Korean Job Discussion Forums

[jaderedux]

In my experience I would NOT teach without a co-teacher. I am not a dancing monkey or human tape recorder.

I use the book and follow roughly the same curriculum. It has been an evolutionary process. While the lesson plan is of my creation the Korean Teacher is there to support me and help explain more difficult concepts.

Because I have questions on each of the students finals it is important the we collaborate and make my classes relevent to the cirriculum. Working with the teachers has given me alot more freedom than not and has made my classes far more manageable and fun.

THERE IS NOTHING AT ALL SPECIAL ABOUT ME SPEAKING ENGLISH! However, when the Korean teacher is asking some follow-up review questions in English it has a great impact. The questions and worksheets are developed by me but I incorporate the Korean teacher when we ask for answers often in a tag team type situation. (All in English)

The dialogue is presented first with me and the korean teacher reading the parts. Students like this as it shows that the korean teacher can have some fun with the dialogue. I am all about over acting with the dialogue and it lets the Korean co-teacher have some fun too.

We work as a team but the class is designed by me. Because of the mixed level in the classes it is imperative to have the korean teacher to help bring along some of the lower level students and keep low to mid level students in the game. I find I keep more students interested and our test scores have improved for the students on the low end of the bell. That makes me feel like we are doing a good job.

Differentiated learning is not hard in small class sizes but when you are talking 43 middle school boys it is a formidable task. With the co-teacher in the classroom it becomes more possible. We do our best to use only English but it isn't always possible.

Since my students see the korean teacher and I both communicating in English and the Korean teacher communicating in mostly English it works really well.

I don't use much Korean in the classroom but am not a fanatic. Sometimes it helps. I prefer the students talk to me in English and it is rewarded. The Korean teachers are now starting to insist that the students pose questions as much as possible in English.

The thing that has suprised me most is that the co-teachers are even encouraging the students to speak english to them outside of class.

I have been given alot of leeway in this school because I do WORK closely with my co-teachers. I give speaking tests( twice a year) that are graded and each test I have 5/6 questions that are written in english.

This kind of cohesiveness takes respect on all sides. It did not come easy but I picked the battles and so far am winning the war.

The thing is, and I can't stress this enough, is the power of role models. For students to hear you speaking English MEANS ZILCH. When they hear/see their Korean teachers communicating in english, speaking in english and talking to them in english it makes a point. My class is where they get to see that.

I am a bit of fanatic about this point. I have respect for those who prefer not to have a co-teacher. I don't know how you can do it with such large classes and bring all levels on board. I work within the given cirriculum and I prefer that my classes are relevant to my students. They know my class is means something in the scheme of things. I effects their grades. I have questions on all finals, give speaking tests and the students, thanks to the korean co-teachers, are frequently graded up and down on attitude in my class.

I can't say it works everywhere but it works for me and I wouldn't have it any other way. Is it easy? NOPE! It took alot of hard work, relationship building and there were snags along the way but so far it is working!

Small note on lesson plans...holy cow thank god for friends, other teachers and websites that give away lesson plans. Anyone want a lesson plan from me feel free to ask. I will help you whenever I can. I am not so arrogant to think every thing that drips from my mind is gold so I share in the hopes that others will share also and help me improve my style. Whatever helps the students is my theory. Unless you are writing a book or something I see no reason not to share ideas. But that is just me.

I have a good friend and we share all the time. She rocks at assessment I rock at presentation. We meld our lessons and constantly trade information and lesson plans. What comes out in the end is great lessons and great assessment.

So I vote for sharing...unless you are writing a book or something then it is understandable. I didn't start teaching so everyone would think I am such hot stuff. Corny as it sounds, I do it because I love teaching and I love my students. Nothing else matters in that classroom but them!

My 5 cents.

Jade

[Yu_Bum_suk]

[ddeubel]

YKS, I don't know whether the regulation applies to private schools but I would think so. Even if they are managed by a private board, they are still regulated by the government in terms of many kinds of conduct. But I really can't say for sure...

[spinner]

ddeubel

[Yu_Bum_suk]

[TJ]

Spinner, I see that you joined Daves on 24 Jan. 2006 so I assume that you started teaching in Korea not long before that date. Of course, you may have been teaching for much longer. However, your postings reveal a shocking lack of understanding of the skills needed for effective ESL teaching in Korea.

What's more, you seem to think that you can win a debate/argument by verbally abusing your opponent(s).

Wrong !

Jaderedux, who joined Daves on 10 Jan. 2003, 3 years before you, made many valid points and I wholeheartedly agree with her teaching methods.

I have taught with and without a co-teacher and prefer the latter situation. My co-teachers were excellent people but not all spoke good english and not all were good teachers. I found that the good and the not so good all benefitted from working with me, teaching English. This flowed on to the students. Everyone gained and no one lost.

Spinner please think again about the pros and cons of having a co-teacher in your class rooms.

[spinner]

T-inking J-iberish

[ddeubel]

YBS,

I;ll try in the next week to quote and get a source for you.....in my mind, won't matter much, business seems to be run on a more practical, proximate level. ...

