Korean Job Discussion Forums

[manlyboy]

I think the curriculum is sound, IF you supplement it correctly. I've learned there's one certainty in all EFL schools, in all parts of the world - when teachers get it wrong, they will almost always blame the curriculum. (Done it many times myself). But it's no excuse. A curriculum can't do your job for you. Modifying and adapting inappropriate lesson material is part and parcel of being an ELI.
You know what they say about a workman blaming his tools.

[pecan]

Paperwork goes with the territory, so there should be no surprises there.

It appears that expectations are the root of the problem. Therefore, I would suggest you simply change your expectations, and you should be able to enjoy your year without further complications.

In other words, rather than coming to school expecting things to run smoothly, to be notified months in advance, etc., come to school with the understanding and acceptance that things could change at the drop of a hat. Remaining calm and doing your best is not so difficult when you approach life and your work with an open mind.

The problem some people have here is they invest in their ideas and expectations to a degree that is unhealthy. Like when you spend an entire Saturday preparing some lesson and it gets rejected immediately on Monday by your supervisor, these people will become upset. However, if you would have prepared that lesson with the understanding and acceptance that it probably would get rejected, you will not be upset when it gets dumped.

I know this is basic psychology 101 for second graders, but some people still have not figured themselves out enough to avoid these types of disappointments.

Set yourself up for success each day!

As a teacher, I know that some lessons are going to fail, but it does not mean that the time spent preparing it was a failure. I learned from it, and therefore, I was able to grow from the experience. Moreover, I know that schedules can be changed in a second, so I am always prepared for an emergency lesson situation. Planning out an entire year is really not that big of a deal, if you stop and realize that it only contains about thirty-two lessons at most.

Obviously, if you do not have any experience preparing lessons, it could seem like a major task, so just take it one lesson at a time. Before you know it, you will be done with all of them with time to spare.

The truth is, we make time for the things we enjoy. Your feelings about having to prepare lessons, could be telling you that you may not like teaching all that much, which may explain your current disposition.

Free advice,
Nut

[Grotto]

I really hope that was a joke Pecan

Set yourself up for success but be ready to be dumped on? Philosophy 101 or advanced doormat 204

Didnt we already have this discussion in another post?

Instead of going through a year of frustration and stupidity why not tell them at the start that their expectations must fall under realistic expectations.

As for planning out a year: yeah its not overly difficult if you have the texts chosen out.

To me a year plan is different from an outline. It is detailed and covers many of the aspects to be covered. It also outlines what will happen each class.

I do realise that things can change at the drop of a hat. I roll with the dice, I dont stress out about things that I cant control. BUT I can control what I am expected to do by telling them that I need some notice of what is to be done and when it is due by.

I am the first foreign teacher here. I am the only foreign teacher here. They have never worked with or dealt with a foriegner before.

So instead of the roll over and be their biatch all year I am TEACHING them how to SUCCEED with all foreigners.

Because I am making my stand and telling them that I wont stand for being jerked around I am making it easier for myself and the next foriegner that comes along.

FYI...my hours are 8:30-4:30 M-F I dont work on Saturdays...after the dicking around I went through over the books I will not work Saturdays any more

[pecan]

It appears that you did not understand my point.

If my immediate supervisor asked me to prepare some documents by tomorrow, I would say "no problem!" to her request, because I have accepted long ago that it can and does happen. I do not consider it a "jerk around" as you have described it, rather it is a bureaucratic matter. She is merely the go-between, so I fail to see the benefit of giving her attitude.

Yeah, set them straight Grotto! You are going to change Korea.

So you know, the above sentence is meant as sarcasm.

I do not wish to burden myself with the task of trying to change others. Again, it is a lifestyle choice. I simply operate from a more flexible and a more understanding place than you, to avoid the kind of stress that you create for yourself on a daily basis.

Please continue along your path. It just does not seem to be working for you.

Care to venture a guess as to why?

Nut

[Grotto]

I find it so funny that you sit there and spout such caca el toro.

I am not trying to change Korea...just the people I have to work with for the next year.

Now let me get this straight.....if your boss comes to you and demands something totally unrealistic to be delivered in one or two days you say no problem So you are a magician You can pull out year plans, monthly plans and syllabus out of mid air

My question now is what the hell are you doing here?

I am very flexible, things change, I dont see the point in getting my knickers in a knot over it. BUT When I can control things that are going to affect me I will exert that control.

Unlike others I want to make things better not just roll over with the status quo

What I do today will affect me for the rest of my life.

[Gord]

Your version of events is much more interesting that what I've heard back from them (as noted before, I was originally offered your job and I know one of the people there). In their version, it's just talk about some foreign teacher who doesn't really know what he is doing, doing things without bothering to learn how things are done in schools, forgetting he is part of a team, and is generally unprepared while refusing to do enough prep work. All while getting angry at everyone else over his mistakes and shortcomings.

