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winterfall
Joined: 21 May 2009
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 Posted: Wed Mar 17, 2010 6:27 pm Post subject: Question for tech school teachers |
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Well I'm the first FT at a tech school and anyone that's taught tech school can tell you its trench warfare.
What I'm wondering is, while teaching at tech schools, have any of you had a department of teachers that were so hideously disconnected with reality? This is one of the worst performing schools in the country. I've got a copy of their test scores on my desk.
But for some reason, the teachers are always bombarding me to teach to the test: teach essay writing to kids that can't read, that can't identify the subject or object in sentences, or they're tell me to forget about teaching vocab like I'm doing now. We did prepositions today and the kids didn't know the difference between left and right. And my personal favorite. Review old university tests and explain in English what it means.
I mean I try to incorporate speaking when I can but, I've been focusing on making sure they learn the vocab first. Prepositions aren't rocket science, and after you learn phonics, its pretty much the first thing you learn. If this is "New" than we've definitely got a problem here. And when the teacher's see this, its just not "Clicking" and I just don't get it.
I'd go to SMOE and ask em to strong arm the department but, I know they won't help, and this is the main reason I'm not gonna renew at this school. Its tough but I don't mind going to another tech school what, I just really despise dealing with idiots everyday.
I told them in a very, nice way if they want it, than they can look for the material themselves and I'll put it into the lesson plan. But I just get a, that's your job answer. Anyway, is there anything that can be done?
Last edited by winterfall on Wed Mar 17, 2010 6:48 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Cerberus
Joined: 29 Oct 2009
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| Posted: Wed Mar 17, 2010 6:47 pm Post subject: |
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you're in an unfortunate situation.
I have complete autonomy on what I teach. Even when I asked my coteachers for suggestions I wouldn't get any concrete ones.
No one has forced me much asked me to help them teach for tests, though I have offered to help. What I usually do is model and help them practice the stupid conversation they have to memorize for midterms and finals (a conversation way above their levels of speaking or even comprehension)
I've looked at what the K teachers teach in their class (textbook) and overwhelmingly it's so above the real level of these students, I can't really do much with it. (my idea was to coordinate what I teach with what they teach, to give the kids a better chance at grasping/learning the material)
sounds like you're in a crappy situation and you're basically being asked to do the KOREAN teachers' job.
Your job is to give the kids a sense of excitement, and something new and interesting that also teaches them English, your job isn't to "teach the test".
99% of native teachers would fail miserably at this task, even licensed teachers with a lot of experience, because such material is complete drudgery and super unpopular even with academic students. With tekkies, good effing luck  |
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winterfall
Joined: 21 May 2009
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| Posted: Wed Mar 17, 2010 6:57 pm Post subject: |
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| Cerberus wrote: |
you're in an unfortunate situation.
I have complete autonomy on what I teach. Even when I asked my coteachers for suggestions I wouldn't get any concrete ones.
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I got the same thing, until I did what I wanted and they changed their mind. Constantly badgering me to change it to something they wanted.
| Cerberus wrote: |
I've looked at what the K teachers teach in their class (textbook) and overwhelmingly it's so above the real level of these students, I can't really do much with it. (my idea was to coordinate what I teach with what they teach, to give the kids a better chance at grasping/learning the material)
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I understand their position with that, its the official curriculum so they've got not choice but to do it.
| Cerberus wrote: |
sounds like you're in a crappy situation and you're basically being asked to do the KOREAN teachers' job.
Your job is to give the kids a sense of excitement, and something new and interesting that also teaches them English, your job isn't to "teach the test".
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Lol, I've actually told them something like that. Since they've moderated it, why don't you teach some simple sentences. With them hovering over my shoulder telling me to keep changing it. |
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Fishead soup
Joined: 24 Jun 2007
Location: Korea
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| Posted: Wed Mar 17, 2010 8:06 pm Post subject: |
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Side by Side+ Interchange+ The Oxford Picture dictionary
Listen+ Repeat+ listen +repeat+ listen +repeat+listen+repeat
... |
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Cerberus
Joined: 29 Oct 2009
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| Posted: Wed Mar 17, 2010 8:29 pm Post subject: |
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Hard for me to really give advice since I haven't faced this issue.
