tell her that they don't have motivation to begin with. Making it harder for the sake of "challenge" won't change a thing, especially when there isn't much consequence for not trying. Even games don't motivate a lot of these kids.

I'm curious as to what you guys think. Should I try to challenge the kids, or keep doing as I do? I'm not afraid to disagree with my CT, she's new to this school and I'm close to the Principal so there's not much worry there.

Definitely challenge your students. You can challenge students with things that aren't games. Consider throwing them some easy questions using vocabulary that they have studied or learned, but formulated in new ways. Constant games aren't always the best motivator, especially if they're confusing and require lots of explanation, which some games do.

Don't try to pander to their interests too much, but also don't underestimate the power of a question that's within their capacity to understand. If there's one thing almost all people like, including students, it's to talk about themselves.

Finding the sweet spot of not dead-easy and not too difficult is the hard part, though. Don't aim for something they don't know. Aim for something they already know, but have to put a tiny bit of brain power into answering.

Also, as an aside, regarding 'being close with the principal' and not having to worry about your co-teacher says about you - I believe you said this is your second semester teaching EFL in Korea. In most cases, that's not really long enough to be feeling quite that secure. And never underestimate the potential of a complaining coteacher to make your life difficult. It's always a possibility, especially for new native teachers.

I agree.

Honestly you need to actually work at it. Throwing a few games at them and making it easy isn't going to motivate them.

I've had tough students in the past and sometimes all they need is a positive encouragement and something they enjoy. There are students who don't care and will never care, that's fine. Leave them be.

You can't force them to enjoy it and if they're doing the bare minimum then it's enough. If they aren't that's their choice.

If they are being disruptive then that's another thing entirely and there are many other strategies for classroom management. Punishment isn't a good motivator, do you want the students to do the work just because they are worried about being punished?

You seem like you resent your co teacher asking you to motivate the students, maybe she knows more than you? Maybe this is what the students have told her? You're close to the principal? So what? He doesn't work with you on a day to day basis.

They key is to challenge them in a way that it appears like a challenge but it isn't really. As Based said, using vocabulary they may already know but present in a way that seems as if it is new.

 My students love puzzles, rebus riddles, "missions" where they complete challenges around the classroom at their own pace. I gear them towards their levels, with things available for all English levels. I've tried to cut down on teacher talking time as much as possible and if it takes more than a few minutes to explain then I don't do it.

Have you tried asking them what they like? or what they would like to do? Whip up a survey and ask the co teacher to translate it for you, or keep it basic.

Since they're already demotivated and as you said, games don't work on some of them, why not try something new? If your classes aren't working enough that she felt compelled to say something (Which is rare, I've never been able to get much feedback so you're kinda lucky) then it's nonsensical to keep doing the same old thing.

My CT at my second school wants me to make my classes more difficult in order to motivate the students (these students are very much low-level mind you). I'm trying to tell her that they don't have motivation to begin with. Making it harder for the sake of "challenge" won't change a thing, especially when there isn't much consequence for not trying. Even games don't motivate a lot of these kids.

I'm curious as to what you guys think. Should I try to challenge the kids, or keep doing as I do? I'm not afraid to disagree with my CT, she's new to this school and I'm close to the Principal so there's not much worry there.

Definitely challenge your students. You can challenge students with things that aren't games. Consider throwing them some easy questions using vocabulary that they have studied or learned, but formulated in new ways. Constant games aren't always the best motivator, especially if they're confusing and require lots of explanation, which some games do.

Don't try to pander to their interests too much, but also don't underestimate the power of a question that's within their capacity to understand. If there's one thing almost all people like, including students, it's to talk about themselves.

Finding the sweet spot of not dead-easy and not too difficult is the hard part, though. Don't aim for something they don't know. Aim for something they already know, but have to put a tiny bit of brain power into answering.

Also, as an aside, regarding 'being close with the principal' and not having to worry about your co-teacher says about you - I believe you said this is your second semester teaching EFL in Korea. In most cases, that's not really long enough to be feeling quite that secure. And never underestimate the potential of a complaining coteacher to make your life difficult. It's always a possibility, especially for new native teachers.

