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Bran
Joined: 17 Nov 2014
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 Posted: Mon Jan 19, 2015 12:25 pm Post subject: Preparation for an EPIK elementary position |
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I'm starting an EPIK position in March and would love to hear some ideas from people who've been through the process. Although I've experience teaching a completely different subject at university level I've never taught ESL before.
For example can I prepare myself now for teaching; are there books I can read or maybe even lesson plans I can develop before I start? I did an absolutely hopeless 100 hour tefl cert which taught me next to nothing and I highly regret not doing a CELTA course but it could be something I'll do part-time while teaching...
How difficult is lesson planning and how much time does it take up for new, inexperienced teachers generally (I know it's a bit like asking 'how long is a piece of string')?
Are there any other nuggets of brilliant advice you can give me to help me not be an awful teacher!?!
Cheers all! |
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edwardcatflap
Joined: 22 Mar 2009
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| Posted: Mon Jan 19, 2015 3:37 pm Post subject: |
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| What age groups will you be teaching? That'll have a bearing on your methodology. |
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Bran
Joined: 17 Nov 2014
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| Posted: Mon Jan 19, 2015 3:39 pm Post subject: |
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| It'll be elementary school/s I'll be teaching at but that's as far as the information I've been given. That's part of the problem knowing how to develop a plan at this stage. |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Mon Jan 19, 2015 5:01 pm Post subject: Re: Preparation for an EPIK elementary position |
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| Bran wrote: |
I'm starting an EPIK position in March and would love to hear some ideas from people who've been through the process. Although I've experience teaching a completely different subject at university level I've never taught ESL before.
For example can I prepare myself now for teaching; are there books I can read or maybe even lesson plans I can develop before I start? I did an absolutely hopeless 100 hour tefl cert which taught me next to nothing and I highly regret not doing a CELTA course but it could be something I'll do part-time while teaching...
How difficult is lesson planning and how much time does it take up for new, inexperienced teachers generally (I know it's a bit like asking 'how long is a piece of string')?
Are there any other nuggets of brilliant advice you can give me to help me not be an awful teacher!?!
Cheers all! |
Let me guess... google is broken and off-line?
https://www.google.ca/#q=how+to+plan+a+lesson+for+elementary+school
https://www.google.ca/#q=how+to+plan+an+ESL+lesson+for+elementary+school&spell=1
nope... seems google is working.
So is Dave's ESL Cafe:
http://www.eslcafe.com/search/Lesson_Plans/
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Bran
Joined: 17 Nov 2014
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| Posted: Mon Jan 19, 2015 5:35 pm Post subject: Re: Preparation for an EPIK elementary position |
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I asked for information specifically from people who've been through the EPIK process; more of a qualitative perspective on lesson planning duties and expectations for in-coming EPIK teachers. I apologise if you couldn't understand my post!
Anyway, while the EPIK programme looks great, the availability of information regarding the duties and lesson planning roles of teachers versus co-teachers, and the nature of textbooks used by EPIK teachers leaves a lot to be desired. Anything that might illuminate that for me and provide me with relevant info that could improve my lessons a little early on, would be fantastic! |
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schwa
Joined: 18 Jan 2003
Location: Yap
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| Posted: Mon Jan 19, 2015 9:02 pm Post subject: Re: Preparation for an EPIK elementary position |
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| Bran wrote: |
| ...Anyway, while the EPIK programme looks great, the availability of information regarding the duties and lesson planning roles of teachers versus co-teachers, and the nature of textbooks used by EPIK teachers leaves a lot to be desired. Anything that might illuminate that for me and provide me with relevant info that could improve my lessons a little early on, would be fantastic! |
No two schools the same. No two coteachers the same.
Theres no predicting what grades you'll be teaching, class sizes, or student levels (but you can figure on widely mixed). No telling what your partner teachers will expect from you regarding in-class or lesson prep duties, could be full-on active input, the dreaded human tape recorder role, or most likely something in between. Or no coteacher at all.
Elementary schools tend to stick pretty religiously to the textbook. The lessons are weak & the accompanying videos are cringeworthy. Which text? Could be any of numerous, the schools choose them independently. Its up to you to make it engaging. You'll figure it out.
Um, what was your question?
Your intention is commendable but actual specific prep at this point would be a waste of time. Wait & see. Better now just to focus on generalities of child learning, keep researching widely, & work on your basic happy space regarding what you're about to undertake. The kids, by the way, are awesome.
Best luck. |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Mon Jan 19, 2015 11:44 pm Post subject: |
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He's a lazy azz newbie who can't be bothered to look back.
It's not like this hasn't been discussed to death over the last 10 years.
Newbie.... They are already done for you.
EPIK and GEPIK have the books, CDs and teacher manuals with fully scripted lesson plans for elementary school classes.
Ask your co-teacher who BTW is the official teacher of your classes.
You may be a lot of things but a "Teacher" won't be one of them.
As a NES elementary school teacher in EPIK...
you are a walking, talking, English sound machine. You will be expected to make English noises and create "Scripts" for various scenarios on demand from your K-Teacher.
