Korean Job Discussion Forums

[canukteacher]

I do not go into the classroom without the co-teacher. It will never happen. I am an assistant english teacher, and that is a nn no (fine by me).

I do dicipline, and my co-teaher knows better than to undermine me (I am older....haha). But often I too simply stop teaching, quietly say to her

They are not listening, why are you teaching?

She has gotten much better with the discipline over the last couple of months. In fact she is now stricter than I am.

Next term should be a breeze.

CT

[Cherry Ripe]

I would tell your co-teacher that you will wait for her until she arrives before you enter the class. Some classes/individuals are just impossible and I don't think you need to suffer over it. There's obviously some weird chemistry in that classroom. Whether it's due to the relationship between the co-teacher and the class or the homeroom teacher and the class, the point is it is stronger than you. I'm guessing you only see them once a week so you have very little chance to have any effect on their behaviour. By waiting for the co-teacher to arrive before you enter the class, you may find she turns up on time for a change. I think in a situation where you are teaching with a K. co-teacher you have already handed the power over to them from the beginning. Once that happens it's hard to get it back. I would surrender the power to her. Take a back seat. As long as the class listening and learning, that's all that matters.

[McNasty]

In regards to the student refusing to listen to you:
When I first started teaching I used to get really pissed off and yell at the kid, which worked occasionally but I ended up with a hoarse throat and high blood pressure.

Now I repeat the request to the student in a nonthreatening tone until the student responds. After a few repeated requests the other students start giving them a hard time or explain the request in Korean if they don't understand.

The kids become accustomed to it after some time and now all I do is point at the problem student and point to the front of the class and they know what to do(stand at the front with their arms up). Whatever works for you.

If your co-teacher is undermining your authority simply take the course of action that best suits you. If you don't want to make waves don't.
Sounds like she has some serious resentment issues with you though and perhaps some anger management issues as well.