Korean Job Discussion Forums

[dorlore]

I have open class next week and was hoping that people could give me suggestions on what to do for it exactly. I have not taught an open class before with parents coming and am not sure what to expect. It's actually pretty important because the company I work for is suppose to recontact with the public school but if things don't go well they wont and I'm out of a job.

Anyways any suggestions from previous experiences would be much appreciated.

[tanklor1]

Practice. Know exactly what you're going to do and drill your class till it becomes second-nature. I can't preach this enough. Practice, practice, practice.

[newb]

[andrewchon]

If you have a co-teacher then let him/her take care of it. Split time 50/50, let him/her look good. Parents will be happy. Kids will be subdued. You can carry on as before afterwards. If this sounds humiliating, then there's a chice of learning the lesson hard way.

[crouchy]

My first year in Korea was spent teaching at a private Hagwon. The open class was the second most important date on the calendar aside from the theatre play. It was made clear to me that I should do my best and make the best impression on the mums and dads attending.

Public School - this is my third year, I don't practice for open classes anymore, I let the chips fall as they will. It's a much better atmosphere and allows the students to get into the lesson, rather than be bored to tears with their robotic responses. I am not scared to make mistakes, and I try to teach this to my students. We are not robots, if the school wants perfection - then they should either practice 100 times, or, hire a robot!

All in all, Hagwon - practice, as you are marketing and recruiting for the school. Public School, depends on the co-teacher, but you are not marketing/recruiting, go with the natural experience!

[John Stamos jr.]

I'm guessing the OP is referring to an after school job, since they mention a company contract?

In most cases, you're gonna be all alone with no CT to bail you out if that's the case. I have open classes for three days next week and I'm dreading it. I had open classes before but my CT was a G and didn't tell the parents until the last minute, so only about ten moms total showed up. I have a feeling it's going to be quite a bit different this time since I teach at a brand new school. I think some important things are obviously making you look like a fun teacher and getting them talking. At least that's what I've been told...

[dorlore]

Just a few more things:

1) How different is your teaching during open class compared to regular classes other then being well prepared. My kids are really pretty bad and am just hoping they will be better next week.

2) What are some activities that one might recommend. I have some things in mind but this activity is really important. My Korean co teacher really hasn't provided many ideas for this as well.

Any more suggestions would get great.

[sigmundsmith]

Unfortunately, open classes are dog and pony shows. Depending on your experience, relationship with your co-teach and school, and how much faith they have in your ability determines what your open class will be.

For me, the first time I had an open class when I worked public school I was asked (instructed) to design a lesson that had all the bells and whistles. I told them, are you unhappy with what and how I teach the students? Are you unhappy in my classes that the students don't speak and use English? Are you unhappy with the current activities/games that students do to use English? All their answers to these questions were an emphatic NO!

So, I told them why should I change what I have been doing if you feel that the students enjoy it, learn from it, and get a chance to use/practice English.

Later, I got a new co-teacher (English major) who was nice etc. It was her turn to be evaluated so she designed the particular lesson. She made flamboyant activities for the students, didn't ask for my opinion, and I could tell that were complicated and wouldn't actually achieve the desired outcome. But I let her teach the warm up class with her lesson.

So, it wasn't a complete failure but there were a lot of problems that ensured due to all the complicated, "pretty" things that she introduced. So I sat down with her, and explained to her that the Korean way of trying to impress visitors is the wrong way of doing things. You should be showing them what and how you teach students, not put on a show that does not reflect your actual teaching style. I also referred to what I taught in the class and asked her the same questions as I did above. She agreed with me. So, she sat down and designed a new lesson and activities, asked for my advice, I made some suggestions and with did the lesson (no rehearsal) for the visitors and they were impressed at how well the students interacted and used English.

The secret (well it is really no secret) is to keep teaching - any subject - simple. As soon as Koreans understand this they might gradually progress in ways of improving their methods of education in this country.

[thebearofbundang]

Buckle up and hope for the best.

