Korean Job Discussion Forums

ninerfan36 · Joined: 01 Sep 2010

Hi.

I started teaching in Korea about a week and a half ago. My co-teacher started out by helping me lead class and staying the entire time (almost, he still came 3-5 minutes late). But now, only a week and a half later he regularly comes to class 20 minutes late (in a 40 minute period). I work at public school so I've got 40 kids in my class, most of whom don't speak english and barely understand it. I am new to teaching and I feel like he, as an experienced teacher, should be at LEAST present in class (I still do the prep and make the lesson plans, which I was prepared to do and don't really mind).

Let me give you some background about him though. He is the head teacher for something and is about to get promoted to vice principle. I understand that he has a lot of work to do, but I still think that his job as teacher shouldn't really take a backseat to that. He is also really nice. I've talked to him about it but he just kind of laughs and shrugs it off. I've even stopped class to go get him from his office, saying "I need help". This usually results in him coming 5 minutes later (even though I do this at least 15-20 minutes into the period already). One time I had to do this twice in the same period (I did all this on the advice of a fellow foreign teacher that works at my school).

So... what should I do? When he isn't there, the kids go crazy. He is much older than me and that might be a reason they respect him more. Also, the fact that I don't speak korean means that they just tune me out or feel like they can take advantage of me, which is obviously true. They can't even understand when I yell at them. This means that no one is learning, and the only kids that are participating are the kids that have gone to hogwan and for whom the material is ridiculously too easy for anyway.

Controlling 40 american elementary school kids would be hard enough, but controlling 40 korean kids is next-to-impossible. I feel like I am going crazy, but I don't want to really rock the boat since he is high-up in the school and I just got here.

Is this a normal situation? Should I just accept it? What should I do? I need help

balzor · Joined: 14 Feb 2009

It's not abnormal, if that's what your asking. one of my Co-teachers is often 5-10 minutes late. She was always leaving class last term, but I called her out on it and now she is there most of time. I just factor that time into my lesson as calming the class time. I just start without her. I have brought it up before to her and the head teacher and nothing really changed so I am working around it. My kids are being little bastards for this second half of the year so far. This might be my last year in Korea, for other reasons, but this will contribute. There is NO discipline structure in place at my school.

OP Just talk to your co-teacher, appeal to his ego ( you need him in there to help you and can't teach without him). If that doesn't work bring it up to the head teacher, DON'T go to the principal unless last resort. If nothing changes, then adapt your lesson for him not being there and include more games which are easier to teach and control students. These are part of the growing pains of teaching in Korea. Good Luck!

NYC_Gal · Joined: 08 Dec 2009

I wish my main KT were out of the room for at least half of the period. Better yet, I wish she were gone altogether.

balzor · Joined: 14 Feb 2009

ninerfan36 · Joined: 01 Sep 2010

He IS the head teacher. I talked to the other english co-teacher (there are 2 foreign teachers and 2 co-teachers at my school). She is apologetic but I don't think my co-teacher really listens to her. I definitely don't want to go to the principle or VP since I just got here and my co obviously seems to have a good relationship with them (I think he is #3 at the school). I am just frustrated. Every class is a free-for-all and the kids don't understand even the simplest of instructions. This just means that the whole class is listen and repeat. Doing that for 40 minutes is mind-numbing

tanklor1 · Joined: 13 Jun 2006

rowdie3 · Joined: 22 Sep 2003 Location: Itaewon, Seoul

This is pretty normal especially considering his position in the school. Supporting your class just isn't very high up on his priorities list. Not much you can do about it.

I worked at pubic high school last year. Was told in the interview that I would always have a co-teacher in the class. This was true for the first month and then I basically never saw the male or female coteacher again except for in the cafeteria. I went to get the male teacher once during a particularily nutty boys class and he was sleeping at his desk. I decided I was on my own from then and ran it like such.

If the kids are bad, kick them out. Better yet, walk them back to their homeroom class and tell the teacher that they are being horrible. Likely that kid won't be bad again after that. Be tough. Be prepared. Good luck.

ninerfan36 · Joined: 01 Sep 2010

[quote="tanklor1"][quote="ninerfan36"]He IS the head teacher. I talked to the other english co-teacher (there are 2 foreign teachers and 2 co-teachers at my school). She is apologetic but I don't think my co-teacher really listens to her. I definitely don't want to go to the principle or VP since I just got here and my co obviously seems to have a good relationship with them (I think he is #3 at the school). I am just frustrated. Every class is a free-for-all and the kids don't understand even the simplest of instructions. This just means that the whole class is listen and repeat. Doing that for 40 minutes is mind-numbing[/quote]

First gig?[/quote]

yep. how did you know? (sarcastic)

NYC_Gal · Joined: 08 Dec 2009

tanklor1 · Joined: 13 Jun 2006

Learning by fire...fantastic. Best of luck. Very Happy

fugitive chicken · Joined: 20 Apr 2010 Location: Bucheon

Unfortunately that is your situation, normal yes, standard, no. So you need to start planning your lessons around there being no co-teacher.

