Korean Job Discussion Forums

Snowkr · Joined: 03 Jun 2005

I'd just like to take this opportunity to say that my Korean co-teacher absolutely rocks.

I'm happy with all my co-teachers but this one in particular never ceases to amaze me. She works her tailbone off, stays VERY organized, totally understands my issues... often before I even have them and the students really respect her.

I don't know how she does it... she's so young and she's not that experienced but her level of English is really high and even though she's never been outside Korea, she really seems to "get" foreigners. I think I'm beyond lucky to be working with her and I often think that our school really doesn't deserve her.

Anyone else have a co-teacher like this? If there were an award for best co-teachers in public schools, it would really go to her.

crusher_of_heads · Posted: Wed Dec 19, 2007 9:43 pm Post subject:

Yes, but with the following differences:

1) She is in her 30's

2) She has been to Australia and the USA

Paddycakes · Joined: 05 May 2003 Location: Seoul

Snowkr · Joined: 03 Jun 2005

She doesn't go near such places and niether do I.

boyne11 · Joined: 08 Jul 2007

indigo777 · Joined: 04 Feb 2006

I can say that I have a few fabulous co-teachers and I have learned a lot from them.
Two speak very good English, are very organized and have tried to make my stay here a happy one. Another gave me a hand made sweater which her mother- in- law knitted.

merkurix · Joined: 21 Dec 2006 Location: Not far from the deep end.

It's nice to hear some stories here on Dave's about positive experiences with Korean partner teachers.

kiwigal · Joined: 16 Mar 2007 Location: South Korea

My original co-teacher was a nightmare. His replacement is awesome. She speaks excellent English, understands foreigners, always thinks to translate things to me and for me without me asking, keeps me up to date with things that I need to know, and has respect from the students and other teachers. She spent 18 months in Canada. We make a good team in the classroom too.

I'm a little sad that I'm leaving on Saturday to go back to New Zealand, I will miss her, the other teachers and most of my students.

Snowkr · Joined: 03 Jun 2005

Definitely a breath of fresh air to read nice posts about our Korean counterparts on this forum.

Wish more people would post about their good experiences here.

Aurora_Redwinters · Joined: 27 Oct 2007 Location: Florida

Easter Clark · Joined: 18 Nov 2007 Location: Hiding from Yie Eun-woong

It's so nice to read about positive teaching experiences!

One of my CTs speaks English about 90% of the time in class. I can't imagine how difficult it must be for him, but his attitude is excellent, and it really rubs off on the students. Yesterday we were doing a pop song, and he had to come in about 20 minutes late. When he walked in, we were singing, and he started belting away as well! Very impressive.

Another CT sees the kids as they are: over-worked high school students, and our classes are really laid-back. He's a bit shy when it comes to using English in the classroom, but he can always anticipate where the kids are going to have problems, and many times he'll say "Please allow me to explain." The students love him and our classes always end on a positive note.

There are times when my CTs have to attend a meeting or workshop, in which case I have no problems teaching solo. They always reciprocate by offering to take my classes when the get back. For example, this week my handler has been really busy with all of the paperwork for next semester and I've taken his classes, especially since I'm going on vacation a little early and he'll have to teach solo next week.

I work in a vocational high school, and it's finally gotten to the point where discipline problems are few and far between, thanks largely to the efforts of my coteachers and their willingness to work with me both in and out of the classroom!

Snowkr · Joined: 03 Jun 2005

That's really awesome.
I know there must be more stories like this one..

Dome Vans · Guest

I have 4 co-teachers of varying degrees, ranging from good to excellent.

It is that pot-luck thing so I'm very happy to have landed them. My main co-teacher is excellent. He's in his forties but we have a very big mutual respect. He's a commited teacher and is one of the senior staff at the school. I am very respectful in my manner towards him especially with the jokes. In the classroom as well I teach and he'll help when he thinks he can. He deals with all my bank issues, taking me to the doctors, any paper work including payslips, sorted out my holiday next week which could have potentially been a sticky issue.

My other co-teacher at the same school is one of the sweetest, nicest women I've met in Korea. Her class love her because you can see it with their bahaviour. She could see I was nervous before a 'mother' class yesterday so wrote me a little note to say how she's so pleased to work with me and have as a friend. Problem was it almost made me cry before the class. Then they both gave me christmas presents to go away with. Sometimes the confucian non-hugging thing can be a bit of a pain, but that's the culture.

My other co-teachers are very easy going and a really good laugh. They're new to teaching so they seem to be learning more off me than I'd expected. But out in the countryside the teachers are generally younger because they want to get some low pressure teaching experience before they start to apply for the big city teaching jobs. Overall, all of them have been great, I'll go home back to England for my holiday feeling very happy, so pleased that I had such a great first semester, and mainly really looking forward to coming back for the spring term.

Scotticus · Joined: 18 Mar 2007

Dome Vans · Guest