Korean Job Discussion Forums

[baedaebok]

I recently started teaching in an after-school (elementary school) and I'm trying to balance "fun" and "learning" in the classroom.

Some of the students tell their mom the classes are boring and they wish to drop. The program administrations are not happy about this situation. So, how important is "learning"? How much do the students call the shots? It sounds like if they say they don't like the class to their moms, their moms will complain to the administrators who will pass it on. I've been thinking of playing mostly games and just use the textbook as a starting point for the first 10 minutes.

What are others experiences in after-school programs?

BDB

[beentheredonethat777]

So, how important is "learning"?

In an after-school program, not very much.
"Fun" is the name of the game in this situation.

How much do the students call the shots?
100% of the time!


It sounds like if they say they don't like the class to their moms, their moms will complain to the administrators who will pass it on.

100% true/100% of the time. Who ever is paying the fees, are also calling the shots.

]I've been thinking of playing mostly games and just use the textbook as a starting point for the first 10 minutes

^^.This, dear one, this. Good thought. Buy some prizes ,too.^^

What are others experiences in after-school programs?

Find out what the students want/like to do and do it, every day.
They will be happy, their parents will be happy, the administration will be very happy. They will tell their moms how much "fun"learning English is, you'll be loved, praised, and regarded as a "a very, very good teacher."
[/quote]

#beentheredonethat#voice of experience#

edit: spelling

[augustine]

Fun, fun, fun. The vast majority of parents simply don't care, and your only worry should be from the open classes; but if you mold yourself into a ringleader showman monkey a couple weeks before, you can essentially assure smooth sailing until the next one comes along. I only stayed in Korea because of the after school positions I received, and maybe I was lucky, but I could pretty much do anything I wanted. Never had any real complaints, and when an issue popped up it always went through the co-teacher first; so if it's being leaked to someone higher than her, you probably have a bad CT or are ostracizing some group of kids who have moms that are connected and have nothing to do but throw menopausal fits and make everyone around them miserable. Or, it could be you, I don't know.

I'm officially retired from this racket and soon to be retired from this weird-ass country itself, but if you have no supervision, as I did... just let them have some fun, and if you can find the right dynamics, you'll find that the classes can often teach themselves without much needed from you. I'd start with a game they play with themselves, breeze through a few pages, then have them make an A4 paper book about it or some shit like that. The only complaints about me as a teacher that I ever got was during my first AS contract doing an after school gig in Gangnam, and it was because I was literally trying hard to teach them English and understand what the book was saying. The two other after school jobs I worked after that gave even less of a shit. I'd be the monkey in the open class but after that I never heard more than a peep and no one ever seemed to care. Give some effort to the kids who try and want to learn, but don't be too hesitant to disregard and corner the chumps who just don't want to be there. That's the bottom line of after school jobs to me. Teach to the kids who want to learn and ignore the ones who don't.

[Who's Your Daddy?]

Racket. That's why it is fun to work here at first, but later you realize your work is pretty meaningless.

Korea seems to be all sizzle and no steak.