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RedKristin
Joined: 27 Jun 2010
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 Posted: Thu Jul 15, 2010 10:21 pm Post subject: Rave: Korean teachers who go above and beyond |
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There's so much to complain about with Korean teachers and I think it's more than a little intimidating for anyone wanting to start teaching in Korea. Maybe my good luck can provide something like hope:
This one teacher - I'll call her Ms. H - has been just stellar from day one. She's done obscene amounts of paperwork for me, guided me all over the place and offered more help than I could ever ask for. In our super low level class together, Ms. H always encourages students to listen and learn without just helping them cheat with Korean hints.
When we work together to teach middle school students with behavioral problems (some can barely read) our students participate and speak more English than my advanced ones.
Recently, I started up a fundraiser - Ms. H spent hours with me prepping, translating my ads, and planning every step all while trying to find me new housing for next semester.
I could really go on and on.
There have to be a few teachers worthy of a post in this thread...right? |
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hondaicivic
Joined: 01 Jul 2010
Location: Daegu, South Korea
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| Posted: Thu Jul 15, 2010 10:24 pm Post subject: Re: Rave: Korean teachers who go above and beyond |
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| RedKristin wrote: |
There's so much to complain about with Korean teachers and I think it's more than a little intimidating for anyone wanting to start teaching in Korea. Maybe my good luck can provide something like hope:
This one teacher - I'll call her Ms. H - has been just stellar from day one. She's done obscene amounts of paperwork for me, guided me all over the place and offered more help than I could ever ask for. In our super low level class together, Ms. H always encourages students to listen and learn without just helping them cheat with Korean hints.
When we work together to teach middle school students with behavioral problems (some can barely read) our students participate and speak more English than my advanced ones.
Recently, I started up a fundraiser - Ms. H spent hours with me prepping, translating my ads, and planning every step all while trying to find me new housing for next semester.
I could really go on and on.
There have to be a few teachers worthy of a post in this thread...right? |
Needle in a haystack..... |
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balzor
Joined: 14 Feb 2009
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| Posted: Thu Jul 15, 2010 10:35 pm Post subject: Re: Rave: Korean teachers who go above and beyond |
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| hondaicivic wrote: |
| RedKristin wrote: |
There's so much to complain about with Korean teachers and I think it's more than a little intimidating for anyone wanting to start teaching in Korea. Maybe my good luck can provide something like hope:
This one teacher - I'll call her Ms. H - has been just stellar from day one. She's done obscene amounts of paperwork for me, guided me all over the place and offered more help than I could ever ask for. In our super low level class together, Ms. H always encourages students to listen and learn without just helping them cheat with Korean hints.
When we work together to teach middle school students with behavioral problems (some can barely read) our students participate and speak more English than my advanced ones.
Recently, I started up a fundraiser - Ms. H spent hours with me prepping, translating my ads, and planning every step all while trying to find me new housing for next semester.
I could really go on and on.
There have to be a few teachers worthy of a post in this thread...right? |
Needle in a haystack..... |
Not really,newbie It's just harder for people to say nice things than it is to complain. Most schools have one good teacher. I have one Co-teacher that I would put up as an example against all others. She is so helpful with asking things from the principal, she shoots the shit with me all time in English. She knows exactly when to step in on the class and lock it down which is not often because hers are the most disciplined classes in the school. |
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Fishead soup
Joined: 24 Jun 2007
Location: Korea
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| Posted: Thu Jul 15, 2010 11:05 pm Post subject: |
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| If you become friends with them they will go the extra mile to help you out. I still have a guardian angel who has gotten me outta some nasty situations with a backstabbing school. |
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RedKristin
Joined: 27 Jun 2010
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| Posted: Thu Jul 15, 2010 11:11 pm Post subject: Re: Rave: Korean teachers who go above and beyond |
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| hondaicivic wrote: |
Needle in a haystack..... |
It's definitely not the norm. The world's way of balancing out the staff of exceptional teachers at my school is giving me one who is just a frickin nightmare. |
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lovebug
Joined: 29 Apr 2009
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| Posted: Fri Jul 16, 2010 12:39 am Post subject: |
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it's nice to see a bit of positivity on here.
my coteacher has:
helped me purchase all my flights online.
went with me to set up my bank account.
organized a mover for when we bought furniture secondhand.
went to meet the mover to help translate in the evening because i was away and my boyfriend was handling things.
translated anything i've asked her to.
printed out directions and a map to any stupid workshop in my district that i have to go to.
helped me order our AC and come to my house for its installation.
defended me to VPs, principals, and head teachers.
shot and edited a birthday video for me of our students and coworkers.
done any prep work i don't have time to do before class.
