Korean Job Discussion Forums

iain77 · Joined: 12 Apr 2004 Location: here, now

i just started at a public high school. things are good so far. but, i have to help a co-teacher put together a demo lesson for the end of the month. we have discussed it and have some ideas, but if anyone has any suggestions, tips or advice it would be greatly appreciated. cheers.

xCustomx · Joined: 06 Jan 2006

Do a search and you will find some ideas that other teachers have come up with. I did one in July with a jeopardy/golden bell type game, mix and match with prepositions, a worksheet that focused on communication between partners and some short videos that students helped me make.

Students should have a learning objective for the lesson and you should come up with several ways to help them accomplish this. You also need to focus on communication b/w you and your CT and demonstrate team teaching. Don't let your CT put all the burden on you to come up with ideas. I remember when I had to make mine, my ideas were constantly shot down, yet the CT never offered any suggestions of her own.

iain77 · Joined: 12 Apr 2004 Location: here, now

no, she seems ok, thanks for the tips.

laogaiguk · Joined: 06 Dec 2005 Location: somewhere in Korea

This will sound bad, but remember these mean nothing about teaching. They are about the repuation of the school, and only that. They don't care if the students learn anything, only if it looks good and follows what they think is the best way to do it. I mean this. It's a show, not a class.

icnelly · Joined: 25 Jan 2006 Location: Bucheon

It's not ALWAYS about reputation; it depends on your school. I stressed that we shouldn't fake it, and together my C-T and I put on a good lesson. I have the lesson plans from my demo class, so if you want to take a look at them, PM me with your email addy.

laogaiguk · Joined: 06 Dec 2005 Location: somewhere in Korea

PRagic · Joined: 24 Feb 2006

I don't teach at a public school, but having seen all of the posts regarding these demo lessons, maybe it would be a good idea to have someone just POST ONE ON DAVE'S, and get every teacher in the country to use it! This would save a lot of time and effort.

Just a thought.

laogaiguk · Joined: 06 Dec 2005 Location: somewhere in Korea

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

We've got a (high school) demo coming up the end of October and we're already working on it. My coteacher said we should have some sort of reward system (candy) for the students. I told him that surely the Gyeonggi officials know that it's not possible to award candy in every class. Still, he said that we should because it's expected.

I'm less concerned about the lesson itself than I am about the feedback session afterwards. I have a lot of things I want to get off my chest about the lack of direction we FTs are given, but my coteacher told me not to worry about bringing up complaints. Instead, he said, I should talk about "how to teach well." Confused

iain77 · Joined: 12 Apr 2004 Location: here, now

thanks for the advice so far.

icnelly · Joined: 25 Jan 2006 Location: Bucheon

icicle · Joined: 09 Feb 2007 Location: Gyeonggi do Korea

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

I've been to four demo classes, two with only a Korean teacher, in our school, and two with an FT and a KT. Both times in the feedback meeting, the FTs were expected to comment on their lessons. What can I say? "Well, of course the lesson was planned and we actually went through it a couple of times before today. My kids aren't usually this well-behaved. Any thing you can say to help me become a better teacher is appreciated."

Something like that? What are we expected to say here? "I like kimchi and Korean schools are the best in the world" ???

icnelly · Joined: 25 Jan 2006 Location: Bucheon

ddeubel · Joined: 20 Jul 2005

You can see an example (but remember the camera guys were grade 6ers!) on my Batcave site.

I'd make sure you have a good balance. Do some of the book, the conversational parts. Warm up with an activity that is fun and you know works. Make sure there is good dialogue and modeling between you and your coteacher in front of the class. Finish with a song if possible, get the audience singing or in some way, get the teachers watching to interact! Why? Well a classroom can't ever, even in a demo lesson, ignore the environment it finds itself. Use the people that are there, possibilities, what we call a "teaching moment".

Don't use the Q and A as a time to get things off your chest. It's a time to stay positive and if you can raise concerns but still make things seem positive, then okay. but don't do it, if you can't do it in a concilliatory, discussion oriented fashion.

DD