Korean Job Discussion Forums

Snowkr · Joined: 03 Jun 2005

I've heard them referred to as Korean teachers, Korean team teachers and Ko-teachers...

Just wondering how it works in the public school when a foreign teacher is recruited. Is there a Korean teacher in the classroom with you? How long do your classes usually last... ie... 50 minutes, 60 minutes... etc?

I'm sure the success of the the foreign teacher in the classroom depends a lot on the administration of the school but but what role does the Korean teacher play in classroom management and discipline?

Maybe I should ask... what role should the Korean teacher play in this?

xCustomx · Joined: 06 Jan 2006

Elementary classes = 40 min.
Middle school = 45 min.
High school = 50 min.

As far as the role that the Korean teacher takes, I think a lot of that depends on you. I recommend speaking with each of your teachers and asking them what their expectations are. You may find that some of the teachers just want you to repeat certain passages in the textbook, or you may end up teaching 100% of the class by yourself. I have 1 teacher who I really enjoy working with because we share a lot of the responsibilites in the classroom, but others don't do diddly (I prefer it this way sometimes).

You should look back a couple of pages and read the thread about the role of the native teacher and Korean teacher. Some people were saying they teach 50% of the class, while others are 70/30 or 90/10.

mrsquirrel · Joined: 13 Dec 2006

from the dictionary

Co-teacher

1) A inanimate human that can be used as a door stop or a chair warmer.
2) An enigma that is meant to occupy a classroom with the FT (see Dancing Monkey)
3) The person who is meant to share the workload in the classroom with their FT (see English Language Instructor) and create lessons in which students will leave with their knowledge increased.

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

All in all, it will depend on each schools/co-teachers policy as to what relationship you would hold w/ your co-teacher. personally, I teach 100% of all my classes as they recognise the fact that I have much experience teaching.

Snowkr · Joined: 03 Jun 2005

Thanks for the quick responses.

Has anyone ever considered themselves as babysitters for the classes? I expect them to use Korean... that's a given. Of course I'd prefer they speak in English but I'm starting to loosen up a bit in that area. I need to learn Korean.

I am not finishing up my M.A. in TESOL and flying all the way back to Korea to get stuck in a classroom with 40 students who I have to babysit day after day.

Anyone care to comment?

bosintang · Posted: Wed Jul 11, 2007 6:59 pm Post subject:

insam · Joined: 17 May 2007

this is the second funniest subject line i've ever seen. thanks. cheers.

Yu_Bum_suk · Joined: 25 Dec 2004

It could be someone whose name is on a piece of paper beside yours on a schedule for a class you always teach all by yourself.

It could be someone who teaches a class pretty well by him/herself, occasionally asking you to pronounce something in native English.

Or it could be anything in between.

some waygug-in · Joined: 25 Jan 2003

I have to ask, what was the first?

About co-teachers; your relationship with your co-teacher(s) will greatly effect the quality of your experience. Try to keep a good rapport with them....even if they are pissing you off.

The better you are able to communicate and work with them, the better your experience will be. Be warned however that some may not speak a lot of English and thus your problems will be manifold.

Where I work, it's the one's whose English is the worst that try to control the class the most, I guess they are afraid of looking bad (losing face) so that is something you will have to deal with.

Good luck.

Yu_Bum_suk · Joined: 25 Dec 2004

Remember as well that at a puplic school you're part of a hierarchy that's determined by age, experience, age, reputation, age, expertise, age, educational background, age, ability to ingratiate, age, peer acceptance and approval, age, gender, and age. This strongly effects your relationship with co-teachers. When I have a lot of translation work to do for a handout I dump it on a newbie KET. I try to avoid giving extra work to senior KETs. If a senior teacher wants me to edit something that would get priority over a newbie teacher's request. A senior teacher's opinion on any matter is something I'd at least show the impression of caring about. A junior teacher's opinion only matters if it relates to something coming down from the top.

When it comes to preparation and teaching this is something one strongly has to take into account.

Binch Lover · Joined: 25 Jul 2005

I don't think anyone actually answered the original question.

English classes with native speakers in the public school system are "supposed" to be conducted with a co-teaching system. This means that the native speaker and Korean English teacher share preparation and conduct the class simultaneously.

However, in practice this is rarely the case. In my case there are no dedicated English teachers at my very small elementary school. So, each class's homeroom teacher attends the class and, depending on their personality and English ability, either just look after discipline or at best help with demonstrating language and games.

I would say that on average I teach 90% of all my classes and I prepare them alone. However, this really does vary from school to school. If you have a dedicated co-teacher, then your life is a lot easier in terms of preparation although you have less control over what you teach obviously.

So, it's pretty much luck of the draw.

Jizzo T. Clown · Joined: 27 Mar 2006 Location: at my wit's end

Snowkr · Joined: 03 Jun 2005

Thanks very much to all!
I guess my question has been answered...

Fishead soup · Joined: 24 Jun 2007 Location: Korea

ddeubel · Joined: 20 Jul 2005

See my Teaching Research folder for a lot of articles on coteaching as well as this ppt which I've used in my workshops.

http://www.esnips.com/doc/f171c0a4-987e-4455-a0cf-2fbd4be9d56f/Co-Teaching-(for-Teachers)

I also posted the module I'll be using next semester and you can basically with the module lecture sheets, go through the material yourself.

More importantly, you might see my recommendations to ETIS for coteaching and the results of my own surveys. Also a whole set of anonymous comments from teachers, many which relate to the practical coteaching dynamic in the school. click Teaching Research

As so well said by one person - start off correctly with this relationship, it will effect your whole year and being.

DD