Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Michelle]

Hi There,

Anyone got a co-teacher who just came in and started videotaping your class?

The kids saw the camera and wouldn't behave from then on!!!!

She asked me to look at it and have a think about what I am doing wrong.

I think she expects me to be a Korean. She acted like I was the odd one out, we are all professionals crap.

Watching the video I have a feeling this is partly a cultural difference. My students aren't seated like soldiers but theirs are.

Gees,

[thegadfly]

My dad once said, "the Sun even shines on a dog's arse once in a while...."

Do not disregard a message just because of its source or method of delivery. Your co-teacher sounds terribly rude, but that doesn't necessarily mean your co-teacher doesn't have a point. I have no idea if your co-teacher DOES have a point or not -- but the "we are all professionals" line is not necessarily crap. Apparently she thinks you are doing something wrong. Apparently, she is honest enough to bring it to your attention (rudely perhaps, or in the wrong way). So what is it she thinks you are doing wrong? If you can identify it, can you support it? That is, is there an educationally sound reason for doing things the way you do them instead of the way she and the other teachers might prefer to them? Are you objecting to the criticism because you feel she is wrong, because you feel she was rude, because your ego was hurt, or for some other reason?

If she is rude but right, fix the problem she pointed out and explain how/why she was rude, and how you would prefer to be informed of problems in the future. If you have educationally sound reasons for doing things your way, use the "we are all professionals" line and explain the purposes and goals behind your way of doing things. If it is just your ego, I'm sorry.

[n�fara]

You should have screamed like a banshee and told her that, in your religion, being videotaped is tantamount to stealing your soul, so what is she trying to do!?

Actually, not sure what I'd do in that situation. A surprise-attack videotaping can be rather disruptive and isn't the best indication of how the class behaves normally. How would she like to have someone jump in on her classes with a camera?

If she wanted to do it right, I think the students should have been prepped for it, and it would have been nice you had been too It can actually be pretty helpful to later see what's happening on video, when you can analyze it and not be thinking about the next part of the lesson.

Otherwise, I'd chalk this up to her being spiteful, or at the very least misunderstanding the best way to give constructive criticsm.

[nobbyken]

Maybe she wants you to use 'co-teaching' style, with a licensed Korean teacher in the room to keep the kids orderly?

[boyne11]

now, let us think about this a bit....

would your ko-tex have done the same thing if you were a korean? if the answer is "no" then she's rude racist b....

[Young FRANKenstein]

[thegadfly]

Young Frankenstein,



Now, that is just childish to resort to that kind of thing -- I would NEVER do something like that!

I would suggest she bring in a video camera the next day and tape her so that the OP could see what the KT is doing right! Then, I would suggest that the OP have all the teachers in the school watch it with her, and point out to her all of the great things the KT is doing that the OP ought to emulate, and have them explain to the OP the educationally sound reasons behind each of the KT's routines....

[Michelle]

[Young FRANKenstein]

[thegadfly]

My smilies were supposed to show the humor of the situation...I really need to invent some sarcastic marks <sigh>.

I guess if I have to explain, it isn't funny...but....

See, the KT would be all upset and nervous about being taped, and the added pressure of having to show exactly the right teaching style that the KT's fellow KT's would see...well that would rattle most every KT I have met...so the KT would have a really bad lesson, then all the other teachers would see it and and and and....

Never mind

[Young FRANKenstein]