If you were serious then you might want to look up things like:
"Teaching English to Young Learners (David Nunan, 2011).
Language Acquisition Theory (Krashen).
Universal Grammar (Chomsky).
Engagement Theory in relation to EFL (rather than the larger, "education").
Blooms taxonomy and the learning pyramid.
You might also want to cruise through places like SLIDESHARE to get a handle on EFL and working abroad.
To name a few to get you started.
Then you can look back through the threads... there is a TON of material already written. Use the google search engine rather than the one there on Dave's to search back on Dave's.
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schwa
Joined: 18 Jan 2003
Location: Yap
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| Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2015 12:33 am Post subject: |
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| ttompatz, you're sounding bitter & negative. Surely you were once a newbie too. You've done well for yourself & built a nice reputation for being helpful, why tarnish that with unwarranted condemnation of sincere newcomers? |
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actionjackson
Joined: 30 Dec 2007
Location: Any place I'm at
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| Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2015 1:31 am Post subject: |
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| schwa wrote: |
| ttompatz, you're sounding bitter & negative. Surely you were once a newbie too. You've done well for yourself & built a nice reputation for being helpful, why tarnish that with unwarranted condemnation of sincere newcomers? |
I imagine he gets frustrated by seeing the same questions every 4-6 months. |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2015 3:06 am Post subject: |
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| schwa wrote: |
| ttompatz, you're sounding bitter & negative. Surely you were once a newbie too. You've done well for yourself & built a nice reputation for being helpful, why tarnish that with unwarranted condemnation of sincere newcomers? |
My condescension is earned, not given freely.
| Bran wrote: |
| I asked for information specifically from people who've been through the EPIK process; more of a qualitative perspective on lesson planning duties and expectations for in-coming EPIK teachers. I apologise if you couldn't understand my post! |
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beentheredonethat777
Joined: 27 Jul 2013
Location: AsiaHaven
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| Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2015 7:17 am Post subject: Re: Preparation for an EPIK elementary position |
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| Bran wrote: |
I'm starting an EPIK position in March and would love to hear some ideas from people who've been through the process. Although I've experience teaching a completely different subject at university level I've never taught ESL before.
For example can I prepare myself now for teaching; are there books I can read or maybe even lesson plans I can develop before I start? I did an absolutely hopeless 100 hour tefl cert which taught me next to nothing and I highly regret not doing a CELTA course but it could be something I'll do part-time while teaching...
How difficult is lesson planning and how much time does it take up for new, inexperienced teachers generally (I know it's a bit like asking 'how long is a piece of string')?
Are there any other nuggets of brilliant advice you can give me to help me not be an awful teacher!?!
Cheers all! |
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Not sure how brilliant it is or if it is even a nugget but speaking from personal experience and that of 100's of other EPIK/GEPIK teachers here, two possibilities are highly probable.
More than likely, (90% sure) you will not be the "main" teacher. You will be an assistant teacher to the Korean English teacher. In general, you will be required to show up, read word for word from the book, place finger on computer key (enter) every couple of minutes when its time to turn the page. Get ready to be bored out of your wits. Public school jobs here are not for real teachers. Private schools are very good places for teachers with experience.
OR, on the complete other end of the spectrum, you may end up needing to prepare lessons to aid in the lesson from the book.(unassisted by a Korean teacher) This would mean creating powerpoints and finding additional songs on youtube that correspond with lessons.
In Korea, anything is likely to happen. There is NO preparation, possible.
The books in elementary are scripted and follow a very specific daily lesson plan exactly. (Dialogue, picture,words, song)
Middle school is make your own material and lesson plans.
I hope this helps you.
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kingplaya4
Joined: 14 May 2006
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| Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2015 8:12 am Post subject: |
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| Don't get flustered when the schedule changes at the last minute, be able to work with anyone, don't think your culture is superior (at least not out loud), be a happy-go-lucky energetic type rather than an authoritative old school teacher and you should do well here. |
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beentheredonethat777
Joined: 27 Jul 2013
Location: AsiaHaven
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| Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2015 9:04 am Post subject: |
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| kingplaya4 wrote: |
| Don't get flustered when the schedule changes at the last minute, be able to work with anyone, don't think your culture is superior (at least not out loud), be a happy-go-lucky energetic type rather than an authoritative old school teacher and you should do well here. |
+1 ^^ MOST important advice EVER, 100% accurate |
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kingplaya4
Joined: 14 May 2006
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| Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2015 9:01 am Post subject: |
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Thanks. 8 years of experience speaking  |
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lithium
Joined: 18 Jun 2008
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| Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2015 12:38 pm Post subject: |
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| schwa wrote: |
| ttompatz, you're sounding bitter & negative. Surely you were once a newbie too. You've done well for yourself & built a nice reputation for being helpful, why tarnish that with unwarranted condemnation of sincere newcomers? |
This ^^^^ It's almost like someone hacked his account and is posing as ttompatz. In the past, he was helpful and sought out by many. |
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