Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Paladin Brewer]

Hello,

So this is my first year doing this, I'm about 8 months in. I teach at a public high school for GEPIK in a really really small rural area. For the most part, my co-teacher and I have got along fine, minus a few speed bumps. However the longer my contract progresses the more lax she has become. Not showing up to classes, or coming in late and leaving early, etc. But things have finally boiled over...

So anyway, finals are over and she wanted me to work on pronunciation. So I work out this little tongue twister game. It's a bit confusing, but luckily I have a Korean translator. Well she tells me last minute she can't come to class. I was furious, because I knew I'd have a difficult time alone. And you know, Im not supposed to. She stops by before the first class because she knows Im angry, but im busy making last minute changes, so I ignore her while I get the classroom ready. Turns out this makes her very angry.

So the next day, I have the low level classes. She does not show up, without any word. She later tells me she purposely did not come, because she was angry with me. Because she did not come, I just gave the students free-time. She calls me irresponsible for giving them free time, after she tells me she did not come on purpose. Seriously? So after much discussion, she feels I need to get used to not having a co-teacher in the room, even through it's against contract and the laws of Korea. I have to continue working with her, and I was really wanting to re-sign at the school, but alas, she is staying.

In retrospect, she's been very useless. She's read a book during class, even gone and taken a nap. But she really thinks she doesn't have to be there. In some ways I'd prefer she wasn't, but the student are 100x more horrible if she is not in the room Argh.

[tanklor1]

First job, huh?

You were irresponsible; tongue twisters don't need to be translated word for word to be effective. It's your job to teach the kids and you bailed on it even though you're the one who came up with the lesson and method of execution.

Buck up, you're a teacher over here in these here parts. That's why your partner in crime feels that they're not really needed. Also this is Korea the land that gives the words "sudden" and "change" their definitions. Don't feel slighted whenever random nonsense crops up. (Trust me I know how it feels to be told something last minute, been dealin' with it ever since I got here)

Long story sort - if you'se gots a game plan like tongue twisters make it doable solo but optimized with a team.

As for your co-teacher; a little treat can go along way.

STORY TIME! YEAH!

A couple of times this year my co-teacher and I had to travel to other schools to observe classes. Well, the first time we had to do it she told me the morning of the day. I had no money for transportation and I said:

"If I had known I would have been prepared."

Which is true. The next time an open class happened she did it again and as the last time I didn't have any money on me. Once again I reminded her:

"If I had known I would have been prepared."

This is the second time she had to pay transportation for me because she didn't tell me that we had to go somewhere.

So what did I do?

I bought her a small box of chocolates.

Why? Because she had paid twice for us to go to other schools and despite absent-mindedness I felt that it was a nice gesture.

So, what happened the next time I had to go to a different school. She told me THREE weeks in advance. Quite a difference I tell you and yes this time I WAS prepared.

The two of you are doing a job that one person can do. That's the problem; co-teaching is like a year long forced marriage that thankfully doesn't extend into the home life.

As for lessons it's a very simple rule: plan for one adapt for two.

[lowpo]

[shcforward]

Hang in there, OP.

I hate to be this guy, but you really can handle the situation better. Don't skip class just because your co-teacher is too lazy to show up. Be a better person than her.

I know first hand that it is terrible. There have been many times when one of my co-teachers showed up late, was useless during class, or didn't show up at all. And man, is it ever tempting to not do anything for class. After all, if your co-teacher doesn't care enough to show up to class and educate the students, why should you?

But really, when you don't teach, and just give the kids a day off, who are you hurting? Your co-teacher isn't getting hurt - if anyone even finds out that she missed class, she'll just blame you for not teaching. Only the students are losing out.

Even though you aren't supposed to teach alone, you can.

I have two suggestions for you:
1. Document everything. If your co-teacher misses a class, write it down. If she is late or leaves early, write it down. When the time comes to the end of your contract, it might be useful infomration.

2. The back-up game - I can't suggest this enough. It is so vital for foreign teachers in a public school here, because things never work out as planned. You need to develop some kind of game that is loose enough that you can play for an entire class period. It has to be really interesting so the students like it, and get excited for it. And it should not take a ton of active work from you. You should be able to mostly supervise the game.

Then, whenever something goes wrong at school - you have to teach an extra class, your co-teacher doesn't show up - you just go straight to your backup game. The kids will have played it before, like it, know the rules. If the game is fun enough, it will even help you de-stress.

