Korean Job Discussion Forums

[E_athlete]

I teach 1st yr high school students at PS. I've taught classes using powerpoint and impressed all the co-teachers to the point where many of them just leave everything up to me. It's gotten to the point now where coteachers have given me the thumbs up and retired to their teacher's room where they choose to relax. For me this is not a burden as I have no problem dealing with K-students. That's not to say there are no trouble-makers, I just ignore them like they dont exist and keep running through my lesson. I even get the impression that some students do not enjoy learning English and can only tolerate so much teaching before they start tuning out. It really doesn't matter to me if a student is listening or not I'm just here to pass the time and collect money. I do a good job at teaching (according to all the co-teachers) but I really don't care if students are paying attention or not. Does this make me a bad teacher for not caring? Some students sleep in class due to sleep deprivation and I encourage them to do so (I tell them to put their heads down and sleep if tired, while most k-teachers beat them haha).

I'm just being honest when I say that students dont matter to me, I have ended some classes 10 minutes early because I can and it's becoming a habit now. The students love having class end before the bell rings, I haven't seen such happy faces. I even hint them at what will and will not be on the tests. This way scores are higher and I look good. Everyone is happy. I couldn't care whether I am preparing these students for those entrance exams or not. Am I alone in doing this or is it not that uncommon?

[Emeliu]

Sounds like the teacher every student likes. In high school, teachers like you were praised amongst the student body. I say, you sir, are an awesome teacher.

[weatherman]

As an aside, students can only take so much input. You say you are teaching, but are the students learning, as in practicing? Is your input
authentic so the students can relate?

Just asking.

[Emeliu]

[coralreefer_1]

[E_athlete]

[Young FRANKenstein]

[pie eater]

I'll put money you'll leave and midnight run it out of there before six months is up. How long have you been in Korea now? Is it a week?

Even though your lazy, bone idle co-teachers are leaving you to it. They (or your VP and principal) will be giving it to you both barrells when they find out you are letting them out early and giving them anwsers to the exams. Constant preperation of PPTs will wear you down and remember - you are in a honeymoon period with your students - if they are bored NOW - in four months time when they are used to you - you are not going to be able to control them! Guaranteed!

Reign your co-teachers in NOW - before they start dropping you in the shit - those lazy, good for nothing bastards schedule includes your classes - If I have to teach my 19 classes a week - so will they!

And you know - you were full of big talk on this forum before you flew out... who's next? Morning_Star? Tundra Creature? Emileu? I can't wait to see you gobby newbies dropping like ninepins!

[pie eater]

[Straphanger]

[oskinny1]

[thoreau]

I have a friend who is a successful bar owner. He dropped out of high school but got his GED in his early 20s.

When we talk about high school and bring up a specific teacher (who was very young at that time) my friend never fails to mention that this teacher was his favorite - although he taught Chemistry and my friend is no science guru.

That teacher allowed unmotivated students (or students who were distracted) the right to put their head down in class and get the F at the end of the marking period. This allowed the teacher to focus energy on those students who were motivated.

I agree with this classroom management idea. As long as a student is not disrupting the class and if they are willing to accept the F, they can mind their own business for the period.

[mld]

I think (and see above) that you will get a variety of answers to this question. Some will think you are a good teacher, and others a bad teacher. I guess it depends on what you see as "your job." Are you there to stand in front of them and "go over" the textbook, or are you there to motivate them, teach them, etc.

You should ask yourself: "Am I talking with the students or at them?" All too often, people think that their job is to talk at (or to) students, but like you said, it's hard to listen for that long. Like you, I can't do it for much longer than 30 minutes (probably a lot less). In your post you mention that you think English interviews would be helpful. Yet, you don't mention that perhaps you could get the students to practise speaking with each other (or you for that matter, but that's inefficient as you can only speak to one student at a time and the rest tune out). It keeps everyone involved and thinking - which is not a bad goal (and hard to accomplish if you are doing the majority of the talking).

You also mention that they are "learning the material since [you're] going through the textbook with them page by page and I relate the material to real life situations as best I can." I'm not sure if this means they are learning anything. They may be, but the fact that you are going over it is no proof they are learning it. What evidence of their learning do you have? Just asking, not trying to nitpick.

I agree with you about the tests. I've seen students doing this while studying for vocab quizes. It might be a sign the work is too hard to understand (or the students are overworked in other subjects or lazy).

You say it's not up for you to fix the system. Agreed, but that doesn't stop you from trying to help your students within that system. You've already shown good form by asking about your problems (a good strategy, though risky because of the potential personal attacks you will sustain here - please don't take this as one).

You say your students can be attentive for the first 25-30 minutes. Give them a reason to keep that up for the class. Don't bombard them with too much info. Give them a chance to practise what they learn (e.g. partner them up and make them ask questions and answers - this is hard for me to give specifics, because I don't know what you're teaching them) and don't just make them absorb the information.

Despite what some may say on here, I doubt that your job description involves letting students sleep through class. You're not a bad teacher, but certainly there are many areas for improvement. The difference between a good and bad teacher is not that one is a superstar and the other isn't (it takes a long time to become a superstar) it's that the good teacher realizes when something isn't working and seeks out a better way to do it. Which are you?

[ytuque]

[Young FRANKenstein]