All I can say is if I were you, I'd try to meet them at least halfway and try to incorporate something, even indirectly that they were keen on. That's always good politics.
and yea, of course I understand they have to teach off the official curriculum. The K teachers think it's fairly banal as well, but they have no choice in the matter.
actually I took a look at the 2nd grader texttbook. My handler didn't want to show it to me since "I always make fun of the other ones" (somewhat true) but she relented and actually I think it's easily the best of the ones I've seen so far and I found things in there I could incorporate into my class.
Unfortunately, I don't have 2nd graders this semester. |
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Cerberus
Joined: 29 Oct 2009
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| Posted: Wed Mar 17, 2010 8:31 pm Post subject: |
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| Fishead soup wrote: |
Side by Side+ Interchange+ The Oxford Picture dictionary
Listen+ Repeat+ listen +repeat+ listen +repeat+listen+repeat
... |
I tried Side by Side with one of my afternoon classes. Some of the kids were at a higher level (for tekkie students).
they got very bored with the grammar and repetition QUICKLY so I wound up using it far less hoped than I had planned/hoped. |
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oldfatfarang
Joined: 19 May 2005
Location: On the road to somewhere.
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| Posted: Wed Mar 17, 2010 9:10 pm Post subject: |
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1) Submit lesson plans on the material they want.
2) Watch movies every class.
3) Move to a better school.
I'm not kidding. You're in a no win situation (and so are the kids). |
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Fishead soup
Joined: 24 Jun 2007
Location: Korea
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| Posted: Wed Mar 17, 2010 9:10 pm Post subject: |
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| Cerberus wrote: |
| Fishead soup wrote: |
Side by Side+ Interchange+ The Oxford Picture dictionary
Listen+ Repeat+ listen +repeat+ listen +repeat+listen+repeat
... |
I tried Side by Side with one of my afternoon classes. Some of the kids were at a higher level (for tekkie students).
they got very bored with the grammar and repetition QUICKLY so I wound up using it far less hoped than I had planned/hoped. |
I always throw something fun in either at the begining of class and at the end. Usually powerpoint games from EFL 2.0.
That way I can't be accused of having a boring class. Although learning does require a certain amount of repetition which is boring. |
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Cerberus
Joined: 29 Oct 2009
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| Posted: Wed Mar 17, 2010 9:16 pm Post subject: |
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| oldfatfarang wrote: |
1) Submit lesson plans on the material they want.
2) Watch movies every class.
3) Move to a better school.
I'm not kidding. You're in a no win situation (and so are the kids). |
that's highly debateable.
You may think this and I may even agree with you many a time but who are you or we to determine what is or isn't a win/win win/lose situation and which kids should have access to a foreign teacher and which ones shouldn't?
better schools will make you do more classes, more camp, etc etc
There's a tradeoff. Sometimes I tell myself, I'd take the tradeoff and other times I return back to reality 
don't watch movies every class. Rarely.
I show them movies after finals twice a year, like all the K teacher do.
putting on movies is a complete abdication of your duties and responsibilities as a teacher.
I do show them at least one youtube vid a class, hopefully correlated to what the class is about. If they're really great, I might show them a music vid at the end of class.
I think the OP is an unusually difficult situation with no projector/screen/computer to use in his classroom. |
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Fishead soup
Joined: 24 Jun 2007
Location: Korea
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| Posted: Wed Mar 17, 2010 9:27 pm Post subject: |
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| Cerberus wrote: |
| oldfatfarang wrote: |
1) Submit lesson plans on the material they want.
2) Watch movies every class.
3) Move to a better school.
I'm not kidding. You're in a no win situation (and so are the kids). |
that's highly debateable.
