Korean Job Discussion Forums

[passport220]

[Kimchieluver]

I basically prepare the lesson plans and have my co-teacher help explain somethings that can't be exampled, gestured or drawn. I also get them to do practice dialogues with me. Your first few classes should be introducing yourself and what not.

As far as gifts go, it is up to you. Something with the country you are from may be nice. I would wait till you get to know him/her/them and the when a staff member at the school buys a community snack for the teachers, reciprocate in the following days buy bringing something with you to the office. Make sure it is not to salty or too Western, keep them in mind.

A box of fruit for the teachers to share is alyways a good thing.

[Yu_Bum_suk]

What your contract indicates and what actually happens may well be two different things. What you listed as number (1) is probably the start of a list of possible ways they could use you. You may not even have a co-teacher or you may just be a teacher's pronunciation monkey - you'll have to wait and see.

[wormholes101]

Common sense goes a long way here~

-Be genuinely friendly and interested
-Be appreciative
-Be co-operative
-Be communicative
-Be willing to do your fair share of the work
-Do something fun together every now and then

edit: Oh!.. and be patient!

[inspector gadget]

See how the first couple weeks go for you individually. My experience with my two co teachers was that I was going to have more fun, be more succesfull in teaching the kids and have better control of the class by not having the co teacher there.

I don't think having a co teacher there is very effective cause they will always be asking the Kteacher to translate things. In my opinion they learn alot more when they listen over and over. Besides in every single class you will have several students that you can call upon to translate for the class. (depending on age, I teach mid sch girls)

Of course some times you may need the co teacher so I let it be known that if I want help I will ask for it. My co teachers love it, its less teaching time for them.

It will be different in every case though, good luck.
Seems to have worked so far, 6 months in.

[butter808fly]

Discuss your expectations within the classroom. Do you want her/him to control or lead or just explain the difficult parts? What do they think their role is in the classroom as well. Do you want them to do all the disicpline or do you want to do it jointly? Who prepares the classes or when do you discuss the classes each week. When will you discuss problems in the classroom?

Just some of the things I did that helped. Somewhat.

[Grotto]

Interesting concepts here.

Its a crapshoot. Your co-teacher may or may not be able to speak English in a fluent of even semi-fluent manner. Communication may be impossible....it was with mine! My second co-teachers English was quite good but she also rarely understood what I was talking about...it would take days for her to be able to wrap her mind around some of the concepts and plans that I went over with her!

[passport220]

Very good advice and useful comments. Thank you one and all!

[Francis-Pax]