Korean Job Discussion Forums

nomad-ish

has anyone had an adult student (a teacher at their public school) ask to be in their kids morning class? i'm teaching at a middle school and i just did. how is it?

my co-teacher said no, but i'm tempted to help her change her mind because she's now volunteered me to basically privately tutor this teacher "anytime" she wants.

what would you do? i don't mind talking every now and then, but her english is very low and quite frankly, i don't want to try and talk with her anytime she wants. my school is already making me do sh1tloads of work (more than anyone i know, way more than last year) and i need this time to either lesson plan or unwind. nice suggestions?

GreenlightmeansGO · Joined: 11 Dec 2006 Location: Daegu

Don't do it. Make any excuse you can think of. Even if they know you're lying it will be okay (with saving face and all).

poet13 · Posted: Thu Oct 30, 2008 9:11 pm Post subject:

On my first day at my new school one of the english teachers thought it would be ok to practise her english on and off during the day for about 3 hours. Now I wear headphones even without the sound on.

lowpo · Joined: 01 Mar 2007

moosehead · Joined: 05 May 2007

it can be very sticky for you - no doubt - either way you spin it there's going to be a flap -

it's inappropriate for her to sit in on your class - perhaps you could let her know directly or thru someone else you find her presence disrupting to the students?

that they are not as "open" in class with her there?

the problem was because you let it happen once, they think it's ok - here it's like, you give an inch, people will take a mile - I promise you this is true!

you can also try talking to her very fast in E, express exasperation at her lack of understanding, be angry when she gets it wrong, etc., and in general discourage her totally as a student - that might work! just let her know you don't understand her E

and no, it's not any worse than people trying to take advantage of you - fight fire with fire and all that

nomad-ish · Posted: Fri Oct 31, 2008 7:04 pm Post subject:

^ she hasn't actually joined the class yet, she only asked. my co-teacher said no, but then volunteered me to "talk" with her "anytime" she wants during the day. so now i'm thinking i'd rather just have her in the class than being on call "anytime" she wants. all this after telling my co-teacher that i'm stressed at work.

i think the teacher is planning on coming at lunch to get some english practice, so i'm going to try and hide out somewhere in the school or say i'm busy lesson planning.

thanks for the suggestions, i think i'll also make use of my headphones when i'm lesson planning, just in case.

moosehead · Joined: 05 May 2007

whatever you do - just don't let anyone guilt-trip you - ok?

people take advantage - worse, they want to claim innocence about it - you are in the midst of master manipulators - you have to build up strong inner defenses to deal with it -

Yu_Bum_suk · Joined: 25 Dec 2004

I have no problem with it. Any teacher who wants to sit in on one of my classes can to so at any time.

cruisemonkey · Posted: Fri Oct 31, 2008 11:18 pm Post subject:

Don't hide, don't wear earphones. Tell your co-teacher to 'unvolunteer' you because you are already scheduled to teach 22 lessons a week and your contract precludes your taking a second job.

nomad-ish · Posted: Sat Nov 01, 2008 7:15 am Post subject:

Jammer113 · Joined: 13 Oct 2008

Having an teacher in your class is a very bad idea in my opinion. Sitting at the desk listening? Ok. Sitting with the students? Bad.

What if the students around her are talking? Can you discipline them? What if the teacher talks to the students? Can you ask the teacher to listen? Bad bad bad.

I understand your desire to not be volunteered. Maybe your teacher was trying to deflect a fight by suggesting an alternative. My suggestion would be to suggest your own that's ok with everyone. Volunteer yourself. I say start an English club for teachers. Then, it's only limited time, once or twice per week, whatever. Most teachers are busy anyways. There doesn't have to be prep time, because you'll just get together to talk or watch movies. It's a club, not a class, right?

While it's extra work, it's good for everyone. You can make friends with other teachers. You can have a quiet, controlled environment where everyone can see you as a good, nice person as opposed to just being "the foreigner." You get harmless socializing. They get English practice. They get to make friends. They get harmless socializing. You get to direct everyone who wants to practice English with you to your English club. No fights, no anger, no resentment. Lots of friends.

Don't hide and don't wear earphones. You're already a foreigner. Don't be an outsider. It'll cause lots more problems down the road.

buster brown · Joined: 26 Aug 2005 Location: Seoul

You could always turn the tables on this English vulture. Whenever she comes by to chat in English, pull out a Korean textbook and say "I'm glad you came by, I have a question about some Korean pronunciation" and then proceed to ask her questions for a few minutes. Then you can conveniently say "Well, I've gotta go ___ now. Thanks for helping me study Korean!" Trust me, it won't take but a couple of sessions before she gets tired of being used the same way she's trying to use you.

waynehead · Joined: 18 Apr 2006 Location: Jongno

Christ some of you get worked up at the thought of some Korean stealing 10 minutes of your time to practice english.

My advice: don't let her in the class, but be friendly and talk to her if she wants to outside of class. You might make a friend, get a free dinner out of it, get introduced to her hot single friend, or any other of a thousand horrible possibilities...