Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Jeyn]

This is a bit of a long story but I desperately need some advice.

I'm a high school teacher in Daejeon. I've been here almost two months.
In the beginning I went to my co-teacher and asked him what he wanted me to focus on during my classes. He told me to do whatever I wanted. So I put together a lesson plan and asked him to go over it. He said no, no, whatever I taught was fine.

So I went out and purchased some textbooks on conversational classes for teenagers since that's pretty much my job descritition.

He was off and on. Sometimes he would tell me he wanted me to teach from the book but yet he wouldn't tell me where the students were in the textbooks. And he wouldn't help me. So I commented that why am I here all the way from Canada if I'm just going to teach what they teach.

The next day he told me to continue on doing what I'm doing.

So I continued on and now finally I've taught something again he doesn't like so he gave me two random textbooks (the school doesn't use them) on reading comprehension and has told me I need to use those.

These books are horrible. One talks about puffer fish for an entire chapter and the other goes into unknown sports like lacrosse. It's also very complicated, much to high level for the students he's talking about.

So yesterday we had a conversation like this. He wants me to teach from the book. I said yes, I'm fine with the second book (it's actually quite good) but I want his help in developing my lesson plan. I was promised this sort of help during EPIK training. He says I don't need help..all I have to do is read the book. I said that's boring, the students need to have activities in order to learn. He said no, none of that crap that I learned in Canada.

I've pointed out to him that the lessons I've been doing are based on my trainings through EPIK, the Korean government program but he just doesn't care about that. I pointed out that the students are talking lots in my class which is a huge improvement from when I started. It's true. My students stop me in the street to talk, they invite me out for coffee to talk, they spend an hour bus ride trying to ask me questions. They're really tryinig and the improvement has been wonderful!

So he wants me to teach from the book but he doesn't want to spend any time working on lesson plans so that I can have an exact idea of what he wants.

He also refused me a meeting with the other english teachers when I said I'd like to get together with them to discuss what they want from me.

He gets very agressive and defensive in the middle of sentences...he's not listening to a word I'm saying. He hasn't even figured out that I'm agreeing with him on the bloody textbook situation.

When I suggested that I could do a small activity at the end of each lesson he screamed "This is not Canada, do as you're told."

I'm having troubles here because the Vice Principal and Principal do not speak english. I do however have some help with the 3rd year teacher and I'm planning on asking him today to come translate for me with the principal. However, my co-teacher has told me repeatedly that the principal really dislikes English guest speaks and didn't want one here to begin with.

Other than that I guess I have to go to the Education board. And I did suggest that to him and you can imagine the response I got.

It's very frustrating because he's just not listening to me. The belittling comment didn't hel either. I was in tears last night when I got home.

Any suggestsions would be fantastic.

Cheers
Jeyn

[RufusW]

Get the other English speaking teacher to come along to talk with your co-teacher, maybe even use him to translate (are there actual communication problems?). He may calm down when someone else is with you. I wouldn't go over his head too quickly, and not directly to the Principle, try the VP first.

Stop asking his opinion on lesson plans and slowly slowly introduce methods you want to use. As long as the students don't have a problem he may just let it slide. Education board is probably last resort - you're gonna annoy everyone at your school doing that.

[Jeyn]

Yes, The other English teacher has already said he'll talk to him. He overheard most of the conversation yesterday. I'm meeting with him in an hour so I'll ask his opinion.

Apparently the Vice Principal owns the school. Not sure if he's the right one to talk to either. But I'll ask.

As for introducing methods...I've been told no. None. Nada. Read the book. Dont' let the students talk anymore. Just read. They must listen. Conversation is all about listening. It was when I suggested that I might bring something in at the end he got pissy and told me to do as I'm told.

[Demophobe]

Well, I disagree with what I am going to say, but anyhow...

The school employs you and it doesn't sound like anyone is going to go to bat for you on this issue, so you had best do what they want. Yes, from your post, it sounds like the last thing that would benefit the students, but it seems any other direction is going to continue to pit you against everyone else.

Perhaps use the book as a starting point for your own material? Sometimes a boring chapter can introduce some grammar or phrases/expressions that will also fit into a different topic. The lesson on puffer fish must have a language point or goal, yes? Maybe work from there and create your own content. I have found that that form of prep is quite therapeutic in that it takes your mind off things and allows you some freedom while staying in the framework of (hopefully) professionally prepared books. This would also pacify the teacher, as yo would be staying with the book, though not in a word-by-word sense.

Try to compromise with the co-teacher. You are only at the two-month point; a little early to have this kind of vibe going down. I believe you are a female, which may be significant in his dealings with you. I am not telling you to bow down to him, but maybe make some outward concessions and give a little while taking.

Railing against them will not serve you well, especially as they all seem to be apathetic towards your situation.

Kudos to you for trying to good by your students. Don't give that up, but as I said, perhaps there is a middle ground? Using the book, but making customized content may be an acceptable solution for all.

Good luck.

[Fishead soup]

He's being intentionally vague because he really has no idea how to use you. He would also rather wash his hands of you. My overall experience of male English co-teachers is they let their guard down a lot when they go out drinking. Suggest to him that you both go out for a meal and some soju. I also think you will need to be a lot more self motivated and design your own program. There are tons of stuff on the internet and you can buy good quality textbooks in Seoul Kyobo book store on Chongno.

