Korean Job Discussion Forums

poof · Joined: 23 May 2005

For the past year, I have faced a constant problem, which if anything is getting worse, not better. Does anyone have any tips?

I share my class (10-12 yr olds) with another foreign teacher. He gets the class on 3 occasions, and I get the class on 5 occasions per week. Each time I enter that class, I am greeted not with any smiles, but complaints to see my face again instead of this other teacher. I asked my class what this teacher does that they like so much. They say that he plays lots of games. (I also told my class that they were so rude to express dislike of me in the way they do!)

I know quite well what he's doing with the class, as I can overhear what he's teaching as I teach in the adjacent room. This teacher just plays board games or does wordsearch puzzles which he downloads off the Internet. I don't think he is really doing any 'teaching' at all, and he doesn't have a particular 'edutainer' type of personality, so I don't think he has any more of a vibrant character than myself.

In my case, I know I prepare hard for my lessons, which have a clear structure to them, and which are designed to improve English-speaking fluency amongst the kids, even though some of the tasks are hard work. I even include games on the whiteboard if the class after the material has been introduced. But, even these are apparently not as fun as the damn other teacher! Should I just throw in the towel and join the 'game' pursuit as well. I know that class will be happier, but I know I wouldn't be so satisfied.

What to do when your main class prefers another teacher over you?

Old fat expat · Posted: Sat Mar 04, 2006 2:31 am Post subject:

The quick fix is M&M's

Reinforcement at its raw core. Chocolate.

Try it. You will be surprised at the power of an M&M.

But remember not to abuse the force (inflation).

dbee · Joined: 29 Dec 2004 Location: korea

Ya-ta Boy · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Established in 1994

Two ideas:

#1. Try to find a short game to play during the same lesson that you introduce material, then follow that up with other activities the next time. And the M & M suggestion is correct. Kids will do almost any activity if there is a piece of candy attached to it.

#2. Stop worrying so much. Teaching isn't about being liked. It's about teaching. Right now the kids may like the other teacher more, but in 5 years they will know who taught them something. You are an adult. You can handle delayed gratification.

riley · Joined: 08 Feb 2003 Location: where creditors can find me

It's a hagwon, so yeah, there might be a problem. But like someone said, chocolate is a good idea. Or if you want to be healthy, give them a piece of orange. They also crave food.

Big Mac · Joined: 17 Sep 2005

What are those little gum-like chewy candies called? They'll love you if you bring some of those once in a while.

Actually, my students gave ME more of those things than I ever gave to them! They're generous little things. Only in Korea will children share their candy with their teacher!

Summer Wine · Joined: 20 Mar 2005 Location: Next to a River

Wrench · Joined: 07 Apr 2005

You teach in Korea?? Is that possible.. I thought we are just a bunch of dancing monkeys that say hello.

Seriously teaching?? Where do you get such fandangled ideas from?

pest2 · Joined: 01 Jun 2005 Location: Vancouver, Canada

tomato · Posted: Sat Mar 04, 2006 2:25 pm Post subject:

Hello, Poof!

I understand the dilemma.
I have been accused of erring in both directions.

There are ways to make any topic both educational and fun.

Bingo games take a long time to make, but once they are made, you are rewarded very generously for your time and effort.
A bingo game each on verbs, adjectives, prepositions, and plural nouns can get you through most of the grammar lessons. That is especially true of the verb bingo game, which you can adapt for lessons on "want to," "have to," and different parts of speech.
The picture cards could furthermore serve as flash cards.

There is a wealth of good picture books out there.
Scout the English bookstore for picture books which can embellish lessons on different parts of speech.
Also, scout the local library for picture books which you can translate for that purpose. Betcha your local library even has some good picture books in English.
After you finish reading the book, you can make a quiz out of it.
Hold up the book and ask, "Who can show me the cat behind the door?" "Who can show me the dog outside the window?"

If you are lucky, your students will complain about having to do crossword puzzles and word search puzzles.

Visit my Website.

