Korean Job Discussion Forums

alicat_blue · Joined: 09 Mar 2005

Ongoing saga of my hagwon experience continues. I teach mostly kindie classes and I found out today that from now on there will be korean teachers in all of our classes just to make sure "that the kids are okay". Is this normal? I find it extremely patronizing as well as demeaning, as it seems to suggest that us foreigners aren't competent enough to handle the classes ourselves. Am I being too sensitive? Is this normal? Do the korean teachers at our school have nothing better to do than spy on us whilst we teach? Some helpful advice would be much appreciated.

the_beaver · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

Back when I taught kids I would've killed to have a Korean speaker/disciplinarian in the classroom with me.

Derrek · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

Dude, this is a godsend.

You should only worry about spying if you really suck, which I'm sure you don't.

You will really enjoy this, if you approach it in a friendly way, and include the Korean teacher somehow.

This likely means that your hagwon owner actually CARES about whether his/her students learn in class.

Tis a good thing.

JacktheCat · Joined: 08 May 2004

I'm with the Beav on this one.

Swallow your pride and thank your lucky stars that you'll have a designated Korean kid wrangler in on your classes.

Chances are it won't last long anyway, once your wonjongnim realises he's paying for two teachers to teach one class.

Derrek · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

Yeah, just re-read that these are Kindy classes.

DEFINATELY a good thing.

Especially when they pee their pants, the Korean teacher can clean it up while you continue your lesson.

I bet you'll find life to be SO MUCH EASIER.

Teufelswacht · Joined: 06 Sep 2004 Location: Land Of The Not Quite Right

alicat_blue · Joined: 09 Mar 2005

Unfortunately it does seem to be a case of just sitting in the back of the room and spying as it were. What you just posted really rang true with how I feel about the situation. There is a part-time KT here who seems to resent the fact that I am getting paid more, have my own desk and am just in general a whitie. Despite the fact that I teach twice as many classes as she does. I feel like this whole Korean supervision thing is more about controlling the foreign monkies than helping us with the kids.

OiGirl · Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Location: Hoke-y-gun

the_beaver · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

gypsyfish · Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Location: Seoul

I haven't taught kids in Korea, but in Taiwan we had Chinese teachers in kindy and the older kids classes. I was lucky; my kindy co-teacher actually stayed in class with me, while some of the others would go out and hang with the secretary. My classes were better because of Amy.

OiGirl · Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Location: Hoke-y-gun

Teufelswacht · Joined: 06 Sep 2004 Location: Land Of The Not Quite Right

keithinkorea · Joined: 17 Mar 2004

Had a Korean kinder teacher in most of my classes last year and it was pretty cool. The kids spoke little Korean and concentrated a lot more in class. Their behaviour was much better, she cleaned up if a kid shat it's pant or peed itself. And she was really quite and never interferred in the class at all.

She didn't speak a lick of English so it was difficult to communicate but generally it was a godsend.

Don't worry even if she's doing nothing she'll be useful if there are any incidents, of bullying tears, poops or whatever.

OiGirl · Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Location: Hoke-y-gun

I know I need to count myself lucky that I have never worked at a hogwon that told me to teach kindergarten students.

stumptown · Posted: Mon Jun 13, 2005 4:26 am Post subject:

I agree with the other posters. The K teachers have this mesmerizing way with just yelling out some call'n'holler chant that the kids are programmed to respond to. All they have to do when they see the kids distracted is yell it and the kids automatronically repeat it and fall into order. Don't worry about the presence of the K teacher, but DO incorporate her into the lesson like as a partner for role playing activities, or to help with explaining the games.