Korean Job Discussion Forums

maryjanes · Joined: 22 Jul 2009 Location: Cheongju

Will this eventually lead to all sorts of trouble? I've taken to ignoring my co-teacher whose English is terrible and can't communicate with me anyway. He occasionally tries to implement some sort of lesson plan but I just carry on with what I have planned. I'm teaching at an elementary public school and use the textbook as a base but then add in my own stuff. Kids seem happy with lessons, even though I'm not convinced that what I'm teaching is sticking (it doesn't get backed up in my co-teacher's lessons and there are some communication problems that I can't always address with miming and drawing on the board).

I'm just worried that I'm setting up an argument for the future, or maybe this is the best way to cope - just get on with it untiil someone says (in clear English) otherwise.

Thanks in advance,
mj

winterfall · Joined: 21 May 2009

Morning_Star · Joined: 21 Jan 2009

In any job, it's your responsibilities to work with your co-workers, whether you like them or not. Doesn't mean you get buddy-buddy with them, but you have to be able to work cooperatively with your co-workers.

Rory_Calhoun27 · Joined: 14 Feb 2009

I'd recommend at least trying to get along with your coteacher as well.... Mine pretty much gave up on working together after the first month....

a good coteacher is worth their weight in gold... a narrowminded, bipolar-like one... not so much. Rolling Eyes

andrewchon · Posted: Thu Jul 23, 2009 2:34 pm Post subject: co-teacher

Yes, do get along with your co-teacher. As winterfall said, his reviews of you will weigh heavily when other things come up, such as vacation and time-off for personal admin.
This may sound crazy but try to speak Konglish. Not Korean but konglish. Your co-teacher will understand that. Speak single words or expressions at most. Speak unnoticeably slow. Sounds like you're in your 'honeymoon' period. When the kids turn on you for things that is not in your control you'll need your co-teacher's help. Do try to include your co-teacher in the classroom activities.

lifeinkorea · Joined: 24 Jan 2009 Location: somewhere in China

I don't think it matters, you can't control your co-teacher. Apparently, you are doing your own thing, and if it matters to you then that is the path I think you should take. Schools that recognize what you are doing as good will hire you.

If you just a doggy looking for brownie points, don't care about your profession, and feel you aren't satisfying your master then by all means drop what you are doing and ask your co-teacher (who probably isn't there co-teaching) if you are doing a good job at the end of the day.

Elvis Gratton · Joined: 12 Jul 2009

Just carry on. Next year you'll be forgotten about and he'll still be just as useless.

some waygug-in · Joined: 25 Jan 2003

If you let your co-teacher run the class, it will be a reverse situation.

He will be ignoring you for the most part and conducting the class mostly in Korean.

Keep doing what you are doing. Fight or no fight, it's the right thing to do.

maryjanes · Joined: 22 Jul 2009 Location: Cheongju

Thanks for all the feedback. I feel really torn between trying harder to make the relationship work and just getting on with it. Maybe a bit of both is needed.

Just to say that I have honestly tried in the past few months to get proper co-working going on but it never lasts more than a day or so and communication is a real barrier. This school hasn't had a foreign teacher before so maybe that's part of the issue. The principal doesn't speak English either. I'll try some Konglish and see what happens! Laughing

Anyone else from Cheongju area out there?!

cheers,
mj

been_that_done_there · Joined: 19 Jun 2009

I have 2 co-teachers. One I call "the witch" and the other one is an angel. The witch blatantly lies, is hated by the other staff members and the angel says she is "double-faced". She has made my life very difficult and has driven me to the decision to go home after 6 months. On top of that, I am in a technical school. I have heard more negative stories about co-teachers than positive ones. I really feel for people who have difficult co-teachers.
I wish I could give some good, meaningful advice but honestly, all I can say is that I feel for you.

maryjanes · Joined: 22 Jul 2009 Location: Cheongju

Well, at least my guy isn't malicious - or at least doesn't seem to be. From a few PMs I've received it appears that a lot of people have been in much worse situations. I'm sorry that people (nice people it seems) have had such rough times. When posting this I was new to Daves and having read a few threads I can see that life is very difficult for some.

Count my blessings I suppose, and just get on with it. It's not real teaching, well not compared to what I've done elsewhere, so I'll just enjoy it for what it is for the next few months!

thanks everyone <hugs>
mj

Karea · Joined: 07 Jul 2009

Do you only have a co-teacher if you work in a Public school?

andrewchon · Posted: Sun Jul 26, 2009 2:58 pm Post subject:

Hagwons in general are money making enterprises therefore having two teachers in a class is a violation of the bottom line rule. So, no co-teaching there. There are some hagwons (heard not seen) where education comes first and they do team-teaching (can anyone verify this?) So, yes having a co-teacher is for public schools.
If you are getting weary of co-teacher after spending time in Dave's Rave Cave, don't. Similar things happen anywhere else when two people are forced to work together and neither had a choice in the matter.
Think about the co-teacher's situation. They are a notch above other Korean teachers because they are 'English' teachers. Then they are forced into a teaching method that's not really 'natural' i.e. no complete and masterly control over everything in the classroom. Others beneath them have no such impediment. What would you do in such situation?

some waygug-in · Joined: 25 Jan 2003

The best thing I've heard of co-teachers doing (but rarely do) is to let the foreign teacher have full control over half the lessons and they have full control over the other half.

My one co-teacher tells me which parts he wants me to teach and for 20 mins out of each 40 min. class he stands to the side and let's me teach.
He does try and keep students in line and keep them quiet (not very successfully at times) but he doesn't interefere with me when I am teaching.

In contrast to this my other co-teacher seems to have no clue what to do with me. She won't discuss the lessons with me other than 5 mins before class. She won't allow me to teach much at all, but butts in every second sentence or even every second word I say making it impossible for me to accomplish anything.

I've tried to talk to her about planning lessons together so that I would have some idea what she wants from me, but she just brushes it off as meaningless annoyance on the part of the waygukin. She doesn't seem to understand that if she wants me to participate in a meaninful way, she has to let me in on the planning process or at the very least tell me what she is going to do.

I've had more co-teachers like #2 than #1, so I know it's not easy.