As for Spinner,,,,,what goes around comes around...... I wish him peace and good will and also never to cross my path face to face with his attitude and bullshit....

DD

[Yu_Bum_suk]

[spinner]

[jaderedux]

I went through the op's kind reply to me and wonder why he/she is so damn angry. I merely stated my point of view. I do have respect for opinions other than mine. I thought about going line by line but that is too tedious and just want to clear up a few things.

1. The "galactic" use of meld:

Definition: meld 2 (mld)
v. meld��ed, meld��ing, melds
v.tr.
To cause to merge: "a professional position that seemed to meld all his training" Art Jahnke.
v.intr.
To become merged.
n.
A blend or merger: "a meld of diverse ethnic stocks" Kenneth L. Woodward.

Um...sorry the vocab was not to your liking. I just wanted to weigh in on a discussion that has many sides and do it some what civilly.

2. Yes, I have used "canned" lessons. Not frequently but sometimes there is time between tests or other classes are playing catch up and I use a lesson that is offered free or in my case I am a member of some pay sites that are really useful for special classes I teach after school and during winter and summer camp. Even teachers in western countries do this as some of the websites were suggested by teachers who are my friends and a couple of relatives who are teachers.

I prefer the Discovery site as it provides content based lessons in science and I can have lots of fun with that.

3. Role models are good. Sorry my angry friend but they are. Whether or not I speak English is of no consequence. Engaging a Korean Teacher in my class gives students the chance to see someone like themselves who has acquired this skill.

4. I teach out of the same books that the Korean teachers do. I teach the Dialogue section and the section of the book called "Let's Talk". These are speaking intensive and gives the students a chance to "hear" me and the Korean teacher interact in English.

5. My classes are fun but the students know that at the end of the day I affect their grades and like it or not that is a good movtivator.

6. I am not 22 but wonder why you are so bitter and angry.

7. I am sorry that my commitment to my students is so foreign to you and because I don't have your rancor and bitterness somehow that means I am some ditzy "feminist" plagerizer. I enjoy my work and the relationship I have with my school. (just signed 5th contract)

One thing I want to say and I am sure you will reply caustically and without any forethought.

Look we are here to teach English. Like it or not we have to be inventive and creative. I do that. I have used plays. I just got back from home loaded down with books and supplies to improve my class. I use art, science and comic books in class if it helps. Content based lessons seem to be the most effective.

But I do not delude myself either. Most of my students are just nice kids who are forced to take English Class from their 3rd year in elementary school till their last year in High School. What I want them to get is a love of learning and lose the fear of using the English they have.

Most of them will never travel outside Korea or have use of the English except for a random encounter with a foreigner. And unless you are teaching in a foreign language school this is the case. So I do make my classes interesting and am thankful for the help and support of my Korean co-teachers. I am lucky it works for me.

What I want is for my students to enjoy learning English. To feel like they can accomplish something with some hard work and that fun does not have to be a bad word in class. To feel pride in whatever level they are able to accomplish.

On the REALISTIC side I help them to get good grades that might give them a leg up in their future. Like I said the number of students that have gone on to foreign language schools and specialized schools that require high English scores has risen every year since I started teaching at this school.

To attack me personally is silly and childish. One wonders who is the immature child here. As I said I have been in country for 5 years now so I can hardly be "accused" (note sarcasm) of being 22.

Since you hate the "sharing" idea so much you should write Dave and give him your opinion on this neferious practice. Since his site is full of lesson plans and ideas for the EFL class room. Oh and write NASA and MOMA of New York and Discovery cuz these "losers" also provide lesson plans.

I congratulate you on being the finest teacher that has ever walked the earth. I congratulate you on the fact you never need help from people, books, websites or other materials. It must be such a burden to be genius in math, science, biology etc. I am not and since I am not I do use sites to make interesting lessons about the planets, or find math story problems that are appropriate or history about other countries, or cool insect drawings they can label and talk about in English.

I am not sure why you are so damn angry but I suspect you are more of a troll and sadly I rose to the bait. For those who answered with some thought it is interesting to read your opinions. I can definately see advantages to both side of this issue but in my experience I prefer co-teaching. I believe the adage that 2 heads are better than one. And personally prefer team enviroments.

To the O.P. : Good luck with your teaching. I am sure you are an excellent teacher. I think that if any word is lacking in the vastness of your knowledge it is respect. Try it. Even people I have disagreed with on this board have my respect because they can discuss civilly and without name calling. You should try it.

Jade

[spinner]

and a one and a two, c'mon Mrs. Simmons you can do it.

[frozenpeas]

Wow! Who is this Spinner/Asiainmind bloke?

Maybe he is like the perpetually angry teacher we all had at school...nobody liked him, everyone had a nickname for him and eventually he was fired for bringing a bottle of sherry into class one morning...

I always wondered where those people came from.

[paperbag princess]

in my experience k-co-teachers are a waste of space in the class. putting on makeup and talking on a mobile phone doesn't actually help. i'd rather they weren't there at all most of the time.

[Homer]

Co-teaching is a toss up.

It can be very effective or it can be pure crap....It depends on the co-teacher, you and your school's policy.