Korean Job Discussion Forums

[ticktocktocktick]

Just wondering if everybody else is actually teaching at the moment. Around this time last year, every teacher in school was showing movies all day long, as were most of my waygook friends. This year however, the trend seems to be to actually teach the kids something. I took a walk around earlier, and found only 2 of the Korean teachers showing a movie (I think one may have been educational). The rest were struggling more than usual to keep order, and teach.

We all know about Korean attitudes to learning (if it aint on the test, I don't give a damn!) and I'm really struggling to compete with the constant screams of 'teeeechuuuuuuurrr, moooobieeee!' especially with my 2nd and 3rd grade MS kids. My c/t told me this is because we have a new VP who is obviosuly trying to make his mark. FYI, I'm playing pictionary at the moment, which a few kids get really into, especially MS first graders. Next week should be Shrek the Halls with a quiz.

EDIT: Sorry, there should also be poll option for watching movies, and other, but they seem to have disappeared. Please comment below.

[jvalmer]

Christmas lesson and movies.

[jrwhite82]

Can't it be both?

[sulperman]

This week I have been doing something vaguely educational, but after walking around during breaks and seeing a good 90-95% of the other teachers watching movies, I am thinking of going that route next week.

[AsiaESLbound]

Showed Wall-E to 5th and 6th grades while teaching lesson 16 national curriculum to 3rd and 4th grade which they hated. We didn't have class today, we had a nice Winter concert instead. Singing Jingle Bells is a good activity this week and next week.

Next Tuesday is the last day of school for us so we'll watch movies and then have a staff Christmas party next Tuesday afternoon. Wednesday through Friday, we'll prepare for camps or just goof off enjoying peace and quiet.

May this season bring you joy and a nice deserved chill out break after a long run. Merry Christmas everyone!

[oldfatfarang]

This week i:
The Price is Right (thanks eflclassroom). The kids love it, and only a few aren't participating.

Next week
- "Good bye Lesson." I thank the kids, and have a short PPT presentation which includes 2 quizzes.

First, I show pictures of "My New Job" and they have to guess which one (teacher, bum etc).

Second, "Your New Teacher": Lots of photos of prospective new teachers. Some really ugly ones, model college grads, male and females etc. They have to guess "Who's coming next year" ( and why). I think we already know who they're gonna pick.

Then, movies or music vids. I'm done with it (although I'm gonna miss these rascals).

Still haven't been told about winter camp yet.

[superNET]

My academic students are continuing their studies with me. I do not believe in showing movies, t.v. shows, videos, etc., in class. For my commercial students, it is something fun.

[nomad-ish]

this week, a christmas activity and game.

next week, a christmas TV special with a small, related activity.

[mmstyle]

Movies.

I have no idea what my CTs think of this, but back when I was in school, there was zero expectation that kids would learn anything after their finals. Why they have so many classes after finals here is beyond me. I like making a show of being able to show them a movie with no expectations for once. IMO, they spend too much time studying as it is.

If I had girls or even girls in my classes, I would be a lot more likely to make it something like a christmas activity. I teach MS.

[jrwhite82]

I thought the same thing. What a nightmare from a behavior management perspective. These kids are DONE! What do they care?

Give them a class or two to rest after the finals, sure, I am not against that. But a month?! What a waste! Push finals back to the last week of school before vacation or change the entire schedule so the begining of winter break marks the end of the year.

My nephew is watching Night and Day with Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz in his ethics class! If you're going to watch a movie, at least watch something educational.

I read an article on Korea Times that Korea ranked highest in hours worked amongst developed nations. But lowest in terms of productivity. This is the reason why. It is taught in school that wasting WEEKS of time with no objective is acceptable.

[hogwonguy1979]

I'm sorry I dont get this for a country that brags about how "demanding" etc their schools are and how Obama wants the US to be somewhat like the Korean system I see a bunch of time wasting going on. The 3rd year MS student I tutored said he has been doing nothing in school for around a month now, they had to take their finals around Nov 11 so the HS's can get the test results. He also told me that the time in Feb is pretty much a waste.

one of the perks of being a univ teacher, none of that bs

[jvalmer]

It's all about social control and Asians to a pretty good job at it. In Middle School and High school finals are usually around the first week of December. So it's really only 2.5 weeks of extra time. This time is used by teachers for their grading. Better keeping the kids in school doing nothing than letting them roam the streets doing nothing. I'm sure parents like it too so many of them won't have to pay hagwons to keep kids occupied.

However, senior middle and high school students are done sometime in mid-November. After the high-school/university entrance tests seniors are released after lunch for the rest of the year. This is a time when high school seniors will do stuff like get their driver's license, or pick up part-time jobs so they can collect some drinking money for their time in post-secondary institutions.

[jvalmer]

Ah, also forgot for a few days in December senior middle school students go on their senior trip. So the time isn't totally wasted. In my school they even organize one day when all the senior classes go watch a movie at a theater. Also, school clubs also organize a lot of outings in December, so it isn't all a waste. It's just as native teachers we don't really know what is going on with all the students in class, so many just assume they are just spacing out in class (although many are).

[warmachinenkorea]

Making paper snow flakes

http://www.its.caltech.edu/~atomic/snowcrystals/kids/kids.htm

And the kids love it. Some of them make some nice ones.

[southernman]

Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, 4th grade, classes as usual
Thursday and Friday only 1 class each day for 5th grade, K-Pop and English quiz

Next week
Monday practice for school concert, no classes for me, just help out with the 6th grade students English Play
Tuesday school concert
Wednesday maybe no classes, teachers lunch
Thursday end of school

I love this time of year apart from the weather