Korean Job Discussion Forums

[forgesteel]

And I thought I was unlucky with a roommate that steals large amounts of money and spreads lies about me!

Cheers,

[EFLtrainer]

Rhis is team (not actually teaching at the same time) teaching in my current hagwon:

You want to do what? We can't do that! They're Korean!

You want to do what? We can't do that! This is Korea!

You want to do what? We can't do that! It's not the Korean way!

You want to do what? We can't do that! The parents won't allow it!

You want to do what? We won't do that! You don't know what you're talking about!

What's this? Research to back up your claims? Hey, this is Korea! Who cares what they do EVERYWHERE ELSE.

Sadly, this is not a joke. As a result, we have decided to go our separate ways, though relatively amicably. PM me with any great jobs! Though it's not exactly uni hiring season, is it.

[muggie2dammit]

[EFLtrainer]

[inkoreafornow]

I swear to God the problem with Koreans is that they know only one learning/teaching strategy: listen and repeat. The funny thing is the Korean teacher's I work with usually don't give a shit if anyone is listening or repeating so I have to just marvel at the futility of it all.

As for what to do when they get on your nerves, I just stare at them. I've tried to play nice. I've tried to calmly explain to them that what they are doing is driving me insane outside of class and they just smile, nod, and say "OK, OK, I'm sorry" and then do the exact same thing (insert everyone else's complaints) the next time. So, when their phone rings, I stare at them until they shut it off (and I mean shut it off), they talk while I'm talking, I just wait an ungodly long time and wait for the uncomfortable silence to build and build before finally saying, "Oh, so I guess it's my turn to talk now?"

This is so my last year in Korea.

[ilovebdt]

I can really sympathise with you. One of my co teachers has really bugged me for the past two weeks. It is so noticable how the students in her class are less advanced compared with the other teacher's classes.

She doesn't think that students wandering into class 5 minutes late is a problem. She doesn't seem to think wasting five minutes of every lesson until everyone has a friggin pen is a problem. She doesn't think that translating everything I say directly into Korean is a waste, and the stuff I think she should translate she doesn't.

I quite like my job here, but like the OP, I think I might start looking around.

Ilovebdt

[Grotto]

I have argued at every school and hogwan I worked at about the benefits of teaching reading and writing to the students as soon as possible.

No! They learn like native speaker...listening speaking.

Ummm, sorry my ignorant little ajoshi...that may work in an environment where people are immersed in the culture and language on a daily basis but it doesnt work all that well in Korea where they only hear and speak English in the classroom. Oh yeah by the way the textbooks you gave them are all in English...wouldnt it be great if they could be able to read and understand the words in the books?

NO!! NO need to read! Speaking listening only!

Grotto goes outside spends the break beating his head against the wall...made more progress with the wall than I did with any of the teachers and ajoshi's!

[deessell]

[butter808fly]

lol... ilovebdt, that avatar is totally what I feel like with my coteacher sometimes.. hehehe.. thats hilarious!

Reading all the different experiences is great. I was seriously starting to think maybe Im the one whos insane. Although, I am known to be a little off balance.

You want me to do what? But I cant hike now, I have to show you whos boss by constantly taking your ideas and not letting you speak.

My co-teacher always says "sorry" to me too. Whyd you do that? Oh sorry sorry, I know your pronunciation is better than me... doesnt have to do with pronunciation, Im here to teach....

Next day... same same.

The books. Our books are a total joke. None of the dialogs are written in the books, sometimes the lyrics to songs arent even written. Their pages are filled with pretty and colorful computer animated cartoons. The most ridiculous books Ive ever seen in my life.

And someone mentioned the four aspects of language necessary for learning to any capable degree: reading, writing, listening, speaking. I think the textbooks mentioned validates that some Koreans think that reading and writing are not very important for language acquisition.

I guess through all this, I am creating stories to tell my children

[itaewonguy]

[livinginkorea]

This week I have started doing small stories with the students in the elementary school where I work. I give each grade a page of the book and tell them that I will pick people out next time. It only takes up about 5 to 7 minutes of class but hopefully, when they get used to it, this time will be reduced. Already I spend approx. 5 mins in the beginning of class doing phonics so if I can get the introduction/phonics/reading done in under 10 minutes then I will be happy.

[livinginkorea]

Oh by the way with my co-teacher, the teaching is always divided and split up. I take the intro and phonics and she checks you has a book/note book. I then do the reading and she follows with the book (I might have to pronuce a word or two) and game. I demo with her if needs be.

Clear and consice. The only way to have it!

[blunder1983]

I think writing a book, "how to learn english" would do really well over here, you could include crazy concepts like having Integrated Skills instead call and repeat, and the far out idea of making the kids listen, instead of gouging out chunks of table with their "pencil sharpener" razorblades. The only thing is you'd have to write it with a Korean name, cause lets face it, the rest of the world has simply been getting by on luck, the quicker they realise inefficiency, corruption and kimchi are defining concepts for any civilisied nation the faster they can improve!

I'll never understand why they look up to Harvard and Yale etc. but never seek to emulate their teaching methods.

The "Korean Way" irritates me beyond belief.

[forgesteel]

[Wrench]

I love it... The auto magical way of learning English.. If they hear enough of the native speaker they will some how magically and miraculously learn English with out any effort. Hey if they want to pay me 2 million won for it all the better imo.