Korean Job Discussion Forums

dexter · Joined: 22 Oct 2008

I'm a non-experienced prospective teacher of English in Korea.

Can some of you experienced teachers give examples you have seen of what a bad or poor English teacher is like so as I can aim to not be like that?

Thanks...

VanIslander · Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2008 2:10 pm Post subject:

doesn't try,
doesn't care,
doesn't work hard,
doesn't prepare lessons,
doesn't enjoy being with the students

Korussian · Joined: 15 Sep 2007

Just one more to add onto VanIslander's comment:

A bad teacher doesn't get that a good relationship with Korean colleagues is worth more than gold.

A bad relationship with colleagues and bosses can sink you, morally if not professionally. They can make your life very easy, or very difficult - on a whim.

VanIslander · Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2008 2:30 pm Post subject:

some waygug-in · Joined: 25 Jan 2003

A bad teacher, in my view, is one who insists that he/she is always right, refuses to consider alternate views or take into account that there may be good reasons Koreans do things the way that they do.

Then that teacher constantly complains and rants on about how "stupid" everything here is, how things would be so much better if they would just do things his/her way and how much better it was to teach somewhere else.

Oh...wait....that sounds a lot like me my first couple of years here.

Embarassed

PRagic · Joined: 24 Feb 2006

In Korea, a bad teacher is someone who doesn't know their place.

You'll spend most of your first few years teetering between what you think is right or fair and what the Koreans expect you to do. Unless there are glaring discrepancies (late pay, crap housing, no overtime pay...), stow the contract and stay flexible.

Zutronius · Joined: 16 Apr 2007 Location: Suncheon

Don't teach hungover.

bassexpander · Joined: 13 Sep 2007 Location: Someplace you'd rather be.

A bad teacher is a public school teacher who:

1. Joins an anti-foreigner union
2. Kicks their feet up on their desks because their job is "safe"
3. Physically abuses students
4. Can't speak English, yet teaches it
5. Tries to politically influence their students in misleading ways.
6. Is unwilling to allow their students to take part in a national test which might prove their teaching inadequate.

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

crusher_of_heads · Posted: Sun Oct 26, 2008 4:12 pm Post subject:

Yu_Bum_suk · Joined: 25 Dec 2004

A bad teacher can also be someone with good intentions, but who, through a lack of experience, knowledge, and confidence, jumps into a job he or she is simply not prepared for.

A 'can't do' attitude also lends itself very well to bad teaching.

xingyiman · Joined: 12 Jan 2006

A bad teacher is one who takes their job entirely too seriously.

Tobias · Joined: 02 Jun 2008

There's no such thing as a 'bad' teacher, really. Sure, there are those out there who couldn't find their own back pockets with both hands, but that doesn't make them 'bad'. The truth is any teacher's status of 'good' or 'bad' is determined not by his own efforts, or lack thereof, but by his students.

Good students will make a 'bad' teacher look not so bad. Bad students will make a 'good' teacher look not so good. Before anyone can call a teacher 'good' or 'bad', he should ask 'what are this person's students like? Do they exert the immense effort required to learn this subject, or do they expect to become fluent in three weeks, an hour a week?' He who is blessed with hard-working learners will naturally appear to be 'good'. Damn, that 'appearances' thing yet again comes into play.

Some teachers know that beating on a dead horse doesn't get them far, so they don't exert much effort as teachers. Just looking at a teacher doesn't really tell the tale. The whole picture must be taken.

laogaiguk · Joined: 06 Dec 2005 Location: somewhere in Korea

Tobias · Joined: 02 Jun 2008

Actually, none of it is correct, and none of it is incorrect.

It's simply my opinion.