Korean Job Discussion Forums

[falco]

Alright, heres the situation. Been teaching at a public middle school here in Bundang since September. Since the beginning I have been teaching all of my classes by myself at my own insistence. I have taught English here in Korea for over five years and managing 40 students for 45 minutes is well within my capabilties. The other Korean English teachers have been more than happy to let me go ahead and do my own thing (quite natural really....its just a burden for them. They've all told me so themselves).

But heres the rub: A couple of weeks ago the principle insisted that the other Korean english teachers had to start co-teaching my classes with me. I informed the vice-principle and principle that I wasnt going to be happy with that situation and that if they went ahead and enforced it I wuld consider resigning. On Monday (12/5) I got an ultimatum from the principle that if I didnt accept co-teaching I would have to quit at the end of the month.

Now apart from one or two minor niggles with noisy classes etc I have NO problems in the manner or the method that I teach my classes here. Matter of fact a lot of the teachers have commented on how many of the students think my classes are fun and always look foward to them. I've been teaching here long enough to know that I've done OK here so far (or at least not done too badly). Four years at the same hagwon is not a bad effort!

Badly need some advice on what to do here. I really dont want to leave....I'm not a quitter but I dont feel like caving in to their demands. Now this job WAS advertised as co-teaching so I guess I'm not following the contract to the letter but I just feel its my perogative as an experienced teacher to conduct my classes the best way I see fit. Is there any possible action that I could take to save my job??

- falco.

[deessell]

I think you may find that it is against the law to not have a co-teacher present in the classroom at public schools.

[UncleAlex]

Com'on. It ain't so bad. The principal's been frank with you and pretty
generous so far, since Ministry regualtion requires a co-teacher to be
with you in class. But for all that, I fail to understand why the presence of
a Korean co-teacher bothers you. The ones I have aren't even noticeable.
They just doze at the back, play with their cell phones, or look out the win-
dow after arriving 10 minutes late. It's like they're not even there. I think
you have a good position in Bundang- a nice town- so why not comply with
your principal and keep your job.

[Ya-ta Boy]

Part of the motivation for the government to fund foreign teachers in public school classrooms is to expose Korean teachers to new ways to teach.

Since you have received an ultimatum that from now on, it's their way or the highway, and you have expressed your wish to stay...

How about accepting the idea that the co-teachers are going to be in the classroom and that if they are involved, they will be doing the activities you assign them to do?

[Yu_Bum_suk]

Tough situation. Could you just get them to come and sit at the back?

I guess I'm really lucky that for my HS classes I only have co-teachers where I want them (which is in 3 classes).

[crazylemongirl]

Yes, we are supposed to have Korean teachers in the class at all times and your principal is correct in insisting that they be there. Use this as an oppourtunity to improve your classes, there are bound to be concepts that some in your class are having trouble with. A korean teacher there would help those kids, so you can have more on task. Set the tone of how your classes are going to be run by talking to your teachers about your class before hand. Giving them a lesson plan with specific areas that you might have trouble would be a good idea too.

Personally I think you are an idiot for quitting over this. I know I woulld rather be in a situtation where help was being offered, rather than having to chase down teachers to come to class that I am in now with some of my co-teachers.

[Yu_Bum_suk]

[manlyboy]

He did say the other teachers saw English classes as a burden. That could make for some nasty vibes being brought into the room. Hell, let's be honest, that WILL make for nasty vibes. Koreans aren't exactly the bottle-it-all-up-inside types, are they? Having worked with an especially viscious co-teacher myself once before, it's not something I will ever put up with again. I would rather quit than be forced to share my space with someone bent on trying to make me just as miserable as they are.

My Principal also gave me the "stop teaching solo" order midway through this term. The co-teachers and I all said, "Yes, maam. Whatever you say maam". Then we made a tacit agreement to just carry on as usual. We've since heard nothing more about it.

