Korean Job Discussion Forums

Big Mac · Joined: 17 Sep 2005

I've been teaching in hogwans for three years now, but last month I made the switch to a public elementary school in Seosan City.

I'm the first Native English teacher my school has ever had, and up until now they've been using a curriculum that I think is the same, or at least similar to what they use in the Seoul public schools.

The problem is....it's really bad! It seems to be made for Korean teachers with questionable English skills to teach from. It doesn't really seem to be made for Native English speakers to teach from. My Korean co-teachers are open to new ideas on how to make my role in the class more valuable by changing the way we teach the classes. We're starting by trying to eliminate as much Korean as possible. Right now, I'd say 60 per cent of the class is in Korean...even with me there. It's been hard to get my co-teachers, who can barely speak English, to get away from that. They seem to be afraid of having me teach more in English because they don't think the kids will understand. Everything I do say, they translate, which really annoys me.

I want to stick with the themes for each lesson, but I would really like to do away with the stupid dialogues on the CD-Rom that come with each lesson. They're too robotic and the language is really awkward. I think they are there mainly so that the kids can hear Native English that is better than what their Korean teacher can speak. But if I'm there, I think they can learn the proper way to speak from me instead of from a CD.

Right now my co-teacher is playing the dialogue and having me ask the kids questions about it afterward. I think that's really boring and there has to be a better way to do it.

I like some of the games that come with the curriculum, and when I don't like them I come up with my own. Some of the songs on the CD-rom are singable, but most are horrible.

Does anyone have any ideas or experience with re-jigging the public school curriculum to make it more interesting? I'd be particularly interested in finding a replacement for those horrible dialogues.

ddeubel · Joined: 20 Jul 2005

I'll tell you what is the BEST way to work on this curriculum and also give yourself peace of mind (and also the positive feeling of "getting somewhere". )

I taught a whole class for a year in the computer lab. YES, that U shaped computer lab that in most elementary schools is just for staff meetings and show....

There are several sites that offer very rich material for the language learning lab. Have students at the computers working on these study materials. Give them 25 min to work on or complete their assigned lab exercise (s). They work alone but get help from partners beside themselves. When they have completed what's assigned, they can use the extra time to use selected/permitted sites (music learning / games etc..). You control their access to these addresses.

The Korean coteacher can circulate and help/monitor. The foreign teacher just sits in the middle and calls out a group. That group comes and gets 5 mins of REAL conversation/review of material and flashcard conversation. Real communication. Next group please. Drink your coffee, relax, no discipline problems, all the students on task.

A much better and more productive way to learn English. If you are ambitious, you can even tie in their learning to quiz completion and particular goals. It isn't rocket science and hopefully one day - Korea will use their computer literacy to good end.....

DD
http://eflclassroom.ning.com

ttompatz · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea

Do you have the English version of the guides that go with the CDs and Korean/English lesson plan books for elementary schools?

I'll add the URL HERE when the file is finished uploading and you can just download it instead of e-mailing me.

You will need either the Hangul word processing program or the Hangul viewer to use the plans and guides.

There are also whack loads of games and extra materials that supplement the plans and guides that you can use in place of "listen and repeat" or the games as shown in the plans/book.

Let me know and I will try to get them to you.

.

Big Mac · Joined: 17 Sep 2005

I do have the English guide book that goes with the CDs and the textbook. My main problem is that there is too much of a focus on the dialogues. They're poorly written, and not very well-performed. They aren't natural, and sometimes are just plain bad English. I don't think they're a very good way to teach the language. They take up too much of the class. The listen and repeat part is equally boring. What are we teaching them to be...a bunch of robots? The only thing that is good for is helping them with pronunciation.

I think the theme of each lesson is good, and of course I know that I have to teach that stuff because it is the curriculum. I just think there's a better way of doing it than playing a boring and awkward dialogue and asking a few questions about it.

