Korean Job Discussion Forums

[fromtheuk]

On Friday, my co-teacher was teaching an annoying song called 'can do kid' for 4th grade, to support the 'Sorry, I can't' lesson for 4th grade.

As I've said previously, she gets on my nerves.

We recently taught this song to the 6th grade for an open class. She teaches the song with some awful dance moves, which accompany the words of the song, which are used for the purpose of explaining the words.

Anyway, I hate the way she kind of dismissively points to me during class when it is my turn to do an activity, and I feel she is being rude when she does it.

Almost like a slave, she kind of points to me, as though she is ordering me to do things, which I dislike.

It was 4th grade class and she was about to start the song, she turned to me and abruptly asked me to do the actions. I said no, to which she looked shocked, there was a slight pause, she did the song, I read the words out to the class afterwards and the lesson ended.

She asked me why I refused, looking angry. Inside I was thinking I'm glad you're shocked, because I am not employed to say yes to everything, for the sake of it.

I explained to her I felt it was a complete waste of time, I said I was employed to teach English and not to dance. I said to her the 'let's chant/let's sing' is part of the curriculum and that's why I do it, whereas this song was something outside of the cd rom she wanted to introduce.

I explained I read out the words to the song, but didn't want to do the actions, because it was stupid. She then talked about how on the previous day, she had forced some students to attend my special class, because they didn't want to come.

I thanked her for her effort, but advised her not to try. I said to her that some of the students have such a bad attitude, that I didn't want to teach them, if all they were going to do is misbehave.

I explained my job is to teach English, if students find it exciting or boring, that's not my problem, I will try my best to make it interesting, but if the students find it boring, that's not my problem.

I said to her some students don't want to be in a classroom, full stop. We all know what they can be like at the end of a school day.

I said I am employed to teach, and I am doing that. Before Summer camp last year and before teachers class began, my co-teacher repeatedly said the class should be exciting.

On Friday I cited her past comments and I explained to her that it is not my problem if the students are excited or bored, my job is to teach English, make it exciting as I can, and if the kids don't like it, that's not my problem.

She agreed I don't have to dance, because she knows that is not my style, I'm a calm/reserved person. She also said she wants me to try and make the students feel enthusiastic about learning English.

I agreed with that, but repeatedly explained that if my best efforts still meant students weren't excited about English, that was not my problem, nor part of my job. I am employed to teach English, not to be exciting, boring, entertaining etc.

I also said I agree I should try and make lessons interesting, but I said to her the attitude of some students was bad, and I didn't see anything 'special' about that.

I also said if she had concerns about the number of students signing up for winter camp, she shouldn't worry. I thought to myself, if the students don't want to be there, but are forced to attend, if they behave bad, both myself and them won't want to be there.

I said to her it's no problem for me if there was no winter camp, because I would spend the time by sitting in my office.

I've also noticed whenever I walk in the room in the morning I usually greet her first, she never extends the same courtesy to me, as I left work on Friday I didn't say farewell, she said bye to me first and I responded with a very quick bye as a reply.

I felt really good to tell her my honest thoughts about matters. And even though she looked a bit angry during our conversation, we still didn't argue. Friday was my last teachers class, I am so glad that is over with.

Lastly, my view is Koreans are in denial as regards their own students. They seem to think that if students behave badly and don't feel 'excited' about something, that can only mean the teacher's lesson is not exciting enough and they are lacking in some way.

They can't address the fact the students have a very poor attitude sometimes, and in my view the students are not doing us any favours by turning up to class. Call me old-fashioned, but if you choose to show up for a lesson, you should at least behave normally, and if you can't do that or aren't willing to, to blame the teacher for a lack of excitement is preposterous.

The teacher is there to teach the students, and if the student has a bad attitude before the lesson atually begins, the blame lies with the student, how do they know if a lesson is exciting, when it hasn't even begun?!!!

I do accept though if the lesson is boring, or if the teacher has a track record of being boring, that can influence perceptions. But I've noticed the students are quite shallow, when the Korean teacher does similar teaching activities to the native teacher, the students suddenly find it more exciting, and that's probably because the Korean teacher has more authority than the clown.

[Yu_Bum_suk]

Is she older or younger than you, and who has more teaching experience? That will determine, by Korean standards, whether or not she's out of line. If it's 4th grade elementary, unless your Korean is shit hot or you're just a natural at keeping 10-year-olds' attention, you're probably going ot have to rely on her a lot.

[spliff]

[jadarite]

I have played some songs so they can hear them, and the ones who want to sing jump right in and sing. The others who don't want to, read the songs like a book. I see that as a win-win situation instead of forcing the teacher (like myself who can't sing or dance) and students to sing.