brought me anti-moisture charcoal tubs to help my allergies.
borrowed a drill from her dad for us to hang things on our walls.
come to see me in the performances i've been in.
yay for amazing coteachers! i am so grateful. today was her birthday and i made her homemade ice cream.[/list] |
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PatrickGHBusan
Joined: 24 Jun 2008
Location: Busan (1997-2008) Canada 2008 -
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| Posted: Fri Jul 16, 2010 5:14 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| Not really,newbie It's just harder for people to say nice things than it is to complain. Most schools have one good teacher. I have one Co-teacher that I would put up as an example against all others. She is so helpful with asking things from the principal, she shoots the shit with me all time in English. She knows exactly when to step in on the class and lock it down which is not often because hers are the most disciplined classes in the school. |
+1
Most people who are content and happy with their jobs do not run on Daves to post about it.
Many of us could point out similar examples of Korean co-teachers, co-workers or even supervisors who went above and beyond to help us or others.
One example, I initially worked for a hakwon when I arrived. It was my choice as the smaller class size and freedom to teach in my own way was something I wanted. I worked at hakwons for 2 years before moving on to Public Schools and then University. Anyway, the director of my first hakwon was very nice. She went out of her way to help her foreign staff, trying to be accomodating when you could. I am still in contact with her 13 years later. She has long since retired but she NEVER fails to send gifts for my birthday and my kids birthdays. She came to the hospital to bring food for my wife after the birth of out first child, attended our wedding and helped me find many things in Busan as a newbie. Great lady all around.
OP...great idea for a thread.  |
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oskinny1
Joined: 10 Nov 2006
Location: Right behind you!
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| Posted: Fri Jul 16, 2010 2:10 pm Post subject: |
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| All of the co-teachers I have had (6) have been extremely helpful jumping out of their seats if I even needed anything. I feel bad for those that have bad ones, I am sure it can really ruin your experience in Korea. |
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jonpurdy
Joined: 08 Jan 2009
Location: Ulsan
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| Posted: Fri Jul 16, 2010 3:31 pm Post subject: |
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| Every co-teacher I've had these past two years has been at least great. My current two bend over backwards for me, including when it comes to contract negotiation time. My main one has put in at least 10 hours during the past few weeks dealing with my new contract (not just a standard renewal). |
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waynehead
Joined: 18 Apr 2006
Location: Jongno
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| Posted: Fri Jul 16, 2010 3:53 pm Post subject: |
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| I have 8 co-teachers and 6 of them are good or great. It's true that there's way too much K-bashing on this board, good thread. |
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Steve_Rogers2008
Joined: 22 Mar 2010
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| Posted: Fri Jul 16, 2010 11:00 pm Post subject: |
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one of the teachers at my elementary school invited me to her house in Seoul, and she and her family took me on a tour of the city....
So i did my magic trick of pulling coins out of her daughtes' ears, and gave them as gifts.... now that was classic...  |
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notinKS
Joined: 11 Jul 2010
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| Posted: Sun Jul 18, 2010 11:27 pm Post subject: |
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| I've also been incredibly lucky. Three of the six Korean teachers in my office are within 5 years of my age (27) so we've been hanging out a lot. They've taken me to the movies, to Costco twice, out to eat several times, and they've made plans to take me several different places over summer vacation. I have to pinch myself every once in a while to make sure that this is real after hearing all of these horror stories. I am very blessed |
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Chaucer
Joined: 20 Oct 2009
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| Posted: Mon Jul 19, 2010 4:23 am Post subject: Awesome teachers |
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| There are ten Korean teachers in my section, and ten foreign teachers. One young punk English teacher is a non-English speaking, jingoistic, talentless loser. The other nine are absolutely fantastic: smart, helpful, great with students, etc. I've been there five years, and even with staff changes it's always been about that ratio--1 jerk to 9 great teachers. We foreign teachers are at about 2 to 8 right now. |
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alwaysbeclosing100
Joined: 07 Feb 2009
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| Posted: Mon Jul 19, 2010 5:17 am Post subject: re |
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| i have 5 out of 5 really good ones......couldnt ask for more....... |
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Illysook
Joined: 30 Jun 2008
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| Posted: Mon Jul 19, 2010 7:00 am Post subject: |
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| Mine has been great so far. Now, she is getting ready to have a baby and I am likely to have a series of substitutes to work with, so she's being a little demanding. It's understandable because substitutes here tend to be like what we think of as student teachers. They come into the job like we do really. They don't know what is really expected of them and they get very little guidance. It will be a little crazy, but I will help them as much as I can. I am likely to have the time for them because of the extra work that she is asking for right now. She knows what she is doing. |
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