Korean Job Discussion Forums

[keela]

After 4 years teaching in hogwans, I'm seriously considering the move to public schools.

But I'm stumped as to how to effectively manage and teach a class of 30-40 students...

'Not asking for lesson plans, but more general approaches or methodologies.

Thanks, all.

[cruisemonkey]

Don't put up with any crap from the very beginning. If a kid starts acting up, make an example of him/her.

[Soju808]

Honestly, its really hard to control Korean kids on your own. As foreign teacher in the school, most of the kids won't give you the same kind of respect, as they would to a Korean Teacher. If you start to yell at them, they'll only laugh at you thinking that you are joking.

That's why if you work at a public school, you'll have a co-teacher and they will be the one to control the kids.

[captain kirk]

I always insist there MUST be a Korean speaker in the classroom at the back (pub elem). If the usual Kcoteacher has to pass on a class I insist she must plan ahead to arrange a Korean speaker -a homeroom teacher usually- be there in her place. I say it's 'the law' that a FT must be accompanied with a Kcoteacher and they believe me, don't question that. It's not really a 'law'.

The BEST situation is to have their usual homeroom teacher there at the back. The homeroom tacher has every kid's number and they know it.

Without a Kcoteacher/Korean speaker there are upstarts who have to be made example of and that takes focus away from the purpose of the class which is teaching English. The kids know that a Korean teacher can ultimately call their Mom and that's what they're really afraid of.

[Stormy]

[xCustomx]

[Yu_Bum_suk]

They have to see you as a legitimate authority figure and you need to plan lessons that can effectively keep them engaged for up to 50 minutes. I've had a few - I can think of four specifically - public school classes over the years that I'd describe as very difficult to manage. These were all classes I taught with rookie Korean co-teachers. The ones I've taught all by myself or together with an older Korean teacher have only presented occasional and generally minor problems. A number of classes - at least a dozen academic high school classes I've taught alone and a couple of middle school classes with a good co-teacher - have been entirely 100% problem free. By that I mean a whole year of never having to punish anyone beyond perhaps confiscating a few items, yell to get students' attention, or constantly wake students up.

Contrast this to my half a year at a really bad hagwon and it's just night and day. And even with the few bad PS classes I've had, at least I had a free hand to deal with trouble-makers as I saw fit and had their homeroom teachers, who basically have the same authority as their parents, on my side. Of course there are some bad public schools where the FT's authority is undermined, but generally if you're not afraid to be a real teacher you can be one; that can't be said of the majority of children's hagwons.

[Easter Clark]

1. Have assigned seating, take attendance and have some sort of score system in place.

2. It's vital that you have the support of your co-teachers and admin staff. Do your best to get to know them by going to the staff dinners, teachers' sports day, etc.

3. Go over class rules, punishments, and rewards the second class. Spend the first class introducing yourself. Don't smile too much! Be sure to continue to go over the rules the first month or so.

4. Be friendly but stern. Expect to spend a lot of time on discipline the first 2 or 3 weeks. Don't give warnings--if someone tests you (and they will!), as said, make an example of them.

5. Most discipline problems can be avoided if the lesson is interesting and not too difficult. Learn what your students like and use their interests in your material as often as you can. It's better for the lesson to be too easy than too difficult.

6. Use both positive and negative reinforcement. Never lose your temper. To me, the best way to avoid getting angry is to act angrier than I really am. If I see myself start to get angry, I pretend to lose my cool, then get right back on track. It pays to keep them guessing sometimes!

7. Use PowerPoint rather than handouts if possible. Do a listening activity when you can and have the students role play the dialogue or create their own. It's not too intimidating and keeps the students focused.

This is what works for me. I teach high school students, so can't give specifics on other age groups.

edit: I agree with Yu bum suk. Don't rely on your co-teacher to handle everything. Allow them discipline kids, but if you see a problem and your co-teacher isn't doing anything about it, don't be afraid to step in and dole out the punishment.

[BS.Dos.]

I think ultimately it comes down to how much you're prepared to put up with. Even with my better CTs, there's always chatter going on in the classroom. You either choose to crack down on them at every opportunity thereby disrupting a good deal of the lesson or, accept that they're kids who (for the most part) don't really give a shit about learning English.

However the kids in your particular school turn out, one thing you mustn't do is let them walk all over you. Project yourself and use plenty of imposing non-verbal communication if you need to.

[Easter Clark]

[Soju808]

At my school's the teachers are very good controlling the kids. While in the presense of the co-teachers I work with, the kids listen and I can focus a lot on teaching. When they leave the classroom for a bit, or when I have to run the after school programs by myself, that is where diaster strikes.

[TheUrbanMyth]

[Fishead soup]

Both Captain Kirk and Yu Bum Suk offer good advice. If you are a newbie then you're better off going with Captain Kirks advice. If you've already been in Korea several years than Yu Bum Suks advice is fine

[aarontendo]

Eh I'll be honest it's a pain in the ass sometimes. But, eh it's worth it for the trade-off in holiday and pay raise. I'd much prefer a small group more often though...my afterschool class is with the same 8 students 3x a week and it's a big ol' slice of happiness mostly.

[DongtanTony]