Korean Job Discussion Forums

Cherry Ripe · Joined: 14 Sep 2004

I've had my share of co-teaching experiences. There are the teachers who refuse to come into the classroom and the teachers who sit at the back reading a newspaper. But, fortunately, there are the teachers who stand out front with me, speak only in English to the students and are pretty positive.
Today I had a class with a teacher who has a half-hearted approach to the whole thing: she yells at the kids to be quiet but then spends the rest of the class wandering in and out of the class or reading a book. She cooperates when I ask her to do something - so she's not unpleasant. I just wish she had a better attitude. When I spoke to her about being more involved in the class, she asked me what she should do. Was it OK for her to interrupt my class to discipline a student etc.?
Anyway I'm curious to know if any of you explain to your co-teachers what you expect from them and,if you do, what do you say?
To be honest I always thought that they should be able to work it out for themselves.

dulouz · Joined: 04 Feb 2003 Location: Uranus

I have a Korean co teacher in nearly every class of the 22 I teach each week and they are all very different teachers. BTW I have 6 co teachers. I do one of three things. 1) I ask if they have an exercise they want to do and when they do, for the class duration, I go Beta male, that is I support and he/she leads. 2) Split the class in half, that is for 25 minutes she/he leads and the Beta teacher takes groups or students out of the class for one on one discussion. 3) Sit idle while one teacher and then split the discussion practice up.

Under no circumstanses should any teacher stand idle during the entire class.

Derrek · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

The two co-teachers I've had at my school have been pretty good to work with, and always taught with me. 3 of my 18-20 or so hours/week are co-taught.

crazylemongirl · Joined: 23 Mar 2003 Location: almost there...

I usually give my teachers a copy of the handout and let them know the objectives of the lesson.

From that I have teachers who really co-teach and we have a great time in class. Lots of jokes and banter.

Then I have some who come to class for discpline. And one who barely comes to class at all.

I think a lot of it has to do with individual teachers both foreign and korean. I think it's a good idea to tell your teachers what you plan on doing in class rather than just walking in and they don't know. From that it's up to them.

Derrek · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

Here, I can't even imagine a teacher not coming to a class they are supposed teach -- korean or otherwise. They'd catch heck!

Must be one of the odd differences between the public/private schools. Mine is private. I have always heard that the top university grads go to the public schools, but they get to "lay back" a bit more once they get there. Our teachers must be on their toes or they don't get hired back the following year.

Evan · Joined: 27 Feb 2004 Location: Gyeonggido, South Korea

For my regular 3rd-6th grade 40 kids of all levels and abilities classes:

My coworkers tell me what we are going to teach a half hour before the day starts (it's all written down in the teacher's guide). I then give suggestions as to what would be better (which gets them thinking) and then we bounce ideas off each other until class starts.

I do the TPR to begin class and they introduce the lesson. During class, the two of us demonstrate activities for the kids, act as team leaders when we play games, walk around and supervise during group activities, and play the boys off the girls and vice versa in singing contests and such (both my coworkers are female). We both handle discipline and they always run the computer.

For my high level special class of 20 students:
I tell my coworkers what I'm going to do and they get it passed by the school board. Since the kids' English is amazing, I don't need them their to help so they usually sit in the back and act as a student (they even do the worksheets).

It really is an almost ideal situation. Very Happy

JacktheCat · Joined: 08 May 2004

I think it all depends on the age and level of the students and your experience as a teacher. For high school and upper middle school students, a co-teacher is really unnecessary if you know what you are doing and know how to put together a decent lesson plan. But I wouldn't want to teach a room full of 40 screaming elementry school kids without a Korean co-teacher to help corral them.

I teach in a "private" high school and I don't have any co-teachers. Just me and 35 to 40 students. So far it's worked out great. The students are well behaved and seem to actually enjoy my lessons and the school admin. leaves me alone to do what I want with them.

Dispatched · Joined: 08 May 2004

For 2 classes a week I have a co-teacher, she travelled around America for a couple of years and has a cute Seattle accent. She gives me the material in advance and lets me decide what and how to teach. She'll be as active in the class (elementary) as she needs to be, it all depends if the kids understand what I'm trying to explain. It's a god send when she's there. The last couple of weeks I've had to teach one of the classes (15 students) by myself and it's been a bit of a challenge. Do-able but I'm glad I don't have to do it on a daily basis. All in all we operate pretty smoothly and I think we both appreciate what the other brings to the class environment.