Korean Job Discussion Forums

[sulperman]

So, I am making the switch to the public schools after a long time in hagwons (needed a change, you know?). In the hagwons the lessons have always been pretty well laid out for me. Or at least there has been a book, which makes it very easy to make simple lesson plans.

My question is this- (and I assume it varies from school to school)- How do you know what to teach in public school? Are you following some set curriculum, or is there a book, or do you have to just decide yourself, like "hmm...i think this week I will focus on XXX".

Also, a second question- what the hell do you do on your first day? Do you walk in and immediately go into class? I could do that at a hagwon standing on my head, but doing it in front of 40 kids and a co-teacher is a terrifying thought.

Please, excuse my complete lack of knowledge on the subject. There is plenty of info out there on public school, but I could find little about the day to day goings-on.

Thanks for your help!

[Kurtz]

Your question isn't stupid at all.

I can only comment from teaching elementary but in my case I have a book to follow, with a DVD-ROM, very easy stuff.

Some schools though in some areas don't have a book. I heard this from a guy in Gangwondo.

1st day is introduction day. Maybe make a slideshow from pictures of your home country. I made one with some interesting animals and beautiful beaches from home which went down well.

If it's elementary, just talk about yourself (with co-teacher), maybe make English names for your students, and a simple dialogue "my name is....., nice to meet you" or something similar.

Just make it easy and fun so they will feel comfortable and relaxed with you. It worked fine for me.

[Oreovictim]

I'm in the same boat as you - making the switch to public. According to one guy on youtube, elementary is more structured about what you have to cover. And with middle school and high school it's not so structured, but you have to be more creative with your planning.

Yeah, that's the good thing about hagwons. They just give you a book, and you just cover certain pages - nice and easy.

Best of luck!

[ajuma]

Taught public school once...never again! But that's my style.


Anyway, see if you can get a copy of the book your students are using and/or talk to the coteacher(s) you'll be working with. Look at the book, see what the target language is (and don't laugh too hard at the grammar and usage mistakes), and make a plan from there.

My first day, I had the students in pairs write questions to ask me. You might want to write some question words on the board and have them choose 5 or so. Made for a fun class!

They aren't so different from your hagwon students...there are just more of them!

[andrewchon]

If you can read Korean, their's a teacher's guide to the textbook. CD-ROm instructions are spoken in Korean, so you might have to guess a bit.

First day: talk about yourself, bring pictures, SET THE CLASS RULES and PRACTICE THEM.

If you're out in the RURAL area. Be prepared for students who can't even write alphabet.

I must stop here before I vent any more. I must not vent. I must not vent.

[ChinaBoy]

I did high school. There was no book. There was no information. No one told me what to do. I walked in and told I teach in 10 minutes.

The English department head met with me three times. Each time it was only to talk about drinking, would I go out and drink with him. Never once talked about English or teaching.

[some waygug-in]

It really does depend on the school and level (elementary, middle or high)

I think most if not all elementary school use a national curriculum with the textbooks as described in previous posts.

Middle or High schools though, I don't know.

The middle school I teach at has books for the students, but only the Korean teachers use them. They wanted me to teach my own material,
which at first I thought would be great. That was until I discovered the computer system doesn't work in the majority of the classrooms. *.*

Other middle schools I've heard want the foreign teacher to cover some parts of the main textbook, so it will depend where you get placed.

I have middle school students who still don't know the English alphabet and would do well to do a basic phonics course. There are however a few students in every class who do have a higher level and can understand and read a bit.

It's hard sometimes finding activities that will suit everybody and won't lead to the better students dominating.

Best of luck,

cheers

[sulperman]

Great, thanks for all the replies! I appreciate it. I guess I am hoping for a set curriculum rather than making it all up myself! Oh well, guess I'll have to wait and see!

[Epicurus]

it always depends on the school, but my impression from what I've seen is that by high school level you do whatever it is you like/want in your class.

aka set your own curriculum.

the name of your class is "Facetime with Whitey". (I joke but this isn't far altogether from the truth)

[andrewchon]

damn straight, dude.