Korean Job Discussion Forums

[blunder1983]

GRRRRRRRRRRR!

I loved teaching students over the summer in school, the small groups meant we did lots of really fun things and they had a great time (i think )

I enjoyed it so much I offered to teach similar sized classes after school, for free, doing the same sort of things (Cooking, making stories/comics, inventing things in English, role plays, survival games, reading, watching films/videos and answering questions) basically fun things which the kids enjoy and learn English as a side effect.

I told my coteacher I'd be willing to do these classes and the idea was met with mild enthusiasm. However today I told them what I was planning to do. From the look on their face you'd have thought I'd suggested something truely awful. Instead of what I'd planned I've been told that it would be far better to choose 10/15 hard words (pronunciation wise) and just drill them for 45minutes..... I mean, come on.

Quite simply that is not only DEATHLY boring for the students but it also is for me and I'm not really willing to give up my free time to waste it on a goal like that.

Anyone got any suggestions how I can resolve the conflict with a modicum of tact? So noone comes out a loser from a simple difference of opinion? I can simply say I've changed my mind but I dont really want to do that.

My current theory is to teach one word at the start and then get on to the lesson in hand, primarily, making English fun.

I do love my school but their lack of enthusiasm at any of the stuff I suggest is most disheartening, the tuck shop/supermarket idea i came up with earlier this year is something I'm having to FIGHT to do. I dont understand it...

[Devil's Harvest]

Volunteering at an orphanage or a childrens' hospital I can understand.

Volunteering at a hagwon, thus improving the school's image and putting more money in the owner's pocket (none of which you'll ever see), is just silly.

Cynical? Maybe. If anyone can post reasons why they'd volunteer at their school, please do so. I'm not being sarcastic; I really need to read some posts about people who love their schools so much that they'd work for free.

[manlyboy]

Maybe it's an ego thing for them. I've found that you can often get away with just nodding your head and saying politely "ok, I'll do what you want", but then just go ahead and do you want to do regardless. Often these people don't even seem to notice. It's not about education. It's about keeping it clear who's where on the totem pole.

[blunder1983]

I dont work at a hagwon i work at a regular school in EPIK

I'm contracted for 22 but only work for 16. I hae to be in school between 8.30-4.30 and i'd like to put that spare time to helping kids

[Yu_Bum_suk]

I can see where this would be harder in a middle school where most of the kids run home right after school. With high schoolers, just hanging out with them during dinner and before study hall seems to work best in terms of practicing conversational English. Maybe suggesting doing a 'club' activity after school for those who are interested might be best. Present it as western or American 'culture', not learning English. ...Or present it as TOIC grammar and vocab test revision and then just play English games with them.

[fusionbarnone]

Congrats on your enthusiasm as you sound like an asset to the school and, the kids. You seem to have a wealth of great ideas.

I too was in EPIK in 2001 and taught at 65 schools in two districts in my first year. Immigration near the end couldn't believe it when I applied for a new visa. Never got fined either. Through that experience though, I was able to learn about teaching with minimal fallout.

Anyway, I only had the orientation stuff to "creatively" apply to begin with. But once utilized in conjunction with goods lesson idea books, lessons morphed into concise, time-manageable, and meaningfully-adaptable classroom applications. You sound like your already doing this.

It is also quite satisfying when highly experienced high school teachers ask for input into teaching a particular subject to any age group(which you are expected to teach and manage) and then be able to construct a lesson plan(mentally) and execute said plan within minutes.(Once had a middle-school teacher have me do HER demonstration class for an exam which she later told me I had helped her pass. I had wondered who the "examiner" was sitting in the back taking notes. Lazy cow.) This is a manifestation of evolving professionalism.

Don't burn out and don't sweat the small stuff. Save your lesson-info-wealth and apply it gradually throughout your contract time. Your school will come around as they eventually realize your value(hopefully.) Unbeknown to yourself at times, a lot of the classroom may end up in the norae bang with the rest of the rank n file. It is afterall "group" building.

My two cents.

[crazylemongirl]

My advice is don't bust a gut doing extra things. In my experience initiative just isn't rewarded in the public school system. Better of playing by what they want and twisiting it gradually otherwise your going to get a sore head from butting your head against a brick wall.

[blunder1983]

Well despite my best efforts the Tuck Shop idea has been quashed.

I'm guessing they fear the enjoyment it could give the kids. At least its being stopped for valid reasons: The kids parents wouldn't like a shop (even tho they had one for 3 years prior to last Xmas) and the litter the kids drop would be too much.

Ha ha ha what BS.

I'm simply at a loss how difficult implementing fun things is in schools. I cant back out of the free lessons now as he told the prinicpal in the same meeting as when they decided to bail on the tuckshop idea. But I'm sick of being asked to do the most unoriginal and boring lessons i can come up with, and creativity being looked at as a strange and unwanted trait.

Oh well, I'm either off to another school which DOES like fun english or heading to Taiwan when my contract ends. Ha I still cant get over how originality and devotion to students is treated here.

ROAR!

[schwa]

[guangho]

"taught at 65 schools in two districts in my first year"


Well I'm glad somebody has my record beat....

[Yu_Bum_suk]

My school already has a tuck shop. So far students have treated me to ice creams there after lunch thrice in two weeks. Could I have the western candies you were planning on using?