Korean Job Discussion Forums

Juggertha · Joined: 27 May 2003 Location: Anyang, Korea

Yeah, I too have seen a few Koreans that should not have been teaching.. at least not conversation classes of any sort.

Heck, it seem like some girls learn English on the hill (you know which one) and then try to make it in a school. Sad. Sad

Mr. Pink · Joined: 21 Oct 2003 Location: China

Reading this makes me laugh in a way:

I teach at a highschool where the students study a few different English classes. Perhaps between 4-6 different English classes a year. 1 of those classes is with a native speaker, the rest are with Korean teachers.

One year I felt bad, because I taught the students something, and it was on their exam. Another Korean teacher taught them it, but totally wrong. They believed him over me, and so a lot of them lost like 10-15pts on my exam. So I do feel for you on some Korean teachers making mistakes. The guy who taught them wrong shouldn't really be an English teacher, but that is another story, for another time.

Let me just say 1 bad apple can ruin a barrel of apples, but if you catch the bad apple in time, you can save that barrel of apples. I'd suggest you work on getting that Korean teacher replaced. They are totally a dime a dozen in this country.

Good luck and keep us updated!

tmcurro · Joined: 08 Aug 2003 Location: S.Korea

Mr. Pink,

I agree with you totally. I guess my real motivation in going to my boss instead of talking to the teacher is that I would, in fact, like to see her replaced. I have nothing against her personally. I just don't think that she is fit to teach. Some of my students seem to realise as well, as they have told me that they "don't like her."

I know that it is part of Korean culture to believe a fellow Korean over the (stupid) waygook, but does anyone else find this especially frustrating when concerning English, which is OUR language, and not that of the Korean teachers?

I have found that my credibility improves if I explain to the kids that it is my language and not the Korean teachers'. I also explain that the Korean teachers may have made some mistakes. Kind of a touchy situation though, as I don't want to cause them to lose face. I have given up on this one particular teacher though. She has butchered enough lessons.

Mr. Pink · Joined: 21 Oct 2003 Location: China

tmcurro,

Here is what I wonder. After 5+yrs at your current job, haven't you build up some crediablity where the students wouldn't question you, or your director would listen to you closely?

It was my first year at this school when the students went with a Korean over me. That was the last time that has happened, as I do know my stuff, and what happens now is a lot of Korean teachers ask my advice before making their exam. (Well they ask me or one of the other native English teachers.)

The thing about Korean teachers is sometimes their English is crap, but they are experts at handling parents - so you might want to find out if that is why your director is keeping her around. If she is a wiz at keeping the kids signed up and keeping the parents happy, I doubt they will ditch her. However if she is bad in that area, that is just another point you can use in your favor.

tmcurro · Joined: 08 Aug 2003 Location: S.Korea

I apologise for another poorly-written, fragmented response. It is more of a brain-dump and the thoughts don't necessarily flow well.

Kwangjuchicken · Posted: Tue Dec 02, 2003 8:25 pm Post subject: Re: Five years...

[quote="Austin"]Tmcurro,

I take it that part of your post was a bit of a rant, as I am sure you have developed a more balanced perspective on life and work after being in Korea for five years.......................................................

.............................................How might "flipping" help you?

Austin[/quote

Being here for 5 years does this too you Shocked

. I am also on year five Shocked

. Plenty of time for "the straw that broke the camel's back syndrome". Just for the record, this camel (although really a chicken) has experienced that last straw about 1000 times so far Wink

.

GRK · Joined: 07 Feb 2003

erlyn,
a couple of words that come to mind are:
the use of 'poor' - She has a difficult time, she is very poor.
the use of 'comfortable' - I don't like this school, it is not comfortable.

Lots of others.

Re the correction of foreign teacher's language ability: this does not only happen in Korea, I've had numerous Korean students do the same when teaching them overseas. It is not uncommon to hear teachers complain about this mattter. They also seem to be the most difficult to keep in their appropriate level. No sooner do they arrive when we hear, "this level is too low, my friend is in a higher level." I think that if they have seen the subject matter on paper previously, they assume they know it. Production however is another issue, and often seems to be thought of as less important, which may be why speech errors are often disregarded - or regarded lightly. (Time doesn't permit a more comprehensive post.)

Ilsanman · Joined: 15 Aug 2003 Location: Bucheon, Korea

I sympathise with a Korean teacher, who is teaching a language that is not 100% familiar to them.

The kids do, however, believe that a Korean teacher is more likely to be correct than a foreigner. I even had a kid ask me when I learned to speak english. I said 'When I was 2-3 years old'. They were shocked. I don't understand why.

One teacher wrote on the board 'I forgot mailing the letter'.
I corrected in when I saw it to 'I forgot to mail the letter'.

Their response: But Jay teacher said that is correct. I replied by saying 'Well I am better at english than Jay teacher.' They still didn't believe me.

riverboy · Joined: 03 Jun 2003 Location: Incheon

Just explain to them that Jay teacher is actually a pabo.

Austin · Joined: 23 May 2003 Location: In the kitchen

Kwangjuchicken,

Quite a few of us have been here for more than five years, but I doubt that many of us would feel that it would be appropriate to "flip" out.

I could be wrong, but the people that I have known that spent quite a few "successful" years in Korea dealt with life much differently. Time, in and of itself, does not help everyone develop a balanced perspective, as there are new-comers that handle things "better" than some seasoned vets.

Austin

Zyzyfer · Posted: Tue Dec 02, 2003 11:18 pm Post subject:

jajdude · Joined: 18 Jan 2003

This is an interesting thread. I guess many of us have met a teacher or two who could barely speak English. I remember a couple with whom conversation was impossible without translation. Often they are good at explaining grammar in Korean, and maybe their reading skills are good enough to teach kids basic English. It is frustrating when the students tell you the Korean teacher said something you know is wrong. I simply say, hey, I know this language well because it is my language. That usually works. And I wouldn't be arrogant enough to imagine I could tell a Korean he or she was using or teaching mistakes in Korean! I figure Korean is a hard language for English speakers. So I figure English is probably just as hard for Koreans, especially with the so little exposure to foreigners and foreign cultures currently seen in this country.

Mr. Pink · Joined: 21 Oct 2003 Location: China

Zyzyfer · Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2003 6:50 pm Post subject:

Yea, it is nuts. I'm just wondering what the formula is at your school so that I know what to recommend. It's just as I thought; you've got more English teachers, so you can focus more on a core group and get to know them very well. Me, I've got 840 faces and ten students that I can name. Not b****ing(well okay, I am, but not at you)...just affirming that what I think is the right way to go about teaching really is.

adventureman · Joined: 18 Feb 2003