Korean Job Discussion Forums

dmbfan · Joined: 09 Mar 2006

Ok......been at this public school for 6 months now. I had free reign in my lessons, which was great. The curriculum they use is awful. However, i realize that other teachers do it, but...my idea of teaching is not memorization, and eye candy. So, I've done a lot of task based learning, commincative learning and often using the Lexical approach. I thought getting the kids to actually speak was the best idea.

During these past six months, there have been problems. Lazy, un-cooperative K-teachers who don't know their asses from a hole in the ground. The students have steadily become more apathetic and disrespectful.

So, last weekt he gloves came off, and told the school to either solve these problems, who find another teacher. I made out three simple requests.

1. Have the K-teachers monitor student behavior and keep them in line.
2. Be observant of the class. If the K-teacher can see that they don't understand something, be proactive, intervene and help (instead of standing there, doing nothing for 20 minutes).
3. Set a good example...and inform me of important information, such as having a retarded student in my class (that was swept under the rug as most things are).

So, they have a meeting is assembled, and this is what they decided.

Instead of taking care of those three simple tasks, here is what these monkeys came up with.

1. I will loose my clasroom.
2. I will not teach the classes anymore, but act as an assistant....pronuncing words, phrases.....basically doing nothing but promiting the idea that we unqualified, white monkies who act as tape recorders.
3. I have no inputin the class lessons at all.
4. I have to go to teach class. That means, 22 different classes scattered around the school.
5. I have no say, input or relevant opinion anymore.

I mention the usuall stuff....ya know.....how memorization is useless. The Korean teachers don't even speak English to them....blah, blah.

So, for those who do what I am about to do, how do you guys get through it? Honestly, I don't enjoy just sitting there, watching a Korean teacher "teach Englishee" by making the kids memorize the table of contents (seen it happen).

How do you guys put up with that? I don't consider myself to be the apathetic type, who just say "Not my problem, as long as I get paid".

Any advice?

dmbfan

Luna · Joined: 22 Feb 2007 Location: seoul suburbs

I have no advice. I'm just hoping that my classes don't end up like that in six months.

=/

ED209 · Joined: 17 Oct 2006

This sounds like it could make you really unhappy. It could also turn you into an apathetic teacher and rid you of the skills you have developed and being using these past 6 months. What was your response to the monkeys' solution? Maybe you should move schools.

dmbfan · Joined: 09 Mar 2006

My response............well......................I basically said that "This is what you guys came up with? All you had to do was the three simple things that I mentioned, and you guys completely change the system that I have been doing?"

This is tricky. I told myself I would not quit. If I did put in my notice, I have to give 2 months. When that is up, it will be close to summer break. I'll have the vacation schedule for awhile, come back to this bullshit for another month and a half, and then be finished in October.

On the other hand, this will make an already uhappy situatin worse.

I told them that if they wanted me to leave, then they should just tell me and accpet my resignation. But, instead they have to go this route........phucking ass clowns.

So, how do the rest of you do it?

dmbfan

JJJ · Joined: 27 Nov 2006 Location: Seoul

Wow that is pretty close to the situation I was/am in. I used to do my own thing and loved going to 20 different classes and playing lots of games and getting them involved. There were a handful of nonchalant KT's who just sat there and let the class run wild. Had a few discipline problems and basically told the KT's at a meeting that they should either control the class or quit crying to the V-P when I did.

So March comes along and guess what...I am now a full time babysitter. Lost all the classes and now have to join my KET (we only have 1) for every single class. I just stand there and follow the elementary book. Sing "Oh, no. Don't do that. It's not okay. Oh don't do that." I try to introduce some interesting worksheets and games and I keep hearing, "well, we have no time, we must follow the cirriculum in the teacher's guide".

Bored and frustrated over losing my individual classes but decided a few weeks ago that I would be finished when the contract is due. About 80 days to go. Learned a lot about the system though and this will help in my next job.

celticjay · Joined: 27 Aug 2005

Well, I'm not at all surprised they responded the way they did. For one your request simply put your co-teachers in an akward embarrasing position. Either they agree with your position and admit their faults or they dismiss it, which they did. The Korean system is flawed for sure, I think it is impossible to challenge as a westerner on a 1 year contract. It will just drive you nuts and exhaust you. I would make the best of it and work on developing your relationships with co-teachers so you can influence them subtley. Don't expect anything from them. Develope the lessons yourself, and don't count on your co-teacher to intervene. It's better to just take all the responsibility. Soon any co-teacher will feel uninvolved and start to help out. That's what I did and it wasn't always perfect, but it did keep me sane.

oskinny1 · Joined: 10 Nov 2006 Location: Right behind you!

dmbfan · Joined: 09 Mar 2006

dmbfan · Joined: 09 Mar 2006

mrsquirrel · Joined: 13 Dec 2006

Alyallen · Posted: Sun Apr 29, 2007 7:11 pm Post subject:

Damn...

I haven't been in that situation before. I'd rather quit then become bitter and totally lose faith in the system...

Resign...2 months of crap and then it will be time for hiring for the next term anyway...

Good luck!

kurva anjad · Joined: 19 Apr 2007

riley · Joined: 08 Feb 2003 Location: where creditors can find me

I sympathise with you but after remembering how you got into a yelling match with your coworker (right or wrong, that's what you did) and now giving them a list of demands of what you want, it's no surprise that they took everything away from you. I have a feeling that you've made it so that they've wanted to not work with you.

dmbfan · Joined: 09 Mar 2006

dmbfan · Joined: 09 Mar 2006

Wow.......I am amazed at how many people know so much about everything on this forum. Granted, opinions are opinions. Fair enough.

But, for those who are too caught up in being the old wise buddah, levitating on the mountain top......................I will go back to my original question.

For those who do this, how do you get through it?

And, for those who want to bring up old crap. eat it..............yeah, I should not have yelled at the K-teacher..........but, I'd do it again. She should have known to tell me something like that.

With all of the wisdom that comes from this forum, it is amazing that teachers are still having problems...................... Rolling Eyes

dmbfan

P.S.