Ask yourself these questions to help you make your lessons more successful:

1. Am I speaking in simple sentences with easy vocabulary?

2. When I am speaking, do I get straight to the point while speaking slowly and loudly? Or am I using some unnecessary words that the students might not understand?

3. How is my discipline? (This is KEY!!) Last year, my co-teacher was never around, and she was a little crazy...so I made something that worked for me that required little vocabulary on my part. I had them raise their hands above their heads until they were quiet and looking at me for more individualized discipline, they would do 10 squats. Worked like a charm...for the most part.

4. Do the students really not understand, or are they just tuning you out?
I generally spoke in sentences that were in their vocabulary range most of the time, and found that they still didn't understand. I also discovered that much of this was due to the fact that they just tuned me out. Why listen when they have to concentrate hard on what I am saying since it's not their native language? This again goes with discipline, make sure they are quiet and looking at you. That way, you know that when they don't understand, they truly don't as opposed to them simply not listening. Then go around the classroom and help those who don't understand through visually showing them; not just speaking.

5. Can I plan games that are easily understood and I don't have to explain very much of? One game that hits it big are competition-type games. Kids understand these very well no matter what language they speak. Also, use visual aids to help you explain things. Powerpoint, videos, physically demonstrating how to do it, etc. Get creative. It doesn't all have to be listen and repeat when you don't speak their language.

Good luck, once you get this, teaching gets a little easier and starts to feel more natural but remember, you will have bad days and good days and just because you have one bad day, doesn't mean they will all be that way.

ninerfan36 · Joined: 01 Sep 2010

[quote="fugitive chicken"]Unfortunately that is your situation, normal yes, standard, no. So you need to start planning your lessons around there being no co-teacher.

Ask yourself these questions to help you make your lessons more successful:

1. Am I speaking in simple sentences with easy vocabulary?

2. When I am speaking, do I get straight to the point while speaking slowly and loudly? Or am I using some unnecessary words that the students might not understand?

3. How is my discipline? (This is KEY!!) Last year, my co-teacher was never around, and she was a little crazy...so I made something that worked for me that required little vocabulary on my part. I had them raise their hands above their heads until they were quiet and looking at me for more individualized discipline, they would do 10 squats. Worked like a charm...for the most part.

4. Do the students really not understand, or are they just tuning you out?
I generally spoke in sentences that were in their vocabulary range most of the time, and found that they still didn't understand. I also discovered that much of this was due to the fact that they just tuned me out. Why listen when they have to concentrate hard on what I am saying since it's not their native language? This again goes with discipline, make sure they are quiet and looking at you. That way, you know that when they don't understand, they truly don't as opposed to them simply not listening. Then go around the classroom and help those who don't understand through visually showing them; not just speaking.

5. Can I plan games that are easily understood and I don't have to explain very much of? One game that hits it big are competition-type games. Kids understand these very well no matter what language they speak. Also, use visual aids to help you explain things. Powerpoint, videos, physically demonstrating how to do it, etc. Get creative. It doesn't all have to be listen and repeat when you don't speak their language.

Good luck, once you get this, teaching gets a little easier and starts to feel more natural but remember, you will have bad days and good days and just because you have one bad day, doesn't mean they will all be that way.[/quote]

Thanks. I feel like I have started on the wrong foot and now they think they can get away with anything. Next class might be devoted to squats. Maybe I can teach exercise vocab

sallymonster · Joined: 06 Feb 2010 Location: Seattle area

Yeah, I teach after school classes of up to 30 students without a co-teacher.

I also have one regular class (1st year MS) of 40 students where I've never seen their homeroom teacher because he never shows (for 1st grade I teach homerooms). It's my worst of the 1st grade homerooms that I teach.

For a regular class you can always send them to their homeroom teacher if they misbehave. For afterschool class, good luck, you'll more than likely have to deal with them yourself, which is a pain in the butt, especially if you're told to "not let them leave".

shcforward · Joined: 27 Sep 2009

This is fairly common. You'll have to figure out ways to conduct the class by yourself.

It is definitely possible.

air76 · Joined: 13 Nov 2007

Once you get a few more months under your belt, you'll be glad that your co-teacher is out of the classroom. Co-teachers generally do nothing except for make your job more difficult.

The best thing that you can do is to learn as quickly as possible how to be a better teacher....get a hold of a copy of "How to Teach English" by Jeremy Harmer and then do a lot of research online about classroom management.

Also...keep in mind that teaching at a public school is difficult and it sucks. Your goal is to make it less sucky....but for the most part you can expect Korean students to be pretty indifferent to your classes at nearly every level.