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holydiver
Joined: 08 Feb 2010
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 Posted: Mon May 07, 2012 11:18 pm Post subject: Elementary, middle or high school? |
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| Looking for people who can speak from experience (working at a PS). Pros/cons or any useful info is appreciated - thanks! |
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Tyshine
Joined: 04 Apr 2011
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| Posted: Mon May 07, 2012 11:34 pm Post subject: |
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I am at an all boys High School. I am new, but can tell you what I think.
Pros
Behavior isn't much of a problem. There is talking among themselves, but that's about the worst thing I see.
The higher level students actually understand what is going on and some will actually answer questions.
Some students can be funny.
Cons
Many students are apathetic and a class full of them is really boring.
Many students won't try and answer the simplest of questions.
There are the students who want to learn and those who don't care/given up. I don't mind the don't care/given up students, but even a half a** answer would be nice.
Overall HS is not for me at all, but I can see how others would like it. I wouldn't say its hard, just really dull. For the record I put lots of energy into my lessons, but I am also restricted by my school to use the really boring textbook. |
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YTMND
Joined: 16 Jan 2012
Location: You're the man now dog!!
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| Posted: Tue May 08, 2012 12:26 am Post subject: |
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| Elementary and high school will probably be the easier students to teach. I like middle school students because they are old enough to think independently and they are trying out new stuff to find their interests. However, their English levels are usually not high enough unless they have done some studying outside of the classroom. |
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comm
Joined: 22 Jun 2010
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| Posted: Tue May 08, 2012 12:58 am Post subject: |
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| YTMND wrote: |
| Elementary and high school will probably be the easier students to teach. I like middle school students because they are old enough to think independently and they are trying out new stuff to find their interests. However, their English levels are usually not high enough unless they have done some studying outside of the classroom. |
That sounds about right.
I'm not sure how many of us have experience with different levels of PS, but I know my hagwon elementary students were always the most fun... but also were the most difficult to control. Middle school seems to be a very mixed bag. Most of the students behave well enough, but few of them have the ability/confidence to speak in class. |
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holydiver
Joined: 08 Feb 2010
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| Posted: Tue May 08, 2012 1:27 pm Post subject: |
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| Thanks for the info so far. Anyone out there have experience making the transition from one to the other? |
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YTMND
Joined: 16 Jan 2012
Location: You're the man now dog!!
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| Posted: Tue May 08, 2012 3:40 pm Post subject: |
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| holydiver wrote: |
| Thanks for the info so far. Anyone out there have experience making the transition from one to the other? |
I wouldn't call it a transition, I initially started with adults. Then, I taught kids and middle schoolers. I used the same lessons I used with adults but changed the vocabulary. Instead of after work talk, I talked about animals and colors 
I am finishing a high school position and I teach it with a mix of both. I teach as if it is a high beginner class, sometimes giving intermediate talk with the higher level students, but I also explain things almost the same as I would with the kids. You need to find out how your students respond.
Don't try to "transition" from one position to the other, learn to jump and pivot instead. Transitioning techniques would only benefit the younger students who are developing in herds (like from kindy to third grade, fourth and fifth are a different breed). As students get older, they become more independent. I have some advanced students who prefer to just study math or science during my classes. I have lower level students listening and interacting, so I am not going to waste class time trying to get the advanced students participating if they feel their time is better spent studying for tests.
Work with those who want to learn. If you are new to this, use the book and then add your own stuff. Over time, you will have enough of your own ideas, you won't need to rely on a book. |
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young_clinton
Joined: 09 Sep 2009
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| Posted: Tue May 08, 2012 4:35 pm Post subject: |
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| Elementary would be a lot easier. Kids are cuter. If you're looking for doing what you want to do without co-teacher interference then you want to teach Middle or High School. High School is the most difficult with teenagers that don't like English and are unengaged and have no idea of what you are doing. If you teach Middle and High School be prepared to possibly select, find or come up with your own material. The District I worked for did not put out an English book specifically for Mid Schoolers and I don't know if High schoolers were even taught English there. |
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scott1985
Joined: 19 Feb 2011
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| Posted: Tue May 08, 2012 7:59 pm Post subject: |
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I've been teaching at an all girls high school in Incheon for two months now and I love it! Kids are generally nice and hardworking! Theres lots of desk warming thanks to the amount of exmas the kids have to do!
I have however spoken to other High school teachers who find classroom management a problem. |
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