Korean Job Discussion Forums

Keepongoing · Joined: 13 Feb 2003 Location: Korea

What are your feelings concerning students' evaluation of teachers? We are often judged by these evaluations.

katydid · Joined: 02 Feb 2003 Location: Here kitty kitty kitty...

I think it's crap if a 6 year old being farmed out to a hagwan who doesn't even want to be there has to give an evaluation and the teacher is judged on that: "We didn't play any games. Teacher yelled at me when I made a joke (read: ddong-chim)"
I really think for kids, it's the parents who should judge a teacger's ability.

Mosley · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

Yeah, but what happens when the parent "judges" the teacher based on what their little darling says? That's all too common here....

katydid · Joined: 02 Feb 2003 Location: Here kitty kitty kitty...

Well, in that case the teacher is screwed either by the kid or the parent. Confused

What would you suggest?

Mosley · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

Neither!

hellofaniceguy · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Location: On your computer screen!

A few years back, I was teaching teachers. Korean English teachers that is.
A few weeks into the session, something got my gord up.... and I let it all out.
My pet peeve was and is:
"how in the hell can any of you Korean English teachers possibly teach English when over the past few weeks, not a single one of you can carry on an intelligent conversation in English!" "Your grammar structure is awful, your chaining of sentences is awful, your pronunciation is terrible!"
I was really wired up that afternoon and blasted away!
"You are teaching the same mistakes that you make to your students!" And you don't even try and correct them! And you are high school English teachers!?!?!
All the other foreign teachers (13) in the program shared my opinion but none was as vocal as I was. How they became English teachers and STILL do in Korea is beyond understanding! Even at the office of education, the supervisor, who had a Master's in English could not carry on a conversation in English! I jumped all over him also!
So....
you KNOW how my evaluation went!! And you know where my next contract was not to be!
I'd do the same thing again, and do.

peppermint · Posted: Wed May 19, 2004 1:52 am Post subject:

I know the feeling all too well. I used to teach adults at a hagwon near one of the better Education universities in the country. If a student told me they were going to that university, well they got some extra attention from me.

Mosley · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

hellofaniceguy: I know you're not EPIK now, but were you before? It sounds like it.

I sympathize w/those frustrations, and some of them do deserve a "blast", but generally losing your cool doesn't do the trick here. Be firm but calm-I think that's the best way. And then, you can't change them? Let it be on THEIR heads!

Grotto · Joined: 21 Mar 2004

treat any evaluation like the ones you give your students.

dont mean nothing no sir not a thing

real marks dont exist in Korea

Skarp · Joined: 22 Aug 2003

Sad but true...

A bad evaluation means nothing. A good evaluation even less...

From the point of view of the mismanagement that is. Only thing that does count is bums on seats - and that is all a bit random.

This is not just a Korea problem - it is worldwide in all industries - slightly worse in Korea than some places - but pretty bad most places IMO.

Skarp

phaedrus · Joined: 13 Nov 2003 Location: I'm comin' to get ya.

phaedrus · Joined: 13 Nov 2003 Location: I'm comin' to get ya.

The only logical thing would be for the hagwon to give a questionaire to the parents, preferably a well prepared 1-10 system that is in translation, and have them complete this about their wishes and expectations for the teacher. Then the teacher can accomodate each student as well as possible. Evaluating is balderdash.