[icnelly]

[fromtheuk]

She is about 28 and I am 34. She is out of line pointing at me like that, but I am not going to give her the importance she doesn't deserve by saying anything to her about it.

I am just going to avoid her like the plague, speak to her if there is a need or if she speaks to me first and in future as a joke I may point to her very dismissively in class when it's her turn to do something.

I don't need to rely on her really because she can only control the students when she shouts. The male teachers at the school control the students without any problem.

[icnelly]

[Binch Lover]

Are you the guy that claimed making materials wasn't part of the job description? If I were a KT, I would hate to have you as my native speaker. You sound lazy, pedantic and a complete dry sh1te.

With regard to doing dance moves, ever heard of TPR? You may look like an idiot but if it helps the students to remember, suck it up.

Basically, while your coteacher should not be disrespecting you in front of the students, I really don't blame her. It sounds like you have no passion for teaching whatsoever and are just there to show up and take the money. That's your prerogative but don't complain if people don't respect you as a teacher.

[fromtheuk]

No Binch lover, I am the guy who said I wouldn't make materials for the sake of it, even when there is no need at all to make them. For your information I have actually made materials of my own.

I may sound lazy to you, but my KT told me I am a perfect teacher which makes me even more confused as regards why she behaves like a schizo.

Pedantic, maybe, a dry sh^te, no way, I'll show you my trash bags after they're filled, my bowels work fine. Whoops......sorry.....you were calling me a dry sh^te, you're a class act binch lover! Thank you for your kindness.

I've done TPR before but if you think dancing like a girl is desirable then I suggest you verify your own sexual orientation.

I behave like a fool in most classes, but on my own terms, so I can't apologize for refusing to dance, I hate dancing, it's sissy.

You said my co-teacher shouldn't disrespect me, but you contradict yourself by saying you can't blame her. If you think it is ok/normal/acceptable to behave like a spoilt brat when you don't get your own way, that says more about your mentality than mine.

I have no passion for teaching, but sometimes I enjoy it. How excited can anybody be repeating 'I like apples' 5 days a week. I don't mind about your views about me as a teacher (even though I'm allegedly perfect) but if I am always civil to my co-teacher and she is unable to reciprocate that, and treats me dismissively instead, I honestly feel pretty happy that I irritate her that much.

Seeing as she confessed to me she deliberately made life hard for me at the start of the job, and even now lacks basic non-verbal manners, I don't give a flying saucer what she thinks. And she can stick that in her coffee and stir it!

Unlike some 'native teachers' I'm realistic. This is a job plain and simple, if they had data entry jobs here, with the same working hours and benefits I would choose that over teaching anyday.

I'm in this job for the apartment, money, hot climate, high speed internet connection, experience of another culture, and helping my students to learn English, where possible.

[Easter Clark]

[Captain Corea]

[nobbyken]

I had a similar issue a few weeks back with my co-teacher.

Every time the class came in, I would wait till they settled and just before I got up to greet them: she would say,"Can you greet them".

Similar throughout the class, as if she had to tell me what to do.

Things came to a head one day, and between classes I walked over to her desk tgo explain. I said I found her constant commands belittleing.

She apologised and said she didn't know that. I think they're trained that way to show that it's teamwork, ie one teacher leading into the next teachers time etc.

Only our 3rd grade kids love doing moves to the chants. We ask them to make up some and they love it.
Wouldn't think about asking the older kids, but some of the last few songs are so catchy a few of the cooler dudes start dancing. I make sure that is the first desk who gets to leave the room when finished, as a reward and encouragement for them to keep having fun.

I also explained that co-teaching means co-planning, not her making the plan and ordering what to do.

Nice class time now for the last few weeks.

[Roch]

[thegadfly]

You should not be in teaching -- data entry doesn't require any passion or enthusiasm. If your students are not interested, it is very much indeed your problem -- the whole reason to HAVE a teacher is to bring in something that a text or CD doesn't have. If you are repeating "I like apples," five times a week, invest in a frikkin' tape recorder! Better yet, make a tape, sell it to the school, and walk out!

Have no clue why your co-teacher is saying you are a perfect teacher -- you sound like you have ego problems and as a result, do not respond well to criticism. Perhaps she is trying to stoke your self-esteem?

I could give a crap about a bad data-entryer? (entrerarian? entry-inator?) Bad teachers tick me off -- teaching is more than "just a job," or should be, in a world better than this one (that this one could be, if more folks cared to try).

Do everyone a favor and go into another line of work.

[crazy tigger]

Someone else who agrees that if the kids aren't interested then it is your problem, or else how will you teach them? You sound very inflexible in your approach, "they will learn the way I want them to or not at all" and as for repeating the same sentence 5 times a week, have you no imagination? Find different ways to deliver and practice the material.