Korean Job Discussion Forums

fromtheuk · Joined: 31 Mar 2007

Hi. I work at a public school in Gyeonggi.

My co-teacher said next semester I should teach 80% of the class and she should teach 20% of the class.

She said this is what is recommended of native teachers. I can't remember anything in the contract about that.

However, I don't mind, because she will help out if the kids don't understand what I'm saying.

My question is, is this true? I am a skeptical person and would like to know if this is true or untrue.

Thanks.

tob55 · Joined: 29 Apr 2007

This is the new philosophical approach the MOE is taking to try and jump start the language education levels of their students. It is something that was covered at the GEPIK orientation and I'm fairly sure other orientations will also be talking about it...Yes it is true, and it will take a bit of time to determine if it will be effective as an instructional strategy or not...

ttompatz · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea

tob55 · Joined: 29 Apr 2007

Figures...The Provincial supervisors are already adjusting the percentages to fit with what they think will be best...However, the MOE issued a statement that it was to be 80% - 20%...We shall wait and see how it plays out...

butlerian · Joined: 04 Sep 2006 Location: Korea

All of the teachers in my town teach the middle school students entirely, with the K-teacher just occasionally translating.

Bear256 · Joined: 28 Dec 2006 Location: Anacortes, Washington USA

I have only 6 of my 25 classes a week with a co-teacher. He told me right off the bat that he expected me to do at least 80% of the load as that is why I am there. He takes care of discipline and explains any concepts they don't understand and usually runs the game as they are English versions of Korean games. We just did our demo class and it went very well. I am actually quite happy this way. I don't have to unteach crappy pronunciation and the students aren't spending half their time being spoken to in Korean. What has happened is that they have gotten to where they understand enough of what I say that my co-teachers doesn't have to explain much any more. So I have found the 80%/20% to be an improvement rather than a burden. I probably should add that my 1st co-teacher did the 80/20 thing with him doing the 80 and me the 20. Days and days of "I like phishee" drove me up the wall. My part was to hear and correct the kids songs and chants that he had them memorize. Nothing else. The new way is waaaayyyy better for the kids and for me as well.

(I know, I know.....just call me a ramblin' man.......)

fromtheuk · Joined: 31 Mar 2007

Thank you everybody

xCustomx · Joined: 06 Jan 2006

Some of you actually teach 40-50% of the time? One of my CTs stood in the back of the room today and didn't say a single word the entire class.

I usually conduct 70-90% of the class by myself and only use the CT to translate things. I prefer it this way because I can do what I want, but I there are times when I'm worn out and would like to see the CT pick up some of the slack

icnelly · Joined: 25 Jan 2006 Location: Bucheon

One of the GPOE supervisors came to "officiate" my position at the school before the May orientation and said roughly the same thing, BUT 50-50 was still acceptable. He said up to %80 can be for the native speaker, as they want team-teaching/co-teaching over 1 person running the class. No concrete rule to it, but hopefully it will become a widespread practice: teaming teaching when cooperative rocks!