Korean Job Discussion Forums

[love2teach]

Hi, I was informed a couple weeks ago by my co-teacher that my middle school is getting an English Zone for next year. While I was really excited about it at first, I was just told that my desk will be moved in there permanently -- which I don't mind -- along with a Korean English teacher.

Did this happen to anyone else? What was it like? I'm worried because my main co-teacher pesters me whenever she finds me with questions, suggestions, editing, and the like, and I can't imagine tolerating her, and being trapped in a room with her ALL day long.

[Horangi Munshin]

I've been told the same. I'm at an elementary school though. I was told that I would stay there all day (on duty?). I think the co-teachers would be the least of your worries. Students dropping in and pestering you while you try to work is my biggest worry, one I voiced immediately.

[Xuanzang]

Having to demonstration lessons for visiting orientation teachers or other extras would be on my list of worries too.

[sojusucks]

Highly unusual. I know teachers that are alone in their classrooms (these are from schools that don't honor the law by providing a co-teacher in class though). Usually, you have to fight the school to get a Korean co-teacher to show up in class.

Get headphones. They signal that you don't want to be talked to. To make the co-teacher feel more welcomed, you should state that you accomplish most of your work during certain times and don't want to be interrupted them. Then make your office hours known. Remember, it is because you are distracted easily and want to do a good job and teach your students well and not because of your co-teacher.

[I'm no Picasso]

[Horangi Munshin]

Lunch wasn't mentioned! If anything like 'stay in the English Zone for kids all day' is made 'compulsory' they might have to find another teacher!

I have headphones, so I might get a lot of use out of them! Big ones so highly visible and sealed too

[Bigfeet]

Uh-oh, sounds like they're building an English cage for an English monkey.

[Ukon]

[Horangi Munshin]

At the start of the year all of the jondam teachers changed. Except one Korean special ed teacher and me of course. The new English teachers chose to be alone by using the desk and computers in the English classrooms. I share the jondam room with the two science teachers.
There is room for two more teachers but the music teachers chose to be alone in the music rooms too.

I like to be able to get work done without interruptions.

[bogey666]

the ENGLISH ZONE/VILLAGE in my school is MY room.

that said, I hear they're building a second one - and I think they're going to get one of those low paid non native English speakers to work it.

[sojusucks]

I know one teacher that has an English Zone that she can't even use because other teachers use it. She has to use some old classroom.

[sobriquet]

[crusher_of_heads]