I like your version better as it plays you up as the hero against the shortcomings of everyone else. Much more exciting than the boring original version.

I also liked it when your apartment ( http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/korea/viewtopic.php?p=400739&highlight=apartment#400739 ) was a house ( http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/korea/viewtopic.php?p=373608&highlight=house#373608 ) . Could you please go back to the first version? It's more interesting than the truth.

flame bait removed 10/13 ~ mod team

[manlyboy]

Before this good 'ole flame war hits top gear, can I interject this?

The source of my concern here is job security. The board of education will be making a surprise inspection and observation of my lesson(s) some time this month. If they walk in on a class with the good co-teacher, no problems. But if they walk in when I'm with the other one - I foresee trouble. She has a permanent position as a public school teacher. She can get away with b.s-ing her way through a lesson. I'm on a 12 month contract as part of an experimental program that may or may not get scrapped in a few years time. If I were on the board of education, and I observed a disorganized, unprepared lesson, I'd be asking myself: "What am I paying this guy for"? I feel that the K-teacher's attitude could jeopardize my job.

Feel free to recommence hostilities now.

[Grotto]

Ahh the serpent rears its ugly head.

Lets go with my apartment/house is part of a tri-plex.
there is a main house upstairs and two apartment/houses downstairs.

Perhaps a misnomer on my part.

I call it a house because I do have a front yard/patio, a driveway and tons of room.

flames removed mod team

[peppermint]

Is it really a surprise? My teachers have told me when the school board will be coming, and I'm prepping my lessons as best I can on my own.

[pecan]

Manly,

Why not prepare a series of excellent lessons with all of the "bells and whistles" that do not require your coteacher?

That way you can be viewed as being an "effective" teacher, and your coteacher can be seen as your mentor (allowing you to conduct the class with her/his as a guide, rather than an integral part of your lesson). It could be a win/win for both of you.

Please consider that the coteacher that you are having difficulty with may be afraid of you and her/his English ability. Work with what you have.

Nut

[Demophobe]

As far as cirricullum in the elementary school, I don't supplement at all (aside from replacing some of the games, but that's not supplementing) The cirricullum is what it is and it needs nothing except a teacher.

If I think it's lame, then that's my right to think, but I am not in a position where I am going to change it. Just teach it. Follow the perscribed lesson plans from the teacher's book and that's it. Doing that, there are no dangers at all, even if the president of Korea walks in. You would be doing your job to the letter.

The danger comes when we start believing that we can change anything in the program and start meddling with the setup. The afternoon classes are mine and mine alone, but in the morning, I just follow the script.

Manlyboy, I seriously doubt that you or anyone else needs a co-teacher to teach the Korean school program. You can see the beginning and the end of each lesson, and you can see the basic idea of how to get there. You are a kind of "textbook interpreter" for this material and that is any teacher's job. To relate the material tothe students in such a way that they can digest it.

Again, I really think that the Korean English cirricullum in elementary, middle or high school is clear in it's goals and in at least giving a basic outline of how to proceed to those goals on a class-by-class basis. I have seen the middle and high school books, and they are simply more expanded, in-depth books that follow a similar format. not rocket-science at all.

It's funny to me that foreigners in Korea complain about some aspects of hogwan life (at least I did....babysitting, not making a difference, bad kids, horrible directors, not really "teaching", no clear goals, no clear cirricullum), and yet when these are removed and we enter a professional environment where we are given a chance to do all we wanted, we still don't rise to the challenge of becoming "teachers".

Perhaps the difference comes in our point of view. For me, I will chose ESL as a job, not a money scheme or a short-term solution until I find my way in life. If it weren't so, I may find hagwons more appealing, as they aren't asking me to be anything I don't want to be. Perhaps for the more transient, the job is just too much pressure, even with a co-teacher. Maybe the co-teachers are the problem, and not having one, I just don't see it.

Grotto, "lateness" is a Korean-ism. Last-minute changes and surprises are par for the course. I think you know this, though it doesn't always lessen the sting when it happens.

[Demophobe]

pecan just kindly pointed out all of my typos as of late....

I will let then stand as ammo/humour/bait.....

[peppermint]

If I got regarded as a teacher, and either had the legally required support, or could communicate better with my students in either language, this would be a fantastic job.

The troulbe comes, partly in the communication barrier ( though really, what m I here for if not to help break that down) but mostly in that I get treated like the hagwon muppet that I wanted to avoid,by taking this job. I'm more than willing to put in the time and effort, but it'd be really nice if I got a little respect for it.

[Zyzyfer]

[adventureman]

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