Korean Job Discussion Forums

[philipjames]

I love my students. I love my job...but I despise co-teaching. If I had been told in advance that I had to do this co-teaching crap I never would have signed this contract.

Been seriously thinking about quitting today. Not just the co-teaching stuff, but the whole no deviating from the rediculous text mentality. They go over again and again stuff that the children know thoroughly. Then they labour at conversations that zoom way above the students head, when they don't even know he days of the week. And god forbid you deviate from the pathetic text to teach them the basics.
Just about had enough today.

Love my students, and love watching them learn. Hate the korean system of absolute, unquestionimng conformity that stifles education here.

Grrr.

[crazylemongirl]

Actually a good co-teacher is worth their weight in gold. But it takes a lot of time, and energy to develop this relationship. Don't expect to be all from their end either. How invloved are the korean teachers in planning your classes? I make a point of always going over everything I'll do in class before hand so there are no surprises and also that they'll know which parts they are likely to offer assistance for.

[Hobophobic]

My coteach beat the soles of about 40 kids feet with a hardwood pointer today for not doing their homework....I mean BEAT - each kid got 10 huge whacks on the arches...

...and if they cried or yelped they got 10 more...

I believe in punishing kids, but I had to honestly leave the room by the time little girl # 3 was getting her feet tenderized...

....this was not the split noise maker stick they use for show and effect either...

...it was an actual hardwood pointer that looks like a giant version of a drumstick...

Anyhow, I agree with you on your points about the texts and whatnot.

..borefest...

...still in shock...

[ilovebdt]

[Hobophobic]

Actually, it is a female teacher...she is usually the most loving motherly type with the kids...hence the shock...I am still in awe...

...I have never seen a teacher so determined to inflict pain...she put the Williams' sisters' tennis smash sounds to shame...

...the one teacher whom I have had a falling out with at the school for his excessive yelling and punishments looked like a mama's boy today....

...I met with the mommies for the afterschool program update/meeting and they only asked if DongWoo, or Mina or so and so...etc...were learning English or trying in class since they were punished for not doing their homework....I bragged up every kid 'cause I figured they don't need another beating at home...

...she did this to my grade 5's and 6's...it's a really small public school, and more rural in Seongnam....I am sure if it were Mokdong or Apkujung heads would roll....

...most of the teachers in the school are in par with the kids when it comes to English ability wise...., and it is still a shock to me...but, I will be mentioning it to my coteach tomorrow, and letting her know how terrible and disappointed I am in her course of action, and believe me I will never let this happen again...

I am sure she will be in trouble anyway...it was very excessive force....I am certain someone will be complaining - and I won't hold back if they ask me what I saw....

...the few kids who weren't getting it were face down on their desks and covering their ears...

...one kid who yelped and cried...got 10 whacks added...and told he would get more until he stopped...I think he caved just around 25 when he realized it would not end until he was silent....

[Cheonmunka]

She sounds like a stupid woman. Why protect her?

[VanIslander]

no co-teacher, no set text to slave to

ah, the benefits of hagwon teaching

the last bastion of freedom for teachers

(with freedom comes responsibility AND irresponsibility, hence those who design their own curriculum and lesson plans, and those who goof off, don't prepare and play Scrabble half the class.)

thank you for reminding me why I turned down that 2.5 mill public school offer this year

[SweetBear]

Homomphobe, you hijacked a thread.
Vanislander, yes we realize by now that you have it better than everyone else ( an island is a good place for people who continually need to mention that).
Philipjames, sorry you're having a rough time of it. I feel for you man.

[mack the knife]

If you received the standard Gepik contract, it clearly states you will be co-teaching as an assistant. Can't understand your surprise.

If you did not receive the standard Gepik contract, but are still working under the auspices of the Gepik system, you should have more leeway and might, therefore, be able to remove yourself from the co-teaching situation. Plenty of semi-Gepik elementary, middle and high school teachers have struck out on their own.

On the other hand, as Lemongirl already mentioned, if you stick it out things might just work out. The key to this co-teaching thing can be found in the old Kenny Rogers anthem "The Gambler".

You gotta know when to hold 'em
Know when to fold 'em
Know when to walk away
Know when to run

This whole Gepik thing is one part give and two parts take, if you're lucky. If you're unlucky (as in, stuck with a horrible co-teacher who hates you, etc.), it's strictly "hold the line" and negotiate your ass off.

[Hobophobic]

I didn't mean to Hijack it...my apologies to the OP...

I had to vent about that though...and it is a coteach related rant...

I recorded her today doing it...I sneaked me digital in the class...

[UncleAlex]

I agree with Crazymongirl that you should have a meeting, at least once a
week, with your co-teachers to discuss the upcoming lesson and to give a
little feedback to each other concerning what's on your mind about your
interactions in the classroom. The worst thing to do is just suffer and brood
over the situation. It could be that your co-teachers dislike being with you
in the classroom,too. And if that's the case, it's only a matter of time that
they complain to the principal about you behind your back in the typical
Korean conspiratorial fashion with some exaggerated or fabricated grievance.
Perhaps, your feelings towards them or theirs towards you haven't been manifested.
But you've got to know where you stand with your co-teachers and develop
a satisfactory relationship with them, or quit. Biting the bullet will just make you
feel more and more miserable.

[ilovebdt]

Ok, I am going to partially highjack this thread too

I have just had a class and the Korean teacher's comment was that the listening was a little too hard for the kids.

The class was a bright bunch of 1st grade High School girls and they got all the answers right and could answer all my questions. So, I don't have any idea why she thought this and how she knew cos all lesson she sat there marking her own papers.

Even if they had found it a bit difficult , in my opinion, it is good practise for them. Am I wrong? Should I not try to challenge my students?

Ilovebdt

[Yu_Bum_suk]

[ilovebdt]

[Yu_Bum_suk]

Yeah, I meant behind in the staffroom, not classroom.

I'd ask her for her opinion of the government listening tests. Tell her that you're trying to prepare the students for that. Ask her if she knows what the average score for that class was and if not, if she could find out. Then say that you're trying to direct your lessons at students who score an average of 70% or whatever on the government listening tests, and keep stressing how important it is that your listening exercises parallel the government tests - after all, isn't that one of the reasons they've hired native speakers in the first place?

I get the 'too difficult' thing from my middle school co-teachers sometimes, and to be honest sometimes they've been right. If they're not, I just suggest that they go over that material again in their lessons so that the students are at the level they should be.