Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Katchafire]

Every now and then GEPIK (I don't know from experience about the others ... but pls contribute anyway) hosts some sort of Foreign Teacher workshop. From my first couple of experiences, and having read some of your views about other such workshops ... it seems that generally they are thought of as a waste of time.
Yes I know they can be great for the social aspect, but in GENERAL ... they dont seem to offer much in the way of particularly helpful teaching ideas, concepts, tools. By that I mean ... using powerpoint - how to make one, videos - how to use them effectively, etc etc.
I know there are some great sites here with already made games, resources ... but I would find a so called 'workshop' more useful to me if they showed me how to use some of those I listed above ... rather than being made to sit in groups and doing role-plays etc.
What do you think ... and what would you LIKE to see in these workshops?
Also, explain your choices if you would.

[smilehappy]

the thing that irritates me the most about these things, is that these classroom demonstrations are often practiced for about 3 weeks before they are presented. They are not a good representation of an actual lesson. I also think they're just for show, like a lot of things going on in the public school system...

[cruisemonkey]

I don't go. I don't make excuses. I just say "No."

[chachee99]

I'm really busy. That's my excuse.

[Easter Clark]

What happens if you don't go? Do they fire you?

[poet13]

The last one I went to was interesting, but I was pretty bent that they didn't tell me about it until the day before, and it was an overnight gig.

[spliff]

My school never signs me up for those things. They feel I'm experienced enough already. I did go to the Everland bash, though. Good feed was about all. But too many freaky looking waygooks complaining about anything and everything.

[nobbyken]

Met some good blokes to chat with and hear about different school experiences.

Always loads of coffee mix and cookies .

[mrsquirrel]

Everland was a complete waste of time.

Nothing was done at it.

Why the DB and WK think that we want to go and listen to some professor make a speech, another woman make a speech, a Canadian do stand up comedy and a Taekwondo show (which was ok I suppose)?

AND THEN

For WK to ask if we have questions then give the mic to DB who talked as much as possible for 15 minutes so that we couldn't ask questions THEN have the gaul to say only two questions can be asked.

AND THEN

The fact that any information they did give at the time was completely made up off the top of their heads.

Basically it was a piss take. Lots of freaky cunts there though.

Giant Camera Man was my favorite.

[spliff]

Yeah, six cameras strung around his neck. My personal favorite was Humpty Dumpty, but jack boot wearing, hippie haired, pierced face guy was also quite amazing...

[agoodmouse]

The taekwondo exhibition was awesome.

[xCustomx]

[Yu_Bum_suk]

I gladly go on my own school's annual workshop (where I'm the only foreigner) but I'll be damned if I'm going on any fucking waygook parade. I'll call in sick and then make a miraculous recovery at 9.20 so I can come in and teach the classes I was originally brought over here to teach. Last term I was lucky enough to have the excuse of a meeting to attend and from what I heard from the naive waygooks who did go on it, I'm really glad I missed out.

If they're so bloody keen for me to attend a 'teachers' workshop' why don't they just offer to reimburse my expenses to attend a KOTESOL conference? Why? Because they don't actually give a shit about us working on anything useful or productive and just want a bunch of photos of all their smiling waygooks to show off as we learn about the greatness of their culture.

[Easter Clark]

[Yu_Bum_suk]