Korean Job Discussion Forums

[abedefduf]

i was wondering whether i should expect to be the main teacher, or are we placed in a sort of 'co-teacher' role?

in other words, will i be expected to develop a curriculum, a framework for each day, and lead the class myself? or can i expect to be sort of an 'assistant' to a korean teacher who simply helps with the class?

or does this vary from hagwon to hagwon?

[yingwenlaoshi]

You just give out stickers and candy.

[Ya-ta Boy]

In a hakwon you can expect to be in charge of your own class room by yourself, responsible for making and delivering your own lesson plan. Some have programs set up; some expect a teacher to select the books and work out a new program. It will depend on the individual hakwon.

Keep that in mind when you do your interview. Ask questions about what exactly will be expected of you and what materials and support you can expect from them.

Good luck.

[nomad-ish]

for public schools, in elementary, you most likely will be co-teaching (possibly, being a human tape recorder), in middle and high school, you'll probably be the main teacher in the classroom, planning and delivering the lessons. this is just generally speaking of course, there are always exceptions.

[Tobias]

Article 2 Section 1: Roles of White Faces in Asia--Korea

1. Babysitter
White face will serve as babysitter so that his/her students can be removed from the burden of their parents each day. White face is expected to be an excellent babysitter each and every day and produce much laughter from his/her daycare room. Any deviations will be grounds for immediate deportation.

2. Scapegoat
In order to preserve esteem among the native people, white face will take blame for all miscalculations, mistakes, incompetence, and misbehavior of his employer, Korean coworkers, students, students' parents, janitors, landlords, immigration authorities, store clerks, bank tellers, and garbage men. Refusing this role will be grounds for immediate deportation.

3. Entertainer
As per #1 & #2 above, white face is expected to keep those in his/her care occupied at all times. Producing boredom in the daycare room or not accepting blame for the deeds of misbehaving brats is grounds for immediate deportation.

4. Piggy Bank
White face will be expected to pay retail price for any and all items. Turning his/her nose up at prices is grounds for immediate deportation.
White face is not to engage in bargaining. Engaging in dumpster diving, patronizing second-hand shops, or requesting tax refunds will be grounds for immediate deportation.

5. Walking Billboard
White face will endeavor to dress himself or herself formally every day he or she is at his or her workplace. White face will not gain weight, will not wear un-ironed clothes, and will always smile while engaged in his or her primary role (#1 above). White face will endeavor to look as pretty as possible at all times. Deviations from these guidelines will be grounds for immediate deportation.

6. Teacher
White face will make minimal attempts to instill knowledge. English empowers the natives who, upon becoming fluent, may wish to permanently leave Korea. White face will thus abstain from encouraging his/her students from obtaining a working fluency. Any white face making a serious attempt at teaching will be labled 'boring' and a 'subversive' and will be immediately deported.

7. (Open)
Reserved for future demeaning role the Korean government can think of.

[nomad-ish]

i think i'm a mix of types 3, 5, and 6... that post reminds me of the nanny diaries!

[VanIslander]

I've never heard of a coteacher in the classroom in a hagwon (must be rare, though it's common in ps schools) unless it's a kindergarten.

In the hagwons I've worked,... my role?

I AM KING of my classroom. My students all know that. My way or the highway (banishment to the hallway is punishment, not needed more than once every two months for a rare rebel). At my first hagwon they had all the books and even computer screens to use as part of a franchise and I quickly told the director ON DAY ONE that I wasn't using computers in the classroom (didn't ask, politely informed him matter of factly) and got no flack for it despite a few hints by the director's wife on 'how to use' the computer, I simply marched to the beat of my own drum. You don't like a book? then don't use it! Assign it as homework and only half check that it's done. The important thing is the LESSON underpining the texts. Even a great book is no substitute for a student-centered teacher-designed lesson plan.

Hagwons don't care what you do in the classroom really as long as the kids and parents are happy. I keep the kids happy by making sure my lessons are interesting and engaging and not boring, challenging to all, even if higher level students need extra tasks. I keep the parents happy by ensuring their kids master english pronunciation and basic question-answer communications, as well as a decent level of reading and spelling. I have been at each of two hagwons for three years and each has wanted me to sign on for a fourth year. Why? because the fact is many hagwon teachers don't try hard to teach!!! and i don't knock them for it if you're here for a year only, have no training in language teaching (none required anyways so why should you bother if only doing this for a year or two?) and simply try to have fun with the students with english games and candy... which involves some learning and teachs the youngums to not fear foreigners.

So my role has been self-defined and somewhat different than the cowboy teachers here for a year or so. The important thing is to DECIDE FOR YOURSELF what your role will be. Gawd, if I tried to make my director happy at every turn I'd be a book-following machine bored out of my tree zombie just itching to get out of here.