When I used to work at an afterschool program we had open classes twice a year. It was the only bad part about the job, but it sucked. The parents liked me so I was lucky, but they still found minor things to complain about (not enough chance for their kid to answer questions being the biggest). My co-teacher (not in the same class) usually got beat up pretty bad. Following open classes our company would hold meetings with all the teachers. We were each ranked in terms of parents scores (each parent was given an evaluation sheet before the class). Teachers were let go.

I enjoyed teaching in Korea. Open classes were brutal though. Stressful for all involved and pointless in my opinion. My advice would be, prepare as much as you can. Don't take the complaints you get personally (it's impossible to keep 15-30 mothers happy no matter what you do). At least a few will want you to be better and for their kid to get more attention. Hope that you have a supervisor who understands this. If you don't, try really hard to find a job which has no open classes next time. They blow.

I'm currently in Korea, but working in a non-teaching job. If I go back into teaching "Is there an open class?" would be my first question.

Dog and pony show..

[dorlore]

Ya mine is After school program. Also more stressful seeing the teacher before me was fired because of complaints as a result of his open class or at least that was a major factor. They are next Monday and Tuesday.

I am just having visions of my students being terrible like they a lot of the times. I hope having parents there will curtail some of that nonsense. If not ahhhhh.....long couple of days

I have most of it all prepared and my lessons are all structured pretty well anyways but I am still thinking about the game I need to play. They want us to play a game the last 10-15 minutes of class and not hangman or something. I've been thinking of doing an interactive jeopardy game on power point. Anyone had any experiences with that?

[John Stamos jr.]

^ Yeah, it definitely sounds like an after school position (though the OP still won't specify), which is likely much different than the general public school job, as far as the open class is concerned. It's not really something you can blow off/take lightly, or else you're likely to lose your job if you perform poorly.

At my previous AS job, I bribed the bad students, but I wouldn't recommend that approach. I'm of the opinion that the younger students, since there are usually more of them, which equals more money, more moms, and more moms who are more likely to show up, are the most important factor. Chi them into obeying you before you lose control before the open class, if they're as bad as you say. Crack down so they won't act out in the moment. And, anyone can correct if I'm wrong, because I'm simply going on what has worked for me, and still looking for advice myself.

My younger classes are only 45 minutes long, whereas the older classes range from an hour to an hour and fifty minutes. But, smaller classes of older students are easier to control than large classes of first and second graders, regardless of the length of time.

I'm taking this approach: I can burn through fifteen minutes going over the date, spelling of November, weather, and homework/personally speaking with the younger kids... spend 25 minutes acting like a clown, repeat, "do you like ____" blah, "Yes, I do/No, I don't", then five minutes herding them out.

I'm only worried about the younger kids, since some of them seem to be possessed and unable to sit still. Every other class of mine 3rd grade and above shouldn't be a problem. I work at a new school so I don't think the kids are very acclimated with each other. And, that's good, since they don't talk to each other and obey me as the supreme commander of the room they are in. Power. But, if one of the moms wants to sit in on the full 1:15... I'm pretty sure I can pull it off because of that.

[John Stamos jr.]

I think we posted at the same time, OP, and I'm assuming you're a female. So, get control of those boys. They will ruin you. Take the worst one into the hall and shame him before your open class. If anyone of those parents senses that you are not in control of your classroom, are boring, etc., consider that contract void. I could be wrong, but we're in similar situations and I'm structuring things based on what I feel will allow me to keep what is one of the easiest jobs on the planet earth.

[andrewchon]

Another thing: the actual open lessons don't have to be in the curriculum. You don't have to deliever the next on the schedule. You can do sing and dance and coloring and hang man games alll you want.

[dorlore]

I can't. That sounds great but we have this new manager and she's really strict and micro manages our lessons and wants them to be delivered a certain way. If you dont listen to her or protest too much, one will be fired like about 4 previous teachers. I had to give a mock teaching for my lesson yesterday for my open classes next week and she was on me for some stuff about that. Some stuff she says is good but other stuff is just unrealistic in my opinion.

Needless to say I'm pretty stressed about this and having a poor performance means I'd probably be fired seeing the new semester starts in December and parents will be evaluating me. I'll be well prepared and know exactly what I'm doing but still just don't have a great feeling about these 2 days next week.

[crouchy]

Good luck with the open classes.