Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Teddycakes21]

I'll just get right to the point here. One of the teachers at my school is a complete moron. She can barely speak English and every time she tries to talk, she cannot find the words to express herself. It's really pitiful - she is reduced to miming and acting out her words every 10 minutes. Whenever she talks, no one really wants to be a part of the act. It's like jumping into a scene from "Whose Line is it Anyway?".

Recently we had midterms and each teacher had about 6 tests to give to their respective classes. The students took the tests and now the teachers are in the process of grading the tests. Yesterday, as I was sitting next to this teacher in the office, she shows me a test and points out something dumb to me. I had the test in my hands and looked at what she showed me, but also noticed a few other things on the page while I was scanning over it quickly... correcting mistakes by the teacher herself.

I've always wondered if she was teaching them things that were absolutely wrong, but now I am certain of this. While I was looking at the test and noticed a few red marks (that shouldn't have been there in the first place), I asked her why she had marked it as incorrect. She said some stupid reply saying that it was incorrect, when clearly she was wrong. I called her on it and said that the student was right, and she took it back from me quickly and changed the subject.

Has this ever happened to anyone else? I just feel really bad that she could be teaching the students things that are incorrect. I also am very concerned for the students that their scores are not accurate.

I am seeking advice in this situation. Should I just leave it, or should I say something about it? She's not from a native-English speaking country.

Thanks.

[halfmanhalfbiscuit]

She's not from a native-English speaking country.

If you means she's Korean she may have to mark to the schedule, be the schedule right or wrong.

If she's not Korean, I still wouldn't get involved as hagwon tests mean nothing.

[Xuanzang]

[Teddycakes21]

[Seoul'n'Corea]

[maingman]

http://www.cambridge.org/elt/caw/guidelines.html

good luckk

[nomad-ish]

i wouldn't touch this issue with a 10 foot cattle prod.

it's very sad that the kids aren't getting a good education in english, but this looks like the ultimate way to cause this teacher to lose face. she'll lose face in front of you, her co-workers, and probably many of the students she has marked incorrectly.

i suppose you could ask if she wants help marking the tests and gradually mention what's right and what's not on them. but from what behaviour you described, it doesn't sound like she would take the help very well..

[Davew125]

You just have the one teacher who can't speak English? Of the 9 Korean teachers in my school only 2 of them can hold a conversation and if it's anything more than what they did at the weekend then forget it. I really don't know what the boss does when she interviews them. I'm pretty sure she just employs the people she can pay the least regardless of any English of teaching ability.

With regard to what you should do i would certainly say something. You're there to teach the kids and you won't be doing them any favours by letting this slip

[Teddycakes21]

She actually is trying to hide the situation. Isn't it her duty, as a teacher, to find the correct answers if she doesn't know them? I have asked some of the students about her class, and they are telling me that they've had many questions about different things, and the only reply she is giving them is "It's in the book". It's really bad.

I'm not claiming to be perfect here. I don't know every word in the English dictionary. If I don't know something, I will find the answer without a problem and get back to that person about it - at a minimum.

She owes it to them to at least try to find the correct answers and teach them something, instead of just trying to avoid the issue, hide it, and collect her paycheck.

That's really weak.

[OiGirl]

Are you saying that she was hired as a native speaker, but is really from Russia or the Philippines or something?

[maingman]

http://www.newcambridge.net/

[maingman]

http://www.newcambridge.net/

[OculisOrbis]

The solution to any CoTeacher-related problem:

SNIP (Smile, Nod, Ignore, Proceed)

[DosEquisXX]

[nathanrutledge]