Korean Job Discussion Forums

ChuckECheese · Joined: 20 Jul 2006

Is it the Korean co-teacher or FT?

I know many of you will say that you are, but officially who's in charge?

Or is it suppose to be 50/50?

What's the deal?

gsxr750r · Joined: 29 Jan 2007

In your class (by yourself), it's you who are in control. You obviously should follow whatever advice you are given on the side (or at least appear to follow it). Wink

If you are in a co-teacher situation where the class is shared, then you teach the class together, but you should treat it as theirclass -- or as our class, but I'm happy to defer to your wishes. That is just my opinion, and it has served me well to follow this. Let this be known from the start, and if they see things differently, they will let you know. If you go into the class bullheaded and wanting to run the show, you will offend the Korean teacher. Life will become more difficult and confrontational.

It's much better to act as a helpful English expert who is there to aid, follow the K-teacher's lead, and make the class an enjoyable co-teaching experience. No need to butt heads.

Unfortunately, some are stuck with K-teachers who don't want to do jack-squat. In that case, take the lead.[/b]

venus · Joined: 25 Oct 2006 Location: Near Seoul

Officially it's the Korean Teacher and we are assistant teachers like the ALT's in Japan. In reality, we design and deliver all of the classes whilst the KT kind of either does nothing at all including contributing to disclipline, or just acts as a translator.

I overcame this by writing the lesson plans in great detail and giving half of the activities for the K teacher to teach. I give them lesson plans befre the start of the next weeks o the K teacher has chance to read it and should know what they are doing in each class. I also split the responsibility for supervising half of the six tables of six students to each of us, so we both discipline the students.

nautilus · Joined: 26 Nov 2005 Location: Je jump, Tu jump, oui jump!

My co teacher is in charge of translation and explanation.
I'm in charge of pronunciation and activities.
We both take turns to operate the computer or discipline kids.

Its 50/50.

spliff · Joined: 19 Jan 2004 Location: Khon Kaen, Thailand

I teach w/ a co-teacher and the classes are always considered MY classes. but, the co-teacher usually helps w/ making and suggesting activities or games. Mine are a great help, actually!

gsxr750r · Joined: 29 Jan 2007

It's a very good idea to figure this stuff out before your first class together. It is also smart to make a plan to talk about how it's going after a few weeks, so you can re-evaluate. The key is to create a pre-planned outlet for any tensions to be released without them growing to a boiling point. If both of you know a pre-planned time is coming where you can get your feelings out, it can be very helpful.

Both sides can become tense, hold feelings in, and not want to "hurt" or "injure" the other party by being too blunt. The eventual result, however, is that tension reaches a boiling-point, and people can explode -- causing more damage than if they had just talked it out to begin with.

If you have already developed a tense situation, you need to sit down with your co-teacher and have a heart-to-heart talk. During this time, be open and key in on trying to diffuse the tension rather than creating more.

You have to look at this from their angle: You are a native speaker of English. They are not. They are under a lot more pressure to perform, and you can hurt them VERY easily, no matter how tough they seem. Because you have been introduced into their lives, they can become paranoid.

Imagine if you were working a job where you were supposed to be one of the school experts, but the gov't sent someone in to "aid" you, yet that person was good at what they did only because of natural ability, rather than education. It's a little hard for Koreans to stomach. Heck, it'd be hard for us too, if the situation were reversed.

We need to be conscious of this at all times.

rothkowitz · Joined: 27 Apr 2006

I find that the school wants the FT to lead-to have some ideas and to implement them.

I can't do a class by myself though.40 kids-nope,not doing it.Co-teacher had a "meeting" before lunch,I just stick a movie on.15 kids-no worries,or at least less of one.

In class the co-teacher takes the roll,tries to get the class ready,then I begin and we spend the latter half of the class re-explaining,modelling,correcting,getting them to present or leaving them to it.

I had 1 co-teacher last year who would come in with her computer and turn her back on me.I put a rocket up her.Come or don't bother.

