Korean Job Discussion Forums

[dmbfan]

It is good to know that we have so many perfect foreign teachers here in Korea.................otherwise, there would not be a bad thing to say about the place............


dmbfan

[yingwenlaoshi]

[The_Conservative]

[yingwenlaoshi]

Co-teacher. (snicker)

[Smee]

I read the OP but didn't read all 6 pages. Just wanted to say that I'm pretty much in the same situation. My first semester here I wasn't used hardly at all (9 teaching hours a week), so I was really happy to see a full schedule this time around. I would be teaching with homeroom teachers rather than with a designated co-teacher. Since the homeroom teachers are busy with other stuff, I said I'd take the classes. They seemed okay with that, as most teachers either didn't show up to class or sat at the desk grading stuff for other classes, playing on their phones, or sleeping (yes, sleeping).

I mentioned to my handler that I'd like to see them take a more active role, especially since a good K-teacher can do a lot of stuff with younger learners that I can't. Instead of them taking a more active rol ein the class, though, it was decided that they would teach the English classes entirely by themselves. This is for a few reasons: (1) they want to lead an English class more in line with the tone of their normal classes (which I understand); (2) they will eventualy have to teach English classes by themselves, as my county is phasing out native speakers; (3) they're afraid to speak English in front of a native speaker.

I've been pretty upset the past 6 weeks as this all has unfolded. Unfortunately there's not much I can do, as my county----Gangjin, in Jeollanam-do---will not be using native speakers in the public schools. So, where before there was incentive to communicate with each other and have a smooth class, the point is moot as they know that I have no authority and that they can opt out of teaching with me. I've been shocked by the blatant disrespect shown me by a large number of my coworkers.

What's more, this school is designated as an "English school," as there's a language lab here, yet I'm not involved with any of the English that goes on here. An hour after a teacher told me---in Korean---that she was capable of leading an English class by herself, I went down to the teachers' office to see her putting together embarassingly-Konglish English posters. *rolls eyes* And, another teacher wanted to make a video about how ENglish classes are run, but I was just there for decoration (he, after all, teaches the classes without me). So he put me in front of a camera with another K-teacher and gave the 7 students electronic books that are activated by some sort of sensor-pen that moves over the words. So instead of learning from an actual English speaker, he thought it better to use dated technology and have the kids listen and repeat. (Half the time they switched the controls over to Chinese or Japanese anyway).

As it stands I teach about half of my contracted classes. A quarter of the classes are taught exclusively by a K-teacher without me in the room. Another quarter is taught by a K-teacher with me in the room. In that case, sometimes they will use me for modelling or pronunciation, or sometimes they will go the entire class without acknowledging me.

Needless to say I won't be resigning here in August. There's a lot that can be said about having native speakers in the classroom, an dthe literature out there offers all sorts of pros and cons. However, I've been disgusted by the unwillingness of my county to make it work and to invest the proper time and energy into having a well-balanced class. Anyway . . . yeah, I hear you dmbfan.

[bosintang]

[Mosley]

Fan: Everytime someone here blames you for the situation you've got yourself into or tells you that you're basically screwed now, you reply w/this "Oh, you're so perfect!" routine. It's tired...give it a rest. For myself, I'll spell it out for you: I'm NOT perfect. My school is NOT perfect. My lessons are NOT perfect. My co-teachers are NOT perfect. But by using common sense and courtesy, even when things are not going all that well, I'm in one hell of a better position than you are.

So OK. You want to finish your contract but you're wondering what to do about the mess you've got on your hands. Well, frankly, I don't know how you can mend any fences or whatever with what you said you have said/done in the past. It might not be impossible. I do believe it will take a massive attitude change on your part. If you can pull it off, power to you. It would make the rest of your contract a lot more pleasant, regardless of how you feel about Korea/Koreans. Good luck...seriously.

[pest2]

[pest2]

[dmbfan]

[mrsquirrel]

I think what you will find is that the crusader attitude doesn't work.

You need to be more of a missionary and work at it slowly.

It took three years at my last school for the changes to be seen but they were visible. Expecting immediate results is just expecting too much.

[yingwenlaoshi]

[PRagic]

This cuts to the heart of the matter: What are your qualifications and how old are you relative to your other K teachers? Like it or not, this an ascribed culture and very hierarchal. If you do not have your MA and certification from your home country, they will view you as jumping the chain of command when you give strong suggestions regarding change. You caused all in the program to lose face, and they reacted in accordance with the cultural norms here.

If you have your MA, certification, and experience in your home country, and really want to teach, go to Hong Kong's NET program. If you have a BA, no experience and no certification, teach here and roll with the system. Changes here come slowly, the system favours past experience rather than a future oriented perspective, and a long-term approach prevails. You are viewed as being here short term, most likely less qualified than the K teachers you criticised, and unknowledgeable about the history of the system and the 'Korean way' of doing things. It is not your place to implement changes to a system, particularly if you are young, comparatively undereducated/qualified, and inexperienced.

Thems the breaks. Deal with it.

[mrsquirrel]

[dmbfan]