I agree.

Honestly you need to actually work at it. Throwing a few games at them and making it easy isn't going to motivate them.

I've had tough students in the past and sometimes all they need is a positive encouragement and something they enjoy. There are students who don't care and will never care, that's fine. Leave them be.

You can't force them to enjoy it and if they're doing the bare minimum then it's enough. If they aren't that's their choice.

If they are being disruptive then that's another thing entirely and there are many other strategies for classroom management. Punishment isn't a good motivator, do you want the students to do the work just because they are worried about being punished?

You seem like you resent your co teacher asking you to motivate the students, maybe she knows more than you? Maybe this is what the students have told her? You're close to the principal? So what? He doesn't work with you on a day to day basis.

They key is to challenge them in a way that it appears like a challenge but it isn't really. As Based said, using vocabulary they may already know but present in a way that seems as if it is new.

 My students love puzzles, rebus riddles, "missions" where they complete challenges around the classroom at their own pace. I gear them towards their levels, with things available for all English levels. I've tried to cut down on teacher talking time as much as possible and if it takes more than a few minutes to explain then I don't do it.

Have you tried asking them what they like? or what they would like to do? Whip up a survey and ask the co teacher to translate it for you, or keep it basic.

Since they're already demotivated and as you said, games don't work on some of them, why not try something new? If your classes aren't working enough that she felt compelled to say something (Which is rare, I've never been able to get much feedback so you're kinda lucky) then it's nonsensical to keep doing the same old thing.

As I said in the beginning, it's just a huge worry for me because they are low-level. I don't resent my co-teacher, and maybe it's just miscommunication, but the way she wanted me to change it sounded like it wouldn't have much effect. I do like your ideas, and I'll see if I can make it work next semester. Speaking tests are around the corner, so it's pretty late to really make this happen right away. 

I second the rebus puzzles and missions, anything they have to actually sit down and think it through, really. My students are very low level too, and they love these. Sometimes we'll have to throw in a Korean word to help them along, but they go crazy for them. Even my lowest level and least participatory students will take the lead in figuring them out. Especially for older students (5th and 6th grade elementary, all of middle), you have to give them things to figure out. You might be able to get away with a *short* 4-corners/find your team game if they're really restless. But I've found they much prefer action reading or sparkle die at the beginning of class really and it really settles even my most restless students.

I also try to check in with my students around the midpoint of the semester with a quick anonymous feedback survey (I ask about classroom pacing, do they feel like they are learning something, confidence with understanding and speaking English, favorite activities, something they would like to change). My coteacher translates the survey into Korean, and we give them like 5 minutes at the beginning of class to do it. Then I lead a review class while my coteacher compiles the survey results in the back of the classroom. We emphasize that we are looking for feedback, and we will not implement every suggestion. And, honestly, unless a majority of students have the same feedback (they don't like this activity, Tadpole Teacher talks too fast, I didn't understand this lesson), we don't really change much. But sometimes it reveals some stuff about the classroom dynamic that we didn't know previously, and we can adjust as needed.

People using the word "hacks" or "life hacks". Or just general lite journalism's use of douche language.

Learn these 15 life hacks - it's always obvious or pointless shit. "Fold you atm receipts into 4s. Now it's smaller and takes up less wallet space!"

You've been making your bed ALL wrong

Vietnam celebrates new year in February....and it's AMAZING

As someone else once put it, the Buzzfeedication of journalism. I see it in legitimate newspapers now.

People using the word "hacks" or "life hacks". Or just general lite journalism's use of douche language.

Learn these 15 life hacks - it's always obvious or pointless shit. "Fold you atm receipts into 4s. Now it's smaller and takes up less wallet space!"

You've been making your bed ALL wrong

Vietnam celebrates new year in February....and it's AMAZING

As someone else once put it, the Buzzfeedication of journalism. I see it in legitimate newspapers now.

To be fair, Vietnamese New Year is awesome.

To be fair, Vietnamese New Year is awesome.

Now that's using your tête.

To be fair, Vietnamese New Year is awesome.

Now that's using your tête.

That's offensive.