Korean Job Discussion Forums

[cincynate]

Ok. I switched schools at semester. At my last school I was the teacher, and the homeroom teacher sat in the back of the room, only speaking up when necessary to do a translation here and there. That was great. I had my lessons all planned out and (except for a few) were well executed. Now this semester I got switched to a new school. I have the same co-teacher for all of my classes. She speaks in Korean most of the time (if not all of the time). I have no idea what is going on in the class most of the time. She is just talking and all of the sudden the students respond. I'm just standing there thinking what the hell is going on here. Sometimes I repeat one or two words for the class. Once in a while I will ask them a question, but she usually buts in with something in Korean anyway, so the kids don't listen to me. I have asked her several times what I should do, I want to do more, etc...etc.. and she lets me plan a lesson sometimes, but doesn't let me teach it and just interrupts me. Any suggestions? I went from loving teaching to despising it in a matter of a few weeks. I hate coming to work now. Please if anyone else was in this situation, please tell me what you did or are doing to fix it. I can't take much more of this.

[aishiii]

Park yourself at the computer and play texttwist or scrabble or something. Don't expend energy during the day, and then you'll be fresh after work to rip up the town. You can even afford to go hard every night and just catch up on your sleep during class. Think positively.

[TexasChicken]

Check out the movie office space. Sounds like your a Cassette player LOL.

[AsiaESLbound]

Yes, that's exactly what I'm experiencing. When you talk to her about it does she just tell you to plan lessons and teach American culture or something along that line? Tell her, you can not read minds and you do not have a USB cable to attach your head to hers so you do not know what is going on. This is a sign you are not getting along well with her or she simply doesn't like you. If she wanted, she would cooperate and include you instead of telling you are not doing a good job teaching and then teaching in Korean. Tell her about the problem and suggest you conduct some of the class. Tell her you need to work togethor as a team and would like to enjoy using your teaching skills as to do a better job for the students.

[Ramen]

Just relax and enjoy the free ride, OP. Kick back in your command seat and let your co-teacher do all the work.

Keep reminding your co-teacher that she's doing a great job.

You got it made chief!

[air76]

That's awesome.

I mean, I feel for you as that would make my blood boil....but you've got to love this place sometimes. Let's pay thousands and thousands of dollars to bring in a native speaker and then pay another person millions of won to come in and speak Korean over the top of them for the entire class.

I know that I'd go berserk and completely take over the class from her, telling her that this was MY class and that she was my co-teacher....then again, this is why I don't work at public school as this type of diplomacy would undoubtedly fail miserably.

At the very least you need to talk with her and ask her nicely to never speak Korean in your class again. Ha ha....I am sure that will go over really well.

[air76]

That's awesome.

I mean, I feel for you as that would make my blood boil....but you've got to love this place sometimes. Let's pay thousands and thousands of dollars to bring in a native speaker and then pay another person millions of won to come in and speak Korean over the top of them for the entire class.

I know that I'd go berserk and completely take over the class from her, telling her that this was MY class and that she was my co-teacher....then again, this is why I don't work at public school as this type of diplomacy would undoubtedly fail miserably.

At the very least you need to talk with her and ask her nicely to never speak Korean in your class again. Ha ha....I am sure that will go over really well.

[oldfatfarang]

I feel your pain. I had a year as a 'tape recorder' with SMOE. It completely demoralises you as a teacher, I know. Basically, your co-teacher has some issues, either with Englisheee, native speakers, or is just a control freak (very common among teachers, I'm afraid).

There's no right answer to your problem. I just had to play the dummy in her classes, but I delivered my own lessons with the other co-teachers (who did their job, i.e., classroom management and translation etc).
Something you might want to watch out for if you want to get re-signed: At the end of the year SMOE didn't re-sign me - get this - because I hadn't got the kids to speak. Welcome to Korea.

[espoir]

Only worry if you want to get re-signed. Otherwise enjoy the free ride.

[The Goalie]

I had that in Japan. The kids were bored and I was bored. I always got in trouble for goofing off with the kids in the first row. How could I not? There was a boring teacher parsing sentences with different coloured chalk on one side and a bunch of cool students wanting to learn English (or at least engage with the English teacher) on the other. Who was I going to side with? The only advise I can offer is to ask the teacher if she is busy. If she says yes, offer to take as many classes as she's willing to give. Otherwise, just be bored and don't be afraid to show it. And tell her you came here to teach, not to observe.

[The Gipkik]

This situation is so easy to deal with that I'm sitting here (in my comfortable apartment enjoying a nice beverage) wondering what's up here. I've had four coteachers in the past year and a month who all did the mammoth Korean language shtick in the English class. I just told them with an earnest sense of understanding: "I know why you are speaking in Korean in the English class and I understand, but please think of the students. When you speak Korean you are telling the kids that they don't have to listen to the English. They know it will either be translated or explained, so every activity can be done with the least amount of English comp possible."

I usually tell them that we need to talk between classes or after the classes are over and then I tell them my feelings and the logic behind them. Almost invariably they get it, so do it--and mean it. This needn't be an issue. Think it through why speaking primarily, but not completely in English is to the students' benefit. Some Korean is fine as it can help the weakest students, the distracted students, or the limited time you have available balance out.

[hang10]

[withgusto]

so, there is the positive - free ride

and, the negative - life sucking/racism

what is worth more? I'm not sure what I'd do.

[nautilus]

[Senior]