Korean Job Discussion Forums

khyber · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Compunction Junction

I realize this may be kinda tough to get this thread into a groove but...

Just to hear what other people have to deal with, i'll start.

The "Let's Chat" Series offerred (and i hope exclusively) by BCM schools.

The author's PHd work (according to the guides I read when I first came) was nothing more than rote learning. It said he graduated in 1992ISH: All I could think was, "You could STILL get a Phd studying rote learning in the 90s???

The textbook?
The lowest levels have two line conversation.
I swear that I taught one page that said, "Hello.../ How are you?" finished.
two lines.
Most books have three or four lines in them (from second to fourth leve that is...)

The suggested method of "instruction" :lol: :lol:

1) students listen to tape 5x
2) students listen and repeat 10x
3) students oral read 10x

finished.

And that doesn't even include the fact that, in every couple chapters there are glaring (and basic) grammatical errors).

dbee · Joined: 29 Dec 2004 Location: korea

I thought a book like that while I was working with GnB.
What a nightmare ...

It was full of useless and completely absurd statements like "oh my, what a pretty nest !"

The whole thing was extremely painful for everyone involved. The korean teachers found it especially difficult to keep a class in order for 45mins while only giving them random chanting exercises. The school went through one Korean teacher after another while I was there.

I_Am_Wrong · Joined: 14 Sep 2004 Location: whatever

Last year when I was teaching one of the after school programs the school used books from a hagwon called Brainy. Oh my god was that painful and boring to teach. After a couple weeks I decided that the classes could whip throught two pages of the shite in about 5 minutes and then I would make all my own lessons from other books. Actually, the school was pretty unhappy with the books too so I was glad that they finally let me switch them.

If you've haven't seen the Khan english books that seem to be marketed for english programs in study hagwons than you haven't see the real crap!

Kwangjuchicken · Posted: Fri Dec 09, 2005 3:47 am Post subject:

purple_buddha · Joined: 18 Apr 2003

Let's Chat--definitely. It took me 1.5 years out of two to finally convince the director to change the curriculum. I couldn't figure out who was going to go insane first out of utter monotony, me or the students! Unfortunately, I was still required to teach this dreadful garbage in a few of my classes, as the school was a BCM franchise.

Qinella · Joined: 25 Feb 2005 Location: the crib

I work for a Korea Herald / Kids Herald school. Up until now, I was able to choose the text books (English Time and Exploring English series). Then it happened. Last week, the two Korean teachers were forced to go to a meeting in Seoul where Kids Herald unveiled their new line of text books.

The K teachers brought back one of each book for "samples", which I looked at and laughed at how ridiculous they were. I'd say they're as bad as New Parade, possibly worse. The pages are just thrown together and are so confusing that I can't even figure out what you're supposed to do. Some of the exercise instructions are really vague, and actually I couldn't determine the answer on a few of the questions.

I just laughed and said I'm glad we don't have to use them. Then they dropped the bomb. "Actually... we have to start using these when the students finish the books they're on." "What? We don't have a choice?" "No."

Gah. Sounds to me like Korea Herald wanted to find a way to make more money by forcing all students to use their book. Glad I'm outa this school in three months. I'll never work for a Kids Herald school again.

Q.

mindmetoo · Joined: 02 Feb 2004

The Get Ready textbook series by Joseph Christopher Carmichael is utter shyte. There's an error in every section ("hear" instead of "here" for example, articles missing in sentences, boys with a girl's name...). It's like no one bothered to edit it. I'm amazed Mr. Joseph Christopher Carmichael didn't have the decency to have his name removed from the cover. I would have. I used it a couple years ago and now I'm using it again and in 2 years they've not bothered to correct a single thing. Ah, pride.

Googling on his name brings up this gem: http://www.keone.co.kr/greeting/index04.php

First an old white bald guy with a Jerry-Lee-Lewis-aged Korean girl on his lap is just damn creepy. And then his greeting is loaded with errors:

chiaa · Joined: 23 Aug 2003

Hands down:

GoGo Loves English

DanielInKorea · Joined: 28 Nov 2005 Location: Not a small village

Wishmaster · Joined: 06 Feb 2003

No man, Gogo is not hands down the worst book...ever hear of "Side by Side"...now that is gutter trash.....

khyber · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Compunction Junction

Son Deureo! · Joined: 30 Apr 2003

You want crap? I mean pure crap? Try teaching SuperKids. Just once. I dare you.

jaderedux · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Location: Lurking outside Seoul

Tiny Talk

Die benny and sue Die!

I feel better now.

Jade

peppermint · Posted: Fri Dec 09, 2005 1:53 pm Post subject:

No way, hands down winner is the elementary school curriculum, featuring caricatures of African kids with bones throught their noses, the inane chants which delighted JongnoGuru, a full chapter on "Don't take off your shoes! We wear our shoes in the house" and less than 15 words of written English per chapter

jlb · Joined: 18 Sep 2003