The games are good and I have been using them. But there has to be a lesson too.

ddeubel · Joined: 20 Jul 2005

I'd also like to comment here to Big Mac and others in this situation ---

The first thing to be clear about is that the book/CD doesn't have to be "the curriculum". Korean schools have a large amount of leeway in designing and implementing "curriculum" so long as they meet the objectives of the overall guidelines of Education . You can find more on those specifically at KICE's website www.kice.re.kr but please look here first to get a sense of what is expected in total.
http://www.finchpark.com/courses/curriculum.htm

You can negotiate the curriculum with your school. Unfortunately, new teachers don't have much say or power to do so until they've put in the time and effort to command some respect/authority. Still - don't just automatically except the book/CD as the "curriculum". Doesn't have to be.

DD
http://eflclassroom.ning.com

D.D. · Joined: 29 May 2008

I am always rude my first few weeks of school to make sure that I get to teach my way. I make it clear that I will leave if they want me to teach their way.

It has worked for me three years in China and for two years here. As soon as people try to comment on my teaching methods I turn into a monster.

This has given me the space to create some excellent programs that some students advance very quickly in.

The alternative is to put your tail between your legs and be a lousy teacher. They want to keep things at the usual low standards and hen peck you down to lower position than them.

But if you are going to be like I am you also need to teach well and gain their trust that you are leading them in a new direction.

I get the feelling that many teachers don't stand up for themselves and teach boring methods just to fit in.

I do the opposite and it works.

Cornfed · Joined: 14 Mar 2008

Morgen · Joined: 02 Jul 2008

There's an English guide for the cds?! ttompatz, I would cry if I could get my hands on all that stuff.

some waygug-in · Joined: 25 Jan 2003

There was a complete guide available last year, but they shut the site down. Not that it was anything to cheer about; some of the game explanations made no sense at all....but it was better than nothing.

The site this year was only partially set up and a lot of stuff was simply not there.

I gave up trying to figure it out.

Perhaps they have completed it since before summer break, I don't know.

Horangi Munshin · Joined: 06 Apr 2003 Location: Busan

some waygug-in · Joined: 25 Jan 2003

Yes, that is the site. I just tried your link and it won't open where I am.

Typical.

Isn't this sufficient evidence to the fact that each and every school should be required to have an English version of the teacher's guides on hand. And I do mean a printed version, so there are no computer gliches to contend with.

How F^&*ing dumb can it get?

Horangi Munshin · Joined: 06 Apr 2003 Location: Busan

Yep I had it bookmarked and it doesn't work for me either.

I downloaded and printed all those lesson guides last year. Like you said, some of the games and activities are bizarre or just crap.

I especially enjoy pointing out the bogus 'cultural tips' to my co-teachers.

Right now I'm zipping the guides up and will upload them to esnips.

I'll post the link when I'm done.

ddeubel · Joined: 20 Jul 2005

H.M.

Thanks, I'll look forward to the link though I agree totally - the games/instructions are in so many ways idiotic....

I'd also suggest others in elementary school take a look at these English through English lessons. They give explicit instruction on how to teach the elementary school textbook lessons. Very easy and with supplemental material.

We made them here where I work and I've only got the first 7 lessons up. More forthcoming. These should help a lot of new elementary school teachers. Let me know what you think of them....

English through English lessons

DD
http://eflclassroom.ning.com

Horangi Munshin · Joined: 06 Apr 2003 Location: Busan

I've uploaded all the lesson guides for the elementary textbooks to esnips.

You need the Hangul word program to read them. Or the Hangul viewer program.

http://www.esnips.com/web/KoreanElementaryGrade3EnglishGuides

http://www.esnips.com/web/KoreanElementaryGrade4EnglishGuides

http://www.esnips.com/web/KoreanElementaryGrade5EnglishGuides

http://www.esnips.com/web/KoreanElementaryGrade6EnglishGuides

I have also uploaded zip files of each grade to elfclassroom's mediafire account.

some waygug-in · Joined: 25 Jan 2003

Thanks so much for posting those for people.

Sorry for my previous post. I felt a bit snarly this morning.