Korean Job Discussion Forums

[NaD00D00]

Ok,
So I've been here for almost a month now, but knew from the first day that the curriculum and lesson plans that have been provided by the Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education were both terrible. I'm a primary school teacher, btw.

I had a few questions about it, since I will not be able to attend the conference (my school supposedly needs me for an evaluation this Thursday).

Who in the world comes up with this stuff? As pointed out before numerous times, I can't believe I have to teach this stuff. I'm not sure about your school, but my school/co-teacher pretty much goes by the book and it's driving me nuts. There are so many errors and awkward phrasings/expressions; it's like they didn't even have content editors or text editors, etc.

How long has this curriculum existed? Has it gone through different editions? How often do they make changes?

Lastly, and most importantly, is there any way to change it? Maybe getting a group of qualified, native speakers to at least try and appeal to the office to get things done? There's no way by using these methods and materials that children are going to make great improvements in learning English. I don't want to feel worthless because something I'm supposed to teach isn't working. I really can't deviate either; the co-teacher is set on teaching it.

I know it's a long shot, and I know a lot of people won't care, but this is a major problem. It might take time or whatnot, but maybe other people feel the same way as I do about all of this? Maybe if there was a system that works and native teachers helped implement a successful English program, people (including Koreans and those back at home) would take us teachers more seriously?

Any thoughts?

[wylies99]

You mean GEPIK?

From what I've heard, to survive in GEPIK it helps to understand what your school wants from you. Some schools want you to actually teach English while others want you to be "eye candy" and make up very simple lesson plans that anyone can understand.

Once you understand what your school REALLY wants from you, you'll be able to deal with issues like lesson plans.

[BrianInSuwon]

I taught at a public elementary school two years ago. I liked the material. It was nice to have a cd with video clips, dialogues, and activities on it. I also like the supplemental Step and Jump books which gave the dialogues in both English and Korean. It didn't take long to cover the class material. You could fly through the material in 10-20 minutes if you wanted to cover it quickly. You don't need to do every activity. Just cover the core expressions for the unit.

I had plenty of time to supplement the material. I focused on the alphabet and basic phonics. I scanned in photos of the phonics vocabulary (train, chain, rain) and made a flash based presentation so students could also improve their vocabulary.

I incorporated TPR at the start of each class. There was plenty of room for additional content.

[VanIslander]

take a wide stance, squat a bit and aim low


(that's the only way to urinate into the wind)

[NaD00D00]

So you guys don't find anything wrong with it?

It just bothers me that most of the students are nowhere near the level of what the lesson plans require of them. I think it's because of the curriculum. Maybe if it was changed to become more effective at helping students learn English, people wouldn't have so many problems teaching lessons in the classroom?

Even if the school wants you to serve their own purposes, that doesn't mean you have to just let things slide or not attempt to make changes. Especially when considering that I've been lurking around and always find posts with people complaining about how their students just don't get it, aren't at the level expected of them, etc. etc. You'd think that all of us teachers would try and get together and make some kind of effort to at least make some changes to make these plans more effective?

[Fishead soup]

How kind you are.

[Easter Clark]

I tried to tie my lessons in with the textbook they're using in their Korean English teacher's class. I was told that the material was "too boring" and "too difficult." Since then, I've been teaching lessons that have absolutely nothing to do with what they're learning in their other classes...things like "Hello" and "I'm 17 years old."

[Gamecock]

I'm in my 3rd year teaching in a public school, and I really can't understand the complaints about the cirriculum that frequent this board. It's not that bad at all. By Korean standards there are remarkably few errors. There are a few awkward phrases, but these can be easily corrected by the teacher.

I think it is a fairly good topical introduction to English. I wish there was more emphasis on reading and writing before grade 5. But each unit has solid topics and it is not so hard to supplement the theme with more material, vocabulary, and phrases.

Because of the variance of levels within the classroom, it is focused on listening and speaking. But it also subtly introduces basic grammar (past tense, future tense, etc.) that the teacher can expound on. It is an introduction to English! The students can very easily learn alot of basic vocabulary and useful phrases. Really, what the teacher brings to the classroom experience is what effects learning. If you want to teach more advanced grammar, syntax, writing, etc. you should talk to your principal about setting up an after-school class for students that want to go beyond the basics.

[NaD00D00]

[Fishead soup]

Everything about the grading is just covering your back. If one class does particularly bad they'll do something to jack up their grades just to keep the principle off their back.

[Whistleblower]

[some waygug-in]

The more I work with these books, the more I understand why they are they way they are. Does that mean they are "good"? No, far from it but you have to remember we only see each class 40 mins/week, so we can't expect to accomplish a whole lot.

I do think the grade 3 and 4 textbooks need some hefty supplimentation.

The way they are set up, the kids study almost no English at all, and the idea that they should avoid learning to read and write is ludicrous.


It all depends on the school though. I find these books are too easy for my students, but if I were in a small country school they'd probably be the opposite.

If your co-teacher allows you to suppliment, go for it as much as you can.

Mine don't, they treat the books as if they are a bible, not to be deviated from.

[Fishead soup]

[some waygug-in]

[NaD00D00]

Meeting each class only one time a week for 40 minutes is def. a different kind of problem that I didn't really think about...

My current co-teacher says I can get creative with the plans, but it always ends up back with the books. He told me I will probably will have a different co-teacher next semester, which has it's pros and cons (he is able to control the class, which is a plus).

Fishead soup was right though as far as some of the expressions. It's like they didn't even have anyone to edit the material before it was printed.