But, please don't take this the wrong way. The situation you are in is rough. Some people will give you flack, but anyone who has gone through that stuff should have at least some sympathy.

Just hang in there. Treat it as a learning experience and an opportunity to prove your value - even if the only person who ever knows how good of a job you did is yourself. You'll be a lot happier when you turn a disaster into a great class than when you turn the disaster into a study hall.

[PastorYoon]

[Junior]

[Paladin Brewer]

I think the biggest part that got me was where she told me I was being irresponsible after she told me she did not come to class because she didn't want to. She would acknowledge absolutely no fault of her own, she flat out told me it was my fault.

I can appreciate the stories here about your co-teachers doing the same, but that does not make it acceptable. In the end, in my opinion, it is breach of contract. I was not hired to teach, I was hired to co-teach. I cannot do that without a co-teacher present. It is in fact against the laws of the country, and my contract explicitly states to obey the laws of Korea. Again, I feel that if she is not in the room, I am not required to teach. I hate to seem so black and white about it, but when it comes to my sanity I feel like I have to be. I don't know how many of you teach high school in a rural area, but it's been a bit rough. Besides having to deal with their attitudes, their level is awful. Their "high level" students are difficult to do anything with. Their low level is borderline impossible. And it's even worse after finals, as I'm sure you know.

[shcforward]

[chellovek]

One of mine has never come to class. Ever. In some ways it is better, other ways worse. I use my phone dictionary to translate words if I'm stuck, For the last 10 minutes we watch America's Funniest Home Videos.

[Junior]

The only thing that'll make her run to class on time is if she realises you can handle things quite well without her-and enjoy doing so.

Then suddenly she'll want to be there to take over again. Or at least butt in and interrupt whatever you're doing.

Korean co-teachers are the biggest reason to avoid working in public schools.

[TheUrbanMyth]

[ESL Milk "Everyday]

Uhhhhhh... you know, she probably thought she was complimenting you by letting you handle the class yourself... if she felt like she had to be in there all the time, then it would probably mean that she thought you had problems.

The contract does say that we're not supposed to be alone, but that's more just to pressure the co-teachers into watching dodgy teachers as opposed to alleviating you of the responsibility of engaging and controlling the class. It is for your protection in case you can't explain yourself properly when 'incidents' occur, but unless you have a super evil class, this probably won't happen.

And as a general rule, intentionally exacerbating problems is never a good idea. So now you're caught up in a war when you could have just taught/suffered through the class, and then politely afterwards said 'look, I know you're busy and I hate to be demanding, but I really like having you in the class.. is there any way we can work out a solution here?', after which her ego would have been boosted, she would have felt flattered and your problem would be over, instead of worse.

And giving them free time out of spite kind of paints an unflattering picture of you-- no offense. I'm only saying this because I used to do things like this when I was younger and angrier and more entitled... but really, not only does it make things worse, it also reflects extremely poorly on you and your professionalism. I can't even remember if this kind of thing works back home, but here it's definitely not going to fly.

[jrwhite82]

TUM is right about that. Don't use the "illegal" arguement because it is false. There is no law saying that you can't teach alone. No one will go to jail for it. Not you, not your coteacher, not your principal.

It is against policy though. So you could use that. Althought, they could always say that they are doing everything in their power to make sure a teacher is with you, but sometimes they just plain can't do it.

And it's just bad teaching practice to throw a NET in there alone who can't control the kids. But, its part of the job. So you have to do it.

Just remember, you got the kids for 40 minutes. You should be able to last that long until the new class comes in, especially after 8 months on the job. So when that group of kids is driving you NUTS. Just look at the clock, breath, wait a couple of seconds. Look at the kids and smile, give the quiet ones an MM or a stamp or whatever you are using for positive reinforcement and say thank you for being quiet.

When you give instructions, say it twice, show it on the screen so the kids can read it, and then have a student or two repeat it back so you know they understand it.

I don't mean to harp on you, but a lot of times when there are management issues that span across classes or involve many students, you have to look at the one common factor. You. What could you be doing better to improve your management?

Teaching is not an easy job. Teaching alone with a group of students that can't understand you is extremely difficult. What can you do at the start of the new semester to make sure the kids know what you expect of them? And that they know what to expect when they don't do it? Or that they know what kind of reward they will receive if they do it?

[ESL Milk "Everyday]

[winterfall]