Korean Job Discussion Forums

[CheeseSandwich]

Any idea how to get parents to realize that burning through the book is not the best way to teach?

Right now I have two books I am to use at my public school spot and I could easily get a weeks worth of material from one unit, ideally I think it should be 2 weeks.

Anytime they aren't burning through the books I get complaints. I work at the afterschool program for the school, so I know they are paying me and I don't want to lose my job.

The problem is, this approach is entirely self defeating. The way they want the class run is I'm throwing like 10 or more new words at them a week, with phrases, along with a little grammar and the pace is such to succesfully cover everything there is little chance for review.

Has any one actually gotten through to the parents that kids need this information stored in their long term memory and not just short term recall?

Its insanely frustrating to hamstringed in such a way.

I majored in Education and English in school, 2 years experience before I came here.

I love my job but christ, it makes me want to leave a bag of flaming doo doo on their porch.

[antoniothegreat]

do i have a suggestion? no...

do i have a comment? yes...

this is why the korean education system completely sucks ass. bad techniques, bad testing, complete apathy towards "learning." the goal is the test, not comprehension, not building blocks, just pass the damn test then who cares.

it is sad...

[Perceptioncheck]

I also work at public school and my co-teacher has a similar short-term book-centred completely-useless approach.

I spent the first semester trying to argue with how we should be teaching English. It was like banging my head against a brick wall; pointless and painful. I wanted to do more than leave a bag of flaming dog crap on her porch, believe me.

During the second semester, I came to realize that trying to change anything was pointless and my time at school suddenly became a lot more enjoyable. Outside the classroom, I talk to the kids when I can because that's the only way they're going to learn anything at all. Inside the classroom, I adopt a zen-like approach that has helped me retain my sanity.

[keetrainchild]

I noticed the same tendency at my previous school. The directors just wanted me to finish the book, regardless of how well the students actually understood it. If they asked me how long it would take me to finish a certain book and I explained to them that "I needed to make the class study chapter three for another week in order for the students to understand it properly, or possibly for some of the students to understand it at all", then they would look at me as though what I said had not registered as sensible communication in their minds. They would reply, "Well, we need to have that book finished by March third."

Basically, their question was a nonquestion. It was merely a reminder to me that I had to make sure that I had exposed the children to all the material within that book in a sequential order by a certain date, with only a secondary (or maybe tertiary) focus on student comprehension.

However, I am attempting not to be cynical. Even if this is the approach of many directors, it is not necessary the method that all directors use. Furthermore, even if I must abide by this method, I will still do my best to instill what learning and wisdom I can into my students' minds.

[CheeseSandwich]

This is what gets me when they say only crappy english teachers come here.

For the vast majority of us, theres no logical way to teach english when you are throwing new concepts at them EVERY DAY.

Christ, I remember when I was in kindergarden it took like a month just to do the alphabet in my native laguage, one letter at a time. Here its like, heres the alphabet, memorize it by friday we wont talk about it again

[Perceptioncheck]

[Xuanzang]

[BrianInSuwon]

Work with the system not against it. For example, my co.teacher said we need to cover a chapter every two weeks. The key is the material needs to be covered not learned. So I quickly covered the material and I had plenty of time left over to review or focus on any material I wanted to teach from previous lessons.

[CheeseSandwich]

[mehamrick]

It's because they get kickbacks from the book retailers.

[maingman]

Peerception check wrote :

Perhaps they say "only crappy English teachers come here" not because said English teachers were originally crappy but because crappiness is gradually instilled through the Korean education system. Like osmosis.

tottally agree

[D.D.]

First lesson is" no books allowed in this class this year" This is conversation class. To my the Korean teachers if you don't like it you can find another teacher

Not once has anybody ever stood up against my no book rule or had me fired.

If you don't stick up for your own teaching methods they will have you teach the way they do.

Once the books are gone they conversation leqarning can begin. get lots of interesting video clips and use they to spark conversation.

For my camps I arrive with dvd player under arm and we watch 5 minutes then talk about it. If they don't talk then no more movie--- this works very well.

[maingman]

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/586/01/

[maingman]

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/586/01/

[Draz]

I guess it depends how many hours a week you spend with the students. The students at the hagwon I was at were expected to cover the same amount of material whether they attended 5 hours a week or 7.5. Two and a half hours difference for the same material.