Korean Job Discussion Forums

[theatrelily]

Conversation with one of my co-teachers from Monday..

KT: So are you prepared?

Me: For class? Always. *smile*

KT: OK. This sample class is very important. we need do our best effort.

Me: Umm....sample class. I'm confused. What?

KT: You don't know sample class?! *mutters something in Korean and all the surrounding teachers start whispering amongst themselves in a slight panic*

Me: *sigh* No, I don't. When is it? And why?

KT: This is very important sample class. All foreign teachers in the Gyeonggi Education system must do same (lie?). The Minister of Gyeonggi Education will be here, the principal and vice-principal will watch. Korean English teachers too. You must prepare very well.

Me: Great. Good to know. When is it?

KT: This Thursday. Your co-teacher didn't tell you?


*end scene*

So the same day my middle school co-teacher comes to me in a flurry and informs me that we have this sample class, that it's Thursday, that we must do it together and that she has already prepared a lesson plan.

Next day (Tuesday) she hands me a run-down of a lesson plan, the video clips being used, the power point presentation, my script and what she wants me to do...to be learned for regurgitation on Thursday.

Today I have almost come to terms with the fact that this "sample class" of my teaching resembles nothing like my actual classes, that I do little of the teaching, that I disagree with how and what is being taught for the most part and that it's all so last minute (which shouldn't really bother me after 3 years in Hagwons).

...aaand just when it seems like this class might not be that bad, the teacher decides to change things around (15 minutes ago)...for me to know and recite like a proper leashed monkey for tomorrow.

*sigh*

Teaching in Korea = living on the edge of chaos

[Yu_Bum_suk]

They want to see a rehersal. Just wait until the day the whole school has an inspection. At ours they brought in all the kids on Saturday just to clean the school for Monday. Officials went to observe, two lessons (not one of mine, thankfully) which had been rehearsed down to which student would answer which question.

The officials actually don't want to see what usually happens, or else they would just drop by unannounced. They want to be flattered with the best show possible. This demonstrates to them how much control the system has over you and how well the money they've alloted is being spent. You're co-teacher is under enormous pressure to impress.

(do you think that anyone other than a few dedicated teachers actually cares about teaching English effectively in this country or has the slightest idea how to do it?)

[crazylemongirl]

I had a big fight with my school this year about mine and finally won out and we did a 'regular' class... but yes everyone in Gyeonggi Do is supposed to do one (or two) open classes a year.

My district has decided they can't be bothered coming out for the second one thank god.

[rawiri]

I had a big fight with my "supervisor" about this as well. He wanted me to teach 3rd grade, which is his class, because he's pushing for VP promotion so a good open class would be another feather to his bow i guess. The thing is, our 3rd grade class is my worst class. He was adamant that we were going to teach them at the open class, i was adamant i wasn't. Eventually i got him up to 5th grade after a lot of humming and haaing so it should be good.

Actually, i teach 5th and 6th grade classes by myself, i think that probably 95% of the kids get what i'm trying to teach them. I'm a disciplinarian but not a monster so the kids know to behave in my class, I'll have the 5th grade teacher in class with me for the open class but i won't use him much, just keep it the same as usual.

[T-dot]

Its my understanding that it is some sort of competition where your korean partner gets a certain amount of points. These points help with promotions, job transfers etc..

Its more a presentation than a mock class. If you and your co-teacher qualify, there is another round of mock lessons. I did 1 demo about 2 months ago. I have 2 demo's coming up in October and November.

[riley]

I've also seen these classes in action and it seems that the school also uses it as a way of demonstrating teaching methods and ideas. It isn't really meant to be authentic teaching, more like a video of the perfect class.
If I had a co-teacher who would get a raise based on my work, I would have to ask, "what's in it for me?"

[John Henry]

[inexhile]

I said no, end of story.....................so far.

[Yu_Bum_suk]

At the very least this would be an opportunity to reward a good co-teahcer by helping to produce a standout performance, or make a bad one look like a complete idiot (such as asking her to translate things not in the script that you know a certain student knows and she doesn't - then turning to the student to translate something that she can't).

[theatrelily]

update:


Okay, now I sort of feel sorry for her.

She has basically planned out this massively elaborate class with very detail-involved activities...there's 120 minutes worth of work for a 45 minute class.

We did a "test-run" this morning and it was like having an enema done with a cheese grater.

So painful, so painful.

Tried to make suggestions but in the end she opted to remove two of the 15 slides in the presentation to cut down on time.

Two more test runs this afternoon...I'm going to consider this a test of her learning curve.

At least they canceled all my non-presentation related classes for the next two days to help out....

[Yu_Bum_suk]

[khyber]

Some good points raised here. So good I gotta repeat the: It's not the reality that they want to see.

When one of my coteachers did her class, it was ridiculous. There were (no joke) about 4 people in, and just outside our class; only about 4 of which were from our school. Both of our supervisors AND the district head (here in busan).

The lesson went GREAT! And, SHE didn't even REHEARSE it! That said, the day before she had the same group and taught the third (of four) lesson(s) and reviewed everything like you wouldn't believe.

She was REALLY nervous but MAN can that woman make excercises and activities. Helps that she had the BEST gr.6 class.

She was telling me she's trying to get a VPship. I think that was her motivation.

[theatrelily]

Okay, so overall this may not be so bad.

The last two test runs went fine...she got a little flustered but thankfully she didn't mind me stepping in. I'm loud and hyper-dramatic in class (ok, who am I kidding, all the time ) and the students responded well.

Tomorrow asides from dressing up (more so than usual, doing my makeup with a broken arm should be interesting) I am not stressing about it since I've pretty much pieced together that it's not my butt on the line.

I will do my best and that's that.

My school feels guilty about the fact that I have to do this so they've decided to give me all of my classes off leading into the presentation class tomorrow as well to "help me prepare mentally".

Things could be a lot worse....I could be back in my old job for example....

[theatrelily]

(sorry to still be going on with this....but...)

Yesterday I spoke too soon.

The sample class is today and apparently after the presentation class there is a meeting with the principal, VP, a representative from the Ministry of Education, English teachers from the other schools, Korean English teachers from my school and other schools to discuss the presentation.

They will discuss the Korean teacher's performance (which I expected) AND there's going to be an evaluation of my teaching as well.

I am supposed to justify why I chose the particular teaching methods, why I think they are most effective, blahblahblah.

I HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE PLANNING OF THIS CLASS!

I disagree with how it's taught, I disagree with how I am to proceed in the class... I was OK with helping out to the best of my abilities in the Korean teacher's plan when it was to help her.

Now that it includes an evaluation of me as well, I am having issues with the fact that my teaching is going to be evaluated on something that I had nothing to do with and does not reflect my teaching.

Oh, the chaos, the chaos.

Just going to plaster the biggest smile on my face and muddle through, I guess.

I am still debating whether or not, if asked to justify anything, I should just outright say that I actually had nothing to do with any of it....

god, I could really use a cigarette right now...

[crazylemongirl]

you'll be fine... seriously these things are the biggest waste of time for you anyway... just make up some b.s you'll be fine. Guess what? After all of this is over they'll file the paper away and you'll never hear about it again. So it's really not worth stressing over.