Korean Job Discussion Forums

Drew345 · Joined: 24 May 2005

I'm studying Korean at a local hagwon, and my teacher this month (they do month long blocks) is really bad. She seems nice enough; she doesn't seem to know how bad she is. Her idea of teaching is writing sentences on the board, having everybody copy the sentences down in our notebooks, and saying the sentences together. This is a level 3 (5th month of study) intermediate class. The student talk time is down to about 2 sentences an hour, except for the follow the teacher sentences. She has never heard of the concept of student pair work to get student-talk-time up. The third hour is supposed to be a practice activity, but actually she just stretches the grammar instruction out really long and slow, so there's never time for a practice activity.
So, I am thinking about asking her to step up her game, after all, I am paying good money for this. I just want to point out to get the student talk time up, and if she doesn't know how, ask the other teachers how. I want to also tell her that the practice part of class is not optional, you gotta get to it!
Anyway, you think this is a good idea. Or is it just going to make her loose face and not do a bit of good. I am a good bit older than her, so I think it's OK for me to tell the teacher to pick it up, if I do it right.
Did you ever have a student in your English class tell you to pick up your game?
Thanks,
Drew

nick70100 · Joined: 09 Sep 2005

Johnwayne · Joined: 28 Jun 2007

If your Korean teacher is anything like my past one, she will take even the most benign and subtle form of criticism towards her teaching methods as a personal affront to her very existence and stop just short of challenging you to a duel to the death.

So, you are probably better off just finding a new class/teacher if you can. Trying to give constructive feedback will more than likely not go down the way you would hope.

Drew345 · Joined: 24 May 2005

I can totally imagine her reacting that way. Followed by a month of sarcasm and glaring.
I wish I could think of a nice way to give constructive criticism (and get more from this month's study)

Died By Bear · Posted: Sun Mar 06, 2011 7:10 am Post subject:

I took classes at Yonsei Foreign Language Institute. They have very good Korean teachers there. Outstanding, you will fall in love with your teacher. Seen it happen four times. The homework is hard, the classes are challenging, but don't expect to sit around for an hour or two just pairing with a partner. They make you work that vocab and grammar like there's no tomorrow. You will work hard. But you will learn. In the end, you will be hard, lean, and ready to communicate with Koreans.

if you survive Yonsei KLI you will be a weapon, you will be a minister of the language, praying for confrontations. But until that day you are invisible to Koreans! You're the lowest form of life on Earth. You are not even a human being! Because your classes are hard, you will not like them. But the more you hate practicing vocab and grammar, the more you will learn. Korean is hard, but Korea is fair!

*disclaimer*
Spoofed from FMJ

Jane · Joined: 01 Feb 2003

Drew345 · Joined: 24 May 2005

Yeah, I was kind of spoiled by going to Sogang University Korean Language Program last year; that is a top notch organization (as I am sure Yonsei is).
This semester, because I will go to America in April, I am studying two separate month long blocks at a hakwon.
That's a good idea, I'll just tell her that more activities would be nice. Maybe I'll point out that the course description says the third hour should be practice and activities. If she makes an excuse for not being able to get to the exercises, I'll mention maybe ask the other teachers about it.

Landros · Joined: 19 Oct 2007

just talk to her after class and ask he if she would mind scheduling more pair work. I wouldn't point to any class descriptions or suggest she talks to other teachers. Just tell her you'd like to have some time trying to use the language point with another student during her class.

bobbybigfoot · Joined: 05 May 2007 Location: Seoul

Just do what Koreans do: complain to the front desk. Pull yourself from the course and move to the next hagwon.

ESL Milk "Everyday · Joined: 12 Sep 2007

rainman3277 · Joined: 13 Sep 2009

crossmr · Joined: 22 Nov 2008 Location: Hwayangdong, Seoul

Drew345 · Joined: 24 May 2005

Well, I didn't bring it up to her today. Today she actually did do a listening exercise during the last hour. She didn't do it well ...She just gave out the multiple choice answer sheet and then started reading (no activate prior knowledge before, no discussion afterward)...but at least it was an activity. Then we did a vocab activity that was a total time filler, but she did stay with us 10 minutes extra to finish it. So, since she worked 10 minutes extra with us, I figured it's not a good day to ask for changes.
She is actually nice and wants to teach well. She just has a really bad book (hakwon issued) and maybe very little training (OK, my 4 weeks ESL training isn't that much either). Anyway, since she is nice and does try, I'll mention things to her first, not the management. Of course I thought about going to the management, since that's what mom's do at the English hakwons, but were all level-headed adults in this situation, so best to not start with that one.
Anyway, sometime in the future, I'll just ask for more activities in class, specifically speaking activities-not just answering teacher questions, real activities. I'll just start with that request.
Anyway, thanks for letting me get my ideas straight here, so I didn't go in and say "look, your screwing this up here with a..b..c.."
Drew

r. · Joined: 06 May 2006

For things like this, I quit classes and now I have a private Korean tutor over video skype. I learn a lot more 1 on 1 too, and get to practice speaking more often.

The best thing is that there are no annoying students!

200,000w for 10 90 minute sessions.

PM me if you are interested and I can try to connect you with my teacher. She is good.

Murakano · Joined: 10 Sep 2009