Korean Job Discussion Forums

[kerbythepurplecow]

Okay, so I've read a lot of random bits that state we are not to teach in the classroom without a co-teacher present due to Korean law.

I teach at an elementary school under GEPIK. I am there every day 8:40 to 4:40, which is pretty standard. After lunch, the classes are called "after school". 15 of my 21 classes are after lunch and fall under the so called "after school" time.

My school is very small. There is one teacher for each grade K-6. There is also a science teacher and myself. The science teacher is also my English co-teacher. He has approximately 12 science classes per week and the mandatory morning classes (6), so 18 classes per week.

In the afternoon, 99% of the time I am on my own. My co-teacher is often kept quite busy with other project. He is the teacher with least seniority (besides myself). The homeroom teachers do not come to class with their students.

The younger students have very little English. With the 2nd and 3rd grade I have very little likelihood of communicating. The 4th grade has a little English, but there's 23 of them. The 5th and 6th grade could give two squats less. They don't want to be there, but are obligated to do so.

So, I get a bit frustrated at the language barrier and the lack of respect. My contract says I'm there to teach speaking and writing, not spend 60% of the class disciplining the little monsters.

I've heard tell that it is illegal for a NT to teach without a KT present. What I ask for is some kind of documentation that states this. Please show me something that I can present to my co-teacher/handler that will convince him of the continual need of a KT in the classroom. The continual frustration and stress is starting to get to me a bit.

Thanks!

[climber159]

How well the contract is followed often depends on the school. You could take your problem up with the GEPIK office, but you'll likely be in for a long process and many painful headaches.

Unless you're at one of the very few high-level academic schools with the public school system in Korea there is very little actual English language learning that goes on. Once came around to understand this things improved for me.

I suggest that, in this case, you go along with your absent co-teachers and just accomplish what you can in the classroom. You already said that the lower grades don't speak any English. In this case, if you can manage to keep them entertained in class, then your discipline issues will decrease. Following that, they may even begin to learn a little. Lastly, if you're having discipline issues, just experiment with different punishments. I've found that punishing the entire class for what one or two students do is pretty effective. Staying class late, cleaning after school, and standing silently doing nothing are fairly effective.

It may be too late now. But, remember that it's better to start out the semester strict and ease up later. If you start out soft the students will steamroll you.

[lifeinkorea]

If you work with smaller groups it can help too. Take 5 or 6 at a time outside of the classroom. It's easier for them to focus and hear what you are saying.

Some Korean teachers use microphones hooked up to an amp, giving a PA style feel.

[billietea]

I am normally alone in the classroom. My situation is very similar to yours being at a small public elementary school where not even the teachers speak English other than a random "hello". It seems to me that having something akin to a normal routine works well so that the students know what to expect. I have a regular ten minute opener which I use in the classroom for both KT accompanied and non KT accompanied classes. This gets the students in the mind set of, okay this is class time. Because my students didn't even know "hello" when I got there I focused on teaching them songs from "YouTube". A well thought out lesson plan with minimal breaks in between lessons keeps the flow moving. Regular hand gestures and spoken cues assist them to know when they are to stand up, follow me, stop, be quiet, repeat etc. Train them to understand what you are saying/doing when you have a KT in the classroom and ALWAYS use the same hand gestures/short phrases so that they get to understand your method of communication. You may even want to hold a short class on only "classroom directions".

[hauwande]

you should not be teaching alone.

they are taking advantage of you; do not let them get away with it.

my coteachers do little except translate when i need them to. thats works well for me, but i INSIST they be in the classroom at all times.

if they are busy, i allow them to sit at the back and do their work. they can still do what i need them to do from there.

but coteachers not showing up is taking the piss for mine.

just tell them it is illegal, you dont need to show them anything.

you do need to be a little firm with them. just a little. once in a small while.

it works wonders... good luck

[D.D.]

[kerbythepurplecow]

Well, one of the big problems is that my school really loves the contract. The contract is so vague that they can usually create any interpretation.