[Jeyn]

Oh, I have been motivated. I went out and purchased books on teenage conversation topics to help with my clasess.

I've had a different theme each week with different activities. The students love my classes. I use pictures and music to keep them interested. My classes have been a lot of fun, the kids really get talking and motivated. It's such an improvement from the first day where they stared at me blankly and wouldn't open their mouth to save their lives. haha

The kids aren't the problem. They love my classes. They tell me so all the time.

The co-teacher doesn't like them because he feels it's a waste of time to be teaching conversation when they have exams to study for. He believes that everything I'm teaching has nothing to do with the exams although he wouldn't give me copies of the exams when I asked for them until a few days ago. So what was the point of hiring me then?

The reason I'm asking for help now is because he's slammed everything I've done and says he wants it done a specific way. So I said I want help so that I can understand exactly what he wants.

[thoreau]

Write down all of your concerns about how he wants you to teach and have a counter point for each.

Print this out and give it to him gently saying, 'I've thought some more about what we talked about. Can you please read this and maybe we can talk about it more.'

This gives the KT more time to process your ideas and since you're not there he can't interrupt you.

When you meet again have some clear lesson outlines prepared. Say, 'This is what I want to do but I need your help with some of the details. For example, here I want to....'

Personally, both my KTs are hands off. They stand in the classroom and if something is unclear they translate. Everything else is up to me. I've had a few lessons that didn't go over well and after class I told them that I'm still trying to adjust to the students levels. Which is true.

[thoreau]

[Jeyn]

I tried that. I gave him the EPIK book and outlined all the things that I was trained to do and what I wanted to do. He refused to read it.

I know that's not quite what you're suggesting but I have a feeling he'll refuse to read that too.

I have five teachers and only two of them seem to have a problem with what I'm teaching. One is my co-teacher and the other is very jealous of me. We started at the same time and she's constantly going off about how much the students like me more than her. I pointed out that it's only because I'm a novelty and different but she's not getting it.

I did prepare a lesson plan from the one of the books he gave me. He glanced at it and then said it was no good. All he wants me to do is speak. No talking from the students.

[Jeyn]

[winterfall]

This is a no win situation. I'm in the same boat. Even if you do what they want. They won't respect you in the classroom. My classes run so well now my teachers sit in the back and play with their phones. So I just stop teaching and stare at em.

On the flip side you can't go too far away from the material. Do what the teachers want and sneak in your own stuff. Things the kids actually need. Otherwise the teacher's will be worse and make your job impossible. Like trying to start an argument with you in front of the class on what you should be teaching.

I can't speak for anyone else here. But, my Korean teachers have no sense of dedication to the kids. The only lessons that aren't from the textbook that they approve of are lessons with language focuses that they want to practice with. Eg: The correct pronunciation of 'D' and 'The' when the kids need a lot more than that.

[Jeyn]

I fully agree, winterfall. I'm so dedicated to these kids. They stop me on the street now to try and have conversations with me. They've invited me out to coffee so we can talk. They really want to learn and I want to help them learn!

They love my classes. They jump at the chance to talk, often right out of their chairs when I ask who wants to go first. This is a huge improvement from the first day when they all stared at me like deer stuck in the headlights. I've made improvements.

But things are kinda looking up. I just had a meeting with the third year teacher and he's going to try and step up on my behalf. He's going to talk to my co-teacher and tell him to stop doing this. If that doesn't work he's going to go with me to the vice principal and we'll take it from there.

I'm glad that I've found at least one teacher with more authority willing to help me.

[DWAEJIMORIGUKBAP]

I'll be 100% honest with you.

I would design my own lesson plans, mostly focussing on learning new vocab and grammar and using them for conversation (usually the K teachers focus on reading and writing) and including games and activities (such as questionaires, stdnt presentations, interviews, role plays etc) for the last 10 - 15 mins of class.

I'd tell him this is how I'm going to conduct my classes and if he doesn't want to help, that's fine (preferable to me.) I'd ask him to give me a chance and see how it works. I'd mention as politely as possible at the end that if he doesn't agree that I will design my own lesson plans based around vocab, grammar and conversation and conduct the classes my way from now on - it would be best to end ourt proffessional relationship and for him to hand me my notice as I don;t think I am doing the best for my studetns otherwise. If that didn't work, I would hand in my own notice.

There are plenty of better jobs out there (high school sucks by the way, middle school is worse and elementary is best.)

This guy sounds like an utter __________ and is probably using passive aggressive power plays to make himself look good in the school and feel good about dominating you.

I'd get my own way or I'd get out. Simple.

I really admire your dedication to your students however and your willingness to stick it out.

Your job however, should not be making you cry at night, get some perspective back.

[saw6436]

Just my 2 won after 10 years teaching in Korea. Quite frequently the best way to handle these situations is to simply agree with the other party and then go ahead and do what YOU want. Later when you are told that, again, you are not doing what they want. Appologize, agree and continue doing what YOU want to do. Korea is all about surface appearances, substance doesn't really matter. As long as you appear to be doing what your co-teacher wants than that is usually enough.

You will have to be 100% responsible for planning lessons but thats a small price to pay.

[Zulethe]