Test time though "Defer,defer,defer" Laughing

gsxr750r · Joined: 29 Jan 2007

nautilus · Joined: 26 Nov 2005 Location: Je jump, Tu jump, oui jump!

gsxr750r · Joined: 29 Jan 2007

In another thread, I spoke of this:

http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/korea/viewtopic.php?t=83508

I can just about guess that all of the problems have developed because they waygook's job was never laid-out so he/she understood what was supposed to happen. I know that the Korean teacher expected things to be just like before, how we did it, but the new guy is different. He/she was probably told nothing, and just assume to take the lead. This, however, is not what was expected.

Koreans aren't the best at spelling out what you're expected to do from the get-go.

rothkowitz · Joined: 27 Apr 2006

wowser · Joined: 14 Apr 2004 Location: Kyonggi do

I would really like to know the answer to this, too (the co-teaching- not the rocket up butt stuff). I was told in no uncertain terms that I am responsible for my classes. They are "co-teaching in name only".

I have to plan all classes, make resourses for 40 students, discipline and teach by myself. Only in the last month have I had co-teachers regularly attending my classes. I had one co-teacher last year who would arrive 30 minutes late, hit the kids, fall asleep and snore, or just not come to class. I was promised that I wouldn't have to 'work' with him this year- but he is my main co-teacher for the 2nd year (high school) students.

I have absolutely no resources and no budget for buying anything with. I have made all my materials with my money. I'm a trained teacher and I just can't bring myself to not 'do my best'.

When I sugested yesterday that the Korean teachers might like to help me- they replied, "No, because it's your class".

The level of my students is very low... Sad

gsxr750r · Joined: 29 Jan 2007

Then it's your show, wowser. The schools seem to interpret it to their liking. Unfortunately, you seem to have little support.

It's just important to find out where you stand from the get-go with the co-teaching thing. Learn their expectations. Sounds like you did that.

Scouse Mouse · Joined: 07 Jan 2007 Location: Cloud #9

Officially, we are assistants to help with pronunciation, but I have been told that when I am in the class I should be doing 80% of the work and the co-teacher does the other 20%.

In reality I work like this:

Produce a lesson plan 2 days before the lesson switch (I see each class once every 2 weeks). I then give it to the teachers so they know what I have planned and they can make any suggestions (they haven't yet).

At the beginning of each individual class I ask the co teacher if they need any time that is unplanned, such as to review homework or to finish off a previous topic. We then agree that they need x minutes at the beginning or the end.

In the class, the co-teacher stands at the opposite end of the room to wherever I may wander (I walk about a lot) and helps keep the kids quiet. During activities we both patrol and offer assistance to the kids, and if it is needed I give the co-teacher a nod to offer a translation of something I have said. During scripted examples the co-teacher will usually assist me with the demonstration roleplay and if a third person is needed we call on a kid.

Discipline is down to me. If the kids act up the co-teacher will try to make them behave, but if they need disciplining further than that it is up to me to do it. My co-teachers think it is important that I am seen as a proper teacher... If I have kids stand up (with their hands up) the co-teacher will usually patrol around them with one of those sticks that the kids fear so much.

The only time a co-teacher has ever disciplined a kid without any prompt from me has been when they have said something in Korean about me, knowing I would not understand.

I guess I have a pretty good working environment, all in all!

bosintang · Posted: Thu Apr 05, 2007 10:40 pm Post subject:

Itt's officially the K-teacher that's in charge and our official role is ELI (English Language Instructor). We are not qualified teachers in the Korean public school system, so have no authority to be in charge.

How your duties are divided is up to you and your co-teachers, but I believe all demo lessons are designed with team-teaching and 50/50 participation from teachers in mind. Anyone starting a new job should check out David Deubel's excellent co-teaching questionnaire .

In my case: I prepare and deliver the lesson myself, and I'm not kissing anyones ass, it's just more comfortable doing that. I do ask my main co-teacher for advice sometimes while planning a lesson.

I like when I work well with a co-teacher, and if a co-teacher comes to class regularly and speaks English well, and I'm trying more to incorporate them into my lessons. However, I add them into my lesson and don't plan on *needing* them, so it's no big deal to me whether they show up or not. The best co-teachers are the ones that speak some English in their own classes and let the students work things out for themselves, and it shows in the students confidence when they are alone with me. So in a kind of ironic way, the best co-teachers are the ones I need the least.