Korean Job Discussion Forums

[garykasparov]

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/opinon/2008/05/161_23653.html


How to Teach Different Levels of Students

Dear editor,

I am writing in regards to an April 21 article, ``Plan on Grouping Students Faces Rough Sailing."

I have been working in the public school system in Korea for more than six years. I have witnessed many proposals, policies, and practices that truly boggle the mind.

The most recent, separating students according to their test scores, is another in a line of well-intentioned, yet poorly implemented policies.

The concept of leveling students to be able to offer them tailored lessons to meet their needs is warranted, and I applaud the administration. Unfortunately, the reality of how it is being implemented in schools is much different.

There are no specialized textbooks for each level, so students are being taught from the same textbooks as before, no matter if they are in the low, middle, or high level class. Moreover, the exams they are given are exactly the same, as well.

According to the policy, the logic behind separating our students according to their test scores is to benefit our students in being able to offer them special attention.

How are we offering our students special attention and tailored lessons in having to use the exact same material as the other groups?

Better yet, if the administration expects teachers to help each group by focusing on the areas where our students need help, why are we to continue testing them with the same exam?

Don't get me started on the numerous errors found in the English textbooks. You would think that we could get some qualified English-speaking experts to write the English textbooks. There is no excuse for allowing these books to continue being used.

Is it too much to ask for three levels of ``error-free'' English books for each grade and three different levels of exams?

Admittedly, the administration is trying to advance the quality of education in Korea, but the mindset of some of the most vocal, yet backward-thinking needs to be changed. I just wish the majority would take an active interest in what is best for our children, rather than what merely ``looks'' good.

If students do not attain mastery at each level, shouldn't they be required to take the level again? Wanting our children pushed on to the next grade or level without mastery is nothing more than ignorance.

Let's hope the administration ignores some of the critics and maintains this policy, but with improved execution and ``quality'' resource support.

Steve Austin
South Chungcheong Province
[email protected]

[Fishead soup]

Don't know how this relates to the skid row alcoholic writer known as Charles Bukowski. Sometimes Henry Chanaski.

[mrsquirrel]

From what I remember in the UK the classes are tiered but they use the same text book.

That was a long time ago though so maybe it has changed.

[Draz]

Using a different text and test would be a disaster for the students. One low test score and you're funneled into Special Ed, with the Special Ed book, and the Special Ed test. At least this way if they work hard it's easy to move up a level (or, alternatively, if they slack they can go down.)

The way it is now, the lower classes get extra time with the material in the book during native speaker class, and the higher classes get to do whatever with the native speaker. It's not perfect, but it beats the special ed approach.

[ED209]

Am I special?

Anyway Steve Austin just sounds stone cold.

The main problem with the levelling(for foreign teachers) is that it is not done on speaking ability, but on something else I have no understanding about. My classes are said to be levelled, but I'm faced with kids who won't stop talking to me about themselves and kids who can't even tell me their name(all in the same class!).

With most books(incl public schools') you can provide supplementary materials to help poorer students or to give brighter students something extra to do.

Many NETs don't use the books anyway and prefer to tailor more interesting lessons to the students.

Lee Majors is crying now.

[yingwenlaoshi]

Don't bring that guy's name up ever again.

[ED209]

[Draz]

[butlerian]

Bukowski is actually a decent guy. I've met him so I know.