Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Weigookin74]

Question for you fellow EPIK dudes. I was in a rural area and I had smaller class sizes and could teach whatever I wanted. Now, I'm in a regional city and my class sizes are much larger. But some teachers are really hard core about using the school textbook. But can sometimes be boring. There are still many teachers who let me teach what I want. I go to 2 schools a week and work with a few teachers. I change schools every semester.

Are you EPIK, SMOE, or GEPIK? Do you use the textbook or teach your own material? Are you rural, semi-rural, or urban? Just want to get a pulse for comparison.

[Caffeinated]

I'm SMOE elementary and the classes I'm involved with are generally focused on listening and speaking. I only use the textbook to check the target language and vocabulary, and doublecheck with my co-teachers that my activities aren't a repeat of or will overlap with theirs.

[Morticae]

I'm with EPIK.

I teach in a city.

I teach my own material.

They asked me not to use a textbook. These days, most of my CTs don't even bother showing up to my class. So, it's a very relaxed atmosphere for teaching and learning.

[Cerulean]

GEPIK, urban, middle school.

I do the stories each chapter has and I'll use a few other activities in the book. The rest is taking the ideas from the book and creating my lessons around them.

[machoman]

i teach for smoe at a middle school. i am in charge of listening and speaking and the tests questions come from the book so i teach what i am required from the book and supplement the lessons.

[jrwhite82]

GEPIK Elementary.

I go half and half. But that's what my coteacher/principal want. I usually use the video portions of the text and sometimes the songs (which I think suck, but my kids LOVE them). Then I stick to the objectives and design games and activities around them. The games in the book usually involve cutting out cards and slapping them or trading them. This is not creative or very effective. So I'd say for half the class I use the book the other half I make on my own.

[I-am-me]

Straight from the book here. Co-teacher is new graduate so she is learning. Rural school as well and it works out. They are not too bright. I just supplement it with good games.

[chellovek]

Own stuff. Super rural.

[shocking]

Busan, Middle School.

Own material, Kid's use of English in class varied, Focus on speaking and listening, lot's of work with phonics.

School Response

Official Warning - Principal of the school not happy because students talk more than I do, IN ENGLISH!!!!!!

Only in Korea.

[warmachinenkorea]

3 rural schools 150 kids between the 3.

I use the book as a jumping off point to make all my lessons. I usually use the target language to make a speaking activity or game.

[ESL Milk "Everyday]

[cj1976]

I taught elementary for 4 years. I used the book but supplemented it with a lot of extra materials. The book is mostly topic based, so it's easy to plan around and find suitable materials.

[nathanrutledge]

gepik high school.

no book, do what I want.

[notinKS]

GEPIK Middle School, suburban, I use the "Speak Out" sections of the book and come up with PPTs and activities based on those.

[Weigookin74]