Korean Job Discussion Forums

[pootle]

I had a very nice holiday. My schools did not contribute to the cost of my holiday nor did they give me any extra days of leave, over and above what my contract allows for. Now my co-teachers want me to use my holiday photos and stories as a lesson.

I don't want to do this. I may be being a bit touchy or grumpy or whatever, but why should I have to share my personal life with the students?

Am I over-reacting and should I just whack together something twee about beaches and different cultures?

[Yu_Bum_suk]

Show them photos of you sitting around bored, reading a book, having a beer, playing with the cat, doing the laundry, and watching TV, and tell them look at all the interesting things I did with all the time and money I had on my holiday.

[Fishead soup]

You should just go along with what their asking. Just provide a couple of photo's you took. I've done this before. Your co-teacher will end up doing the majority of the technical work like arranging the PPT. While all you really have to do is provide a brief discription of each photo.

While it may seem silly the long term results of this kind of projects have always worked in my favor. You will also get a lot more respect from other teachers and students which possibly might mean better vacation deals down the road.

[pootle]

Putting a powerpoint togther takes 10 minutes at the most, so the amount of time I have to spend on this isn't the issue. It's more about people thinking that my business is automatically their business. It's the general 'there is no privacy here' thing. Just irked me, that's all.

[sojourner1]

It's OK to make vacation a lesson topic. I did it last week upon returning from vacation. I brought in digital photos and videos I took as well as souvenirs. In a job with no materials or curriculum that allows you the freedom to do anything you want with class time, do as you see fit. They don't care what you do with your classes, because it's a much welcomed break for Korean teachers when it's English class time though you will gain more respect by actually teaching vs. just showing movies and partying all the time. I learned not to take it too serious as this English class time if viewed as free speaking fun time while the elementary students only do organized physical activity or outdoor playing for 2 periods a week. They don't play in Korea nor take vacations like Westerners do so show em' how to have some fun. Cheers.

[marlow]

They probably just want to check you didn't scam them on the plane ticket by refunding it and staying in Korea.

[poet13]

Whether we feel it's ok or not is irrelevant. The OP obviously resents the inrusion into HER private (away from work) life. I would too. It sounds like the idea was a suggestion only. Take it as that. A suggestion, and ignore it. If they make it a request, they can take a flying leap....or you could have fun with it.
Take about 40 pictures of a rock.
The most boring rock you can find.
Don't change the angle much.
Make a powerpoint.
Tell them you really like rocks.

edit HER

[KoreanAmbition]

Where did you go? If you're lucky it was Thailand.

Go online (or maybe you even took real ones) and get like 40 pictures of dead-sexy hardly-dressed Thai women. Also include some pictures of girls from other nationalities to show them you are into all females. Make sure you include a picture of a Korean girl to let them know you infiltrated their group as well.

Also put on pictures of restaurants and fun events that you either did or did not go to.

Tell them about your amazing holiday filled large amounts of drinking and random sex, fine dining at expensive restaurants and attending really cool social events. Share all the prices and inflate the price several times over to make them think you just spent TONS and TONS of money.

Let the students ask a lot of questions and answer them with really ridiculous lies that would only come out of a movie.

Your students will think your Brad Pitt, and your coteacher will think you're an absolute ass, and probably never ask you to share your personal life again.


I also think "poets" idea about rocks is excellent as well.

[pootle]

Poet - thank you for getting the point of the post. Sometimes, dealing with this board is like trying to teach grade 1 middle school. Where is the cat? Pizza.

It wasn't a suggestion, it's now in the schedule for lessons for next week - 'My Name's Vacation'. Hello Google Images...

[pootle]

[nomad-ish]

damn right you should do it. then you can drop hints like, "i'd have gone here, but i only get ___ days of vacation"

[poet13]

[KoreanAmbition]

[nobbyken]

I managed to spin out about 30-40 mins of lesson about reverse culture differences experienced on my first trip home in 2 years.

Shoes in the house, dusty carpets causing me to sneeze most days, eating my weekly Korean consumption of sugar, salt and fat in one day and feel normal about it! Noticeing how everyone back in my hometown seems to be getting wider, because of above diet.
All very boring, but you make it interesting.

[Easter Clark]

If the name of the lesson is "Pootle's Vacation," then just give a class on travel. Make up some photocopies of exotic places and have the kids plan where they want to go (in English)...or do a search for travel-themed ESL lessons.