Demophobe · Joined: 17 May 2004

Competing may open the door to lower quality lessons. I think many hakwon teachers feel the need to entertain their students, get too hung up on if they like them personally and as a result, resort to less-than-stellar lesson planning just to keep the kids happy. The benefit of competiton is that with some thought and research, one can be motivated to make good lessons that will be interesting and beneficial, something that some students will appreciate.

One thing I know for sure is that for every 5 students that only want to play games, there is one that wants to study. They aren't usually vocal about their desire to learn (age, peers) but they appreciate a well-planned class. You are probably doing better than the general consensus is indicating.

As for doing your own thing and disregarding the other teacher...well, I think that is the best way. It's not easy to be the unpopular teacher, but knowing that you are doing what's best for the kids would be the big payoff. It could be a long year or it could swing in your favour. The kids may have a change of heart and come around to your ideas about how a class should work.

Come to think of it, there may even be a third course of action, namely mixing the two things. More exciting lessons, yet not totally compromising what you want to achieve.

Honestly, if I felt that what I was doing was good for the student's English, I would just stick to my guns. There may be a time and a place for a wordsearch or a crossword, but they wear thin, even amongst the most hardened hakwon gameboy. Just be yourself and do what you do. It sounds like the other teacher is going down a path you don't want to, so don't. If that means getting canned, well, I don't know how much you like your job, but there are many hakwons out there. If it means being the boring guy, then who cares? It may be tough, but at least you can be satisfied you aren't compromising yourself to ten 13 year-old kids.

Exclamation

Perhaps you could get together with the other teacher and play the good cop/bad cop thing to the hilt. Explain to him that you want the kids to learn (har har), and therefore work together on the introduction/re-enforcement thing. You introduce an idea, get them to wrap their heads around the grammar, then Mr. Fun can come in and play games that will directly get the students to use it practically.

Good luck. Remember, offing the other guy isn't an option. Wink

bellum99 · Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Location: don't need to know

Sounds like the other guy is an a$$. I would talk to him about it carefully, if it doesn't work, then I would make some hints around the K-teachers about the game problem. I wouldn't say anything exactly but they already know, if there is no k-teacher then I would make a hint around the boss. This sounds like a bad thng to do...I know...but a games only teacher can seriously make you look bad.
Remember that the boss has to make the attempt to keep the standards up some..if only to make the moms happy. I wouldn't feel sorry for the bingo boy...

---Of course if you want to do it the cowards way....I would just talk to the boss and he will say that a mom complained and tell the game boy teacher to stop playing so many games.

inkoreaforgood · Joined: 15 Dec 2003 Location: Inchon

tomato · Posted: Sat Mar 04, 2006 4:42 pm Post subject:

Does the school record which pages in the textbook you teach and which pages in the textbook Mr. Fun teaches?
I got an idea: give a test, but don't tell anybody why you're giving the test. Some of the questions will be on the pages which you covered, some of the questions will be on the pages which Mr. Fun covered. Mix them up so that no one will notice any pattern.
Once the test papers are handed back to you, count the right answers to the Poof questions and the right answers to the Mr. Fun questions.
If there is a difference in your favor, you have a case.
If there is a difference in Mr. Fun's favor, maybe you're working the kids too hard.

poof · Joined: 23 May 2005

Thanks you guys for the tips.

Of course it's impossible for me to explain all the circumstances surrounding my hagwon, but let me at least tell you that we have a maximum run of four years at the school and that we are not gonna be sacked for anything bar sexual assault - as from evidence of the previous batch of teachers - the other teachers have cottoned on that they can do anything in class without fear of any reproach whatsoever. I'm the only one who's trying to 'teach.'

I fathom that I will just continue to do things my way - I do use bingo, but I tend to utilize words from the textbook, whereas the other teacher who isn't prescribed a texbook, will make bingo from Toy Story characters' names etc. Ultimately, if it gets too horrible, I guess I will have to look for another place to teach. But, this whole 'edutainment' thing always sucks...