Korean Job Discussion Forums

[gajackson1]

Hey, all ~

As sometimes happens, a thread led to a link, to a discussion, to a link, which led me to one of the global Montessori sites:

http://www.montessori.org/

After reading through the site, my interest was piqued, and I saw there there just happen to be 3 training programs here in Korea, all based in Seoul:

Korea Montessori Institute (Association Montessori Internationale), 114 Unni-dong, Chongno-ku, 110-350 Seoul, Korea, Voice: 82 (2) 765-1846 /47, Fax: 82 (2) 745-1276, Training: Casa dei Bambini (3-6)

Korean Institute for Montessori (American Montessori Society), Sang-Do Building 621, Sang-Do, I L-Dong, Dong-Zak-Ku, Seoul, Korea, Training: Early Childhood, Director: Dr. Jae Woo Lee

Korean Montessori College (American Montessori Society), 150 Hongik-dong, Sungdong-Ku, Seoul, Korea, Training: Early Childhood, Director: Dr. Jung Mo Kim

As well as other locations, such as Japan, Singapore, etc.

Is anyone familiar with these programs, and have a recc for which one to contact? I am already a k-12 USA certified public school teacher, but the methodology & educational philosophy really interest me . . .

Regards,

Glen

[Zenpickle]

Even though they each would disagree, Montessori is similar to the High/Scope program. And from my taste with High/Scope, you have to be a very special and dedicated teacher to go through the cult-like new age rules.

I could only last with the H/S program for three months. During that time, I worked 10-6 with no breaks, not even lunch. We had to turn in two lesson plans a day. We wrote letters to the parents each week about each kindy student based on notes we took on each student's progress according to a specific development chart. Supervisors came in almost daily to observe my teaching and held me late almost every evening telling me what I was doing wrong. Every six months the teachers had to present an evaluation, five pages each, to each parent about their child. The rules are strict, again, almost like a cult. I taught the students based on methods developed by world-renowned linguists and was told to stop because it wasn't the High/Scope way.

Despite all this, many people there seemed to like it and enjoy the organized chaos that is a High/Scope class.

[jessiaka]

The EXTREMELY quick and dirty on Montessori philosophy (I'm an Early Childhood Educator ):

The classroom is to be prepared with activites that are suited to daily living and the children are to discover how to use them by themselves.

[OiGirl]

I once worked at a school that had "workshop" hour every morning, so they could say they used some Montessori principles. It was not the English teacher's job to prepare "workshop," so I just observed occasionally. Usually the kids were playing board games.

However, these days, sometimes my students will go to the center where I keep the flashcards and other manipulatives I use during circle time and ask if they can use them. I often tell them to go ahead, and it's really interesting the activities they make up for themselves.[/i]

[jessiaka]

I worked at a "Montessori" school here that had no Monetessori whatsoever. lol
Early Childhood philosophy, yes. Montessori, no.


I really think it's a fad that they like to promote out here...
I read the descriptions of it at the school and they wrote basically the early childhood education philosophy (learning through play), which is awesome, but not Montessori. lol

[jessiaka]

http://www.michaelolaf.net/FAQMontessori.html is a good place to read the basics