You may think this and I may even agree with you many a time but who are you or we to determine what is or isn't a win/win win/lose situation and which kids should have access to a foreign teacher and which ones shouldn't?
better schools will make you do more classes, more camp, etc etc
There's a tradeoff. Sometimes I tell myself, I'd take the tradeoff and other times I return back to reality
don't watch movies every class. Rarely.
I show them movies after finals twice a year, like all the K teacher do.
putting on movies is a complete abdication of your duties and responsibilities as a teacher.
I do show them at least one youtube vid a class, hopefully correlated to what the class is about. If they're really great, I might show them a music vid at the end of class.
I think the OP is an unusually difficult situation with no projector/screen/computer to use in his classroom. |
Showing a movie or TV program doesn't have to be killing time.
I play"Lost" with English subtitles. They always complain. The first season the story lines are really easy. The sentences are very short. I use a laptop computer with a DVD. I can pause the scene with the subtitles showing. Have the Korean co-teacher translate some of the words. Have students listen and repeat the sentences. Then put the show back on. |
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Cerberus
Joined: 29 Oct 2009
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| Posted: Wed Mar 17, 2010 11:33 pm Post subject: |
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| Fishead soup wrote: |
| Cerberus wrote: |
| oldfatfarang wrote: |
1) Submit lesson plans on the material they want.
2) Watch movies every class.
3) Move to a better school.
I'm not kidding. You're in a no win situation (and so are the kids). |
that's highly debateable.
You may think this and I may even agree with you many a time but who are you or we to determine what is or isn't a win/win win/lose situation and which kids should have access to a foreign teacher and which ones shouldn't?
better schools will make you do more classes, more camp, etc etc
There's a tradeoff. Sometimes I tell myself, I'd take the tradeoff and other times I return back to reality
don't watch movies every class. Rarely.
I show them movies after finals twice a year, like all the K teacher do.
putting on movies is a complete abdication of your duties and responsibilities as a teacher.
I do show them at least one youtube vid a class, hopefully correlated to what the class is about. If they're really great, I might show them a music vid at the end of class.
I think the OP is an unusually difficult situation with no projector/screen/computer to use in his classroom. |
Showing a movie or TV program doesn't have to be killing time.
I play"Lost" with English subtitles. They always complain. The first season the story lines are really easy. The sentences are very short. I use a laptop computer with a DVD. I can pause the scene with the subtitles showing. Have the Korean co-teacher translate some of the words. Have students listen and repeat the sentences. Then put the show back on. |
actually I remember you posting on this and I'm intrigued.
How short? how easy is the dialogue?
if it's easy and short enough I was thinking about purchasing that show for that season and using it in my classes.
not all the time mind you, but enough to really spice things up. |
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Fishead soup
Joined: 24 Jun 2007
Location: Korea
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| Posted: Thu Mar 18, 2010 12:54 am Post subject: |
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| First episode of " Lost" has lots of actions with people screaming things like" Help me!. There's a scene where a dieing man shouts "She's Dangerous" Then there's a quick image of Kate's mugshot. These are all with English subtitles so the students should be able to figure out what's going on. There a few scenes where they use vocab like" Cockpit, Transceiver. You might want to put it on pause and explain it. Or get your co-teacher to translate it. |
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Manuel_the_Bandito
Joined: 12 Sep 2009
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| Posted: Thu Mar 18, 2010 10:51 pm Post subject: |
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| It''s a lost cause, just admit it. Unless you're hoping to finish a master's degree during your contract. |
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DavidVance
Joined: 21 Apr 2007
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| Posted: Sat Mar 20, 2010 12:13 am Post subject: teaching material |
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Winterfall,
This might help you.
Multifactor ESL English website has a lot of material on many different subjects, including accompanying (integrated) Korean vocabulary and translations, that have been made very easy for you to print and hand out or bring up onto the screen:
http://sites.google.com/site/multifactoreslenglish
In particular the Basic Personal Information question and answer sheet - they should be able to do most of that, before much else becomes relevant.
Best wishes,
David Vance. |
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