Korean Job Discussion Forums

[poet13]

Hey all. I'm doing a demo class in a couple of weeks that's open to all Korean English teachers in my province. So far, more than 35 teachers have signed up.

They will be grading me. The province will provide them with question sheets, and a ranking sheet.

For my own part, I see this as a good opportunity to recieve constructive feedback. I would like to give them a few things to think about during the class.

-Pace of the class.
-Amount of material covered.
-Does the lesson include everyone?
-Speakers pronunciation and enunciation.
-Speakers talking speed. (I tend to talk too fast.)
-Adequate repetition.
-Does the class promote confidence in the learners?
-Ability of the teacher to explain concepts in a way that the majority of the students will understand.

Can anybody add to this? Or, can anybody with experience in this share what their post class feedback session was like?

[kigolo1881]

Is it a demo class, in which the Korean teachers observe you teaching students (and if, which grade?) or are the KTs participating in it?

[poet13]

Ah. The k-teachers will observe one of my 3rd year middle school classes. Class is all boys. My co-teacher will take part, but just for a few translations. 90+% will be me.

In the post class question and answer period, I was hoping to get feedback from the visiting teachers, but i was hoping to provide some suggestions for them. It would be a shame to only hear, "good job!", when I have an opportunity to get something really constructive out of it.

[deadman]

Maybe print out a feedback sheet and distribute it to the foreigners, and collect and keep it for personal use.

In demo classes I'm reluctant to give constructive criticism, except in the most general and positive terms - you never know how it's going to go down with the FT, and the KT is usually being evaluated as well, possibly to a very strict standard, and I might also cause them to lose face or something - I don't know.

I think explicitly requesting the info on paper might be your best bet for getting the feedback you want.

[mrsquirrel]

Must be nice to be given so much notice.

I was told last week that it was back on after being canceled.

Have you had a look through the available lesson plans from last year.

People have created works of art on there. 15 page lesson plans with a full analysis of the students feeling on English.

Some are even translated into Korean and English. Looks like a lot of work for one 45 minute period.

[YoshaMazov]

Just so you know, demo classes are supposed to exemplify "team teaching." If your KT only chimes in every now and then you'll probably hear complaints about it.

[mrsquirrel]

That is what I thought as well.

However my CT appears to have forgotten how to speak.

If they hadn't cancelled the meeting last month where they could have educated us on team teaching then I would have learned more.

[JD1982]

Don't ask.

They'll have no idea what's good or bad. Mainly because they all don't speak English.

If you do ask, they'll just give a lot of BS.

[bosintang]

[poet13]

I think all of the posters made valid points. I will be the only foreigner. So far we are at +25 Korean English teachers, 3 vice-principals, 4 principals (one retired), plus the 4 Korean English teachers from my school. Should be interesting. I do want the feedback though. Someone made a very good point about team teaching and that the Korean teacher may also be graded. I will seek a better balance of time between us, but not at the expense of the lesson...gotta get to class....

[ED209]

These observations are rather pointless since most people don't co-teach. The classes are just propaganda for the school. It's a pony show. The feedback will equally be pointless since they will be discussing a lesson taught differently to your normal teaching style.

Also feedback is carried out in a room in front of everyone so don't expect any honest answers most will be contrived. People will say good or bad things just because they feel forced to say something.

Also 25 Korean teachers turning up is not a good idea. I went to a demo with around 8 KTs where two would not shut up.

[ChuckECheese]

[poet13]

"These observations are rather pointless since most people don't co-teach. The classes are just propaganda for the school. It's a pony show. The feedback will equally be pointless since they will be discussing a lesson taught differently to your normal teaching style. "

While I may find a few things for the Korean English teacher to translate, my teaching style will not change. I absolutely refuse to prep, contrive, or stage my classes, demo or otherwise.
Also, my school didn't ask for the demonstration class. The EPIK provincial director asked for it.

[ED209]

[mrsquirrel]

I went to one in Yongin on Tuesday.

Beautiful language lab, interactive white board, decent PA system. There had been a lot of money spent.

Lesson was fairly well presented. A communicative lesson on food. Obviously rehearsed since it finished 15 minutes ahead of schedule (not rehearsed enough). Kids were well behaved.

Co-Teacher admitted that she had chosen this especially for this lesson. Four weeks before.

I don't really see what it was all about. It was just a demonstration of a communicative approach lesson with a KT who said a few things at the start.

Feedback was ok if you like some Korean person who is important telling you that what mistakes you made. Not enough new lexis. More time should have been spent learning more - not sure if she understands the limits of the human brain or not. I suspect not.

Basically it was a nice show. I got a free pen and a bottle of orange juice for my missus. Also got to look at their library which whilst impressive was locked defeating the purpose of having books for students.