[Kenny Kimchee]

Here in Japan, they have "tatamae" (appearance) and honne (truth). I never got that well-acquainted with the Korean language, but I'm sure that they have similar concepts. They've got to keep up appearances (K-teacher in the classroom) but that doesn't necessarily mean they're going to be doing anything.

I'm in the same boat as you; I'm an ALT at a JHS in Japan and I hate team-teaching, as do most of my JTEs. We've come to a kind of understanding:

a) they teach and I watch
b) they teach and I model pronunciation as necessary
c) I teach and they watch
d) I teach and they translate grammar as necessary

We're pretty happy with this arrangement. One of my JTEs doesn't even pay attention while I teach - she sits in the back of the class and grades papers. I'm sure that your K-teachers would be happy to come to a similar agreement.

Pulling the inflexible "it's my way or the highway" Western approach isn't going to win you any points, especially with authority figures who aren't accustomed to being defied (your principal).

Advice: Agree to their terms. Talk to your K-teachers and see how they want to approach teaching. Tell them that you're open to ideas, but subtly let them know that you'd rather solo-teach. I am sure that they would appreciate the chance to participate or to catch up on work - the critical thing is to make it appear that it is their decision and not yours. Remember, in Asia it's easier to beg forgiveness than ask permission...

[ddeubel]

I think that all teachers should get on the coteaching bandwagon.....for numerous reasons. First and foremost though, admin should be not just giving ultimatums but rather should be proactive in "cheerleading" this teaching method.

First, admin should have a viable plan as to When/Who/What is cotaught. They should provide all teachers with training in how to coteach. Practical workshops on the dynamics, dos and don'ts of working with a colleague in the classroom, sharing a classroom. they should give ongoing guidance to teachers and increased planning time (very necessary).

Before that is done, there will be many problems with collaborative teaching/co-teaching. Most teachers are not aware of the pitfalls and the things that MUST be done - to ensure a collegial atmosphere and proper teaching/learning. First, most teachers don't fill out questionnaires and then discuss their attitudes towards discipline, planning, assessment, philosophy, class environment, special needs students etc...... Without discussing these with a colleague -- you end up doing something other than coteaching and you end up with alot of miscommunication and in many cases -- a rough time in and out of the classroom.

I think native teachers should really be happy about coteaching, sharing. It is a great experience BUT only if done right. Otherwise it can be hell. But I do agree with what one person posted -- we are here to influence, share with Korean teachers, new teaching methods.....this is the only way we will see KOREANS in total, begin speaking better English. Slowly with a Korean teacher in the classroom, they will begin to try new things and see new possibilities. As will we...

OP - take this as the old Chinese proverb for a crisis "a dangerous opportunity." If you need an questionnaires/surveys about co-teaching, email me. They can be helpful to form a begining relationship with a coteacher or to discuss ongoing problems. Doing a study at the moment and hope to provide some recommendations in the future...


DD

"when one teaches, two learn"

[crazylemongirl]

[Yu_Bum_suk]

[ddeubel]

Yu Bum Suk,

I don't mean any disrespect but you have to do more learning about what co-teaching is.....It is not just two people in the classroom, trying things out. I won't rattle on about all the various types of co-teaching, its components and things you should and shouldn't be doing...Ill just say that statements like this ,


Two people up at the front of the classroom trying to get points across is just a distraction.

are not a great attitude to be undertaking any coteaching assignment. Coteaching is not just two people bumbling along....nor is coteaching getting the other person to do what you want. You don't "train" a teacher, this isn't an assembly line...


It took a while to train her

Sorry but it seems that you think that as a "native " teacher, you should be doing all the teaching, all the work, planning etc...That couldn't be further from the truth. Teaching , co-teaching is a shared journey. If you aren't using the Korean teacher, you aren't using all the tools at your command to better the student's English level. And I don't just mean in the near term, I mean in general, over many years...

DD

[Grotto]

[deessell]

Some of my classes have "co-teachers", by that I mean that the school is comforming with the law. However the teachers are never English teachers, so they are only there to help with discipline. Don't sweat it, they will be more nervous than you.