It says I am to work 8 hours per day and no more than 22 teaching hours per week. I do both of these. However, the contract has very little to say about having a korean coteacher around. It says I can split a class with more than 23 students and we can each take half. It says we're supposed to do lesson plans and develop teaching materials. That's it.

If I tell my co that it's illegal, he'll talk to the teachers and the principal. Then they'll decide it's fine because the contract doesn't say anything about it. I've been getting increasingly firm as I get ditched in these classes again and again. Often I'm told we can make a better schedule next semester. The teachers actually all had a meeting about this yesterday. Ideas including writing down the names of kids who don't show up or using the book less. None of the ideas included actually having teachers show up.

As for the after school thing, I'm confused because it's still in the hours of my normal day. Our school calls the lessons after lunch and before 4:10 "after school". They're not actually outside of my 22 hours of teaching so I don't think I'm owed more monies. However, I do think there should still be a k-teacher there.

[D.D.]

They tried to get me to teach after school classes for free. If you don't say no and show that you are aware of the scam they will keep scamming you. After school classes usually don't have a co-teacher so what they are doing is normal for 15 of your classes. Again I will say that someone is profiting from your greeness

[buddie3232]

I had the same problem since March. The new male teachers that came in think they don't have to show up and help in my class. I spoke with the VP the other day on it.

Now all the male teachers are showing up to class and even helping in class. The VP shows up to my classes sometimes just to make sure the KT are working.

The new KT are not happy about this. But I had to put my foot down.

[refikaM]

In the public school system..if you are teaching "after school" classes within your 8-hr school day, you are NOT owed any extra money unless your hours go over 22 per week. No one pockets any money. The students do not pay extra money for these classes.

There were no KTs in my elementary "after school" classes last fall/winter and the classes were held in the stark cold science room.. Also, grades were combined (1/2, 3/4, 5/6). Needless to say it was a pain in the pooper controlling let alone teaching these kids anything. At the start of this year, I negotiated with my CT and VP and got 1 grade per class, classes held in the kids' regular classrooms, AND their KTs assist in each class (it's a small school, so realize was easier to arrange than a large school certainly). I don't know what your relationship is like with your VP/school, but maybe you can arrange a meeting and tactfully try and convince them that it would be much more beneficial, and easier for you, if you had some help controlling and translating when necessary.. There would be more time spent on "teaching"rather than disciplining, etc...When you approach it with the line "it'd be far better for the kids" I think they take note of what you say. Yeah it's not fair that many Korean teachers use English classtime as their "spare time".. If there wasn't English class, they'd have to be teaching them something.. Many KTs take advantage of this "extra" time they seem to thing they have.. Anyway, good luck and I hope you can work something out!

[Fishead soup]

There are ways you can more effectivly teach your lessons alone.
I use lots of online activities and PPT. When I do that the focus moves away from me the teacher and towards the T.V. screen. I simply choose a topic like directions and then create or download an already existing PPT program.

This can be followed by a game like Baam.

[bundangbabo]

[kerbythepurplecow]

[bundangbabo]

[oldfatfarang]

Some tips:

Don't, ever, start teaching until your co-teacher is in the room.
If they're late more than 5 mins - ask the students: "Where is your teacher?" And then ask a student to go and get the Korean teacher.

This gives a (not so ) subtle message to everybody, i.e., you're not going to teach any classes until there's a K teacher helping you by managing the class (that's the job they're being paid for, by the way).

I have a 'slider'. He sneaks off to sit on the couch in my adjoining office - and to use the phone on my desk (phone sex???).

I just go and get him about 5 times a class ("Translation needed"). He still hasn't got it that he's supposed to be there all the time - but I'm working on it. Interestingly, I've had more success getting him into the classroom by asking him: "Why is that Korean teacher out in the hallway looking like that? Is it because of the 'noise'?

Good luck. If all else fails - write to your school (and POE) and ask where the co-teachers are. First, make a note of their absenses (days, times, classes etc).