Korean Job Discussion Forums

[beckett]

Hi guys another stupid newbie question ,


I am going to be in a public school with SMOE and I am just wondering how much they influence what you teach? Do they provide you with coursebooks / textbooks as guidelines? I hope so as I can't imagine trying to devise a whole years curriculum!

this is obviously a really stupid question but just what re-assuring !

Thanks[/list]

[Rory_Calhoun27]

what level you at? Elementary, middle, high?

I know for elementary at least, they have textbooks 3-6. depending on the situation, you may have other material, like for after-school. those usually have their own books.

For camps in the summer/winter, you may have to plan things out for those, but not too difficult.

[beckett]

teaching 8-11 year olds I think,


thanks for reply

[halfmanhalfbiscuit]

Not only will you be expected to provide the curriculum as the book will be full of mistakes but to make it "fun" to boot.

[some waygug-in]

I haven't worked in Seoul, so I don't know if things are different there, but for most of the country, there is a national curriculum.

If you are in an elementary school, you will probably be using the same books and materials that the rest of the country uses.

If so, the books are designed for Korean teachers who have little or no proficiency in English. The manuals and instructions in the textbooks are all in Korean, and although there is a website with an English translation, it often doesn't work or is incomplete. I have heard there are some schools that have the English teacher's manual in book form....but I have never seen one.

Not that the activities are that difficult, they are fairly simple for the most part, but it would be nice to know the gist of the activities before the first class.

If you get a good school and a good co-teacher/teachers, things can be pretty straightforward and they will help and explain things for you.

If you get a not so good co-teacher, things are more difficult.

It seems there is a lot of variation, depending on the school principal/ co-teacher.
Some co-teachers run the class and will expect you to stand to the side for the most part and be kind of an English monkey.
Others will expect you to take charge and work out any problems on your own, others are somewhere in between.

Hope this helps

[beckett]

thanks for your post ,

So I will have a co teacher in class with me ?

Not sure if that is a good or a bad thing .

Anyway thanks for the heads up

[fraukoch]

Your first year should go something like this: http://www.all-about-renaissance-faires.com/ren_artists/bruegel/p7hg_img_1/fullsize/blind_leading_the_blind_fs.jpg

[ddeubel]

[SFValley]

One poster on Dave's had previously mentioned that he aligns his curriculum with his co-teacher. So basically, he reinforces (at times corrects) what the Korean English teacher teaches, if that makes sense. This to me seems the best option as it is practical and time efficient for both you and the students.

[halfmanhalfbiscuit]

[D.D.]

[some waygug-in]

It really depends on the situation, if your co-teacher is one who demands to be "in charge" the whole class and have you stand to the side, there's really not a lot you can do. (unless you want to go head to head with them)

I've had more co-teachers who were like the above than weren't, but there are also a few who will let you do your thing.

You will have to feel it out for the first couple of weeks and then see what you are dealing with, then you will better be able to come up with strategies that will work for you.

This site is a great resource as well as dduebel's and some others.

Best of luck.