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Dodge7
Joined: 21 Oct 2011
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 Posted: Fri Jun 15, 2012 3:28 am Post subject: Need Suggestion About Co-Worker Not Being Able to Speak Eng. |
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I was brought up to not snitch on anyone. Furthermore, I really don't want to take food off anyone's table (I know this woman has a kid.)
BUT....
I work at an after school job, and I depend on solid communication to make our school run well. This woman (she's almost 40) just CAN NOT speak English. She speaks to me in Korean! I tell her I don't understand what she's saying and to talk in English, then she tries, but can't spit out anything in a coherent manner, managing maybe 2-4 English words (not sentences), then goes back to speaking in Korean to me. It's likeshe knows as much English as I know Korea. Seriously. How did this woman pass the interview?! She talks to me in Korean in front of the kids and they ask her why is she is speaking Korean to me, and she looks down and giggles. It's a bad image.
Speaking about the students. A student that I have taught for the 2 1/2 years I've been there, is quitting at the end of this month because the new teacher's English sucks. She said her pronunciation is horrible. Her mom is pulling her out.
I'm afraid the enrollment will drop. But, as I mentioned up top, I don't tell on people and I don't want to be the reason she loses her job. Who knows how much she needs this money.
What would you do? |
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Seoulman69
Joined: 14 Dec 2009
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| Posted: Fri Jun 15, 2012 3:56 am Post subject: |
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Speaking about the students. A student that I have taught for the 2 1/2 years I've been there, is quitting at the end of this month because the new teacher's English sucks. She said her pronunciation is horrible. Her mom is pulling her out.
I'm afraid the enrollment will drop. But, as I mentioned up top, I don't tell on people and I don't want to be the reason she loses her job. Who knows how much she needs this money. |
I'm interested what the student means when she says the new English teacher's English sucks. If the problem is with pronunciation is it related to a variation in accents? I've seen a lot of Koreans blame accents for their incapability to understand anything other than American English. All that money wasted when all you can understand is a standard American accent. |
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edwardcatflap
Joined: 22 Mar 2009
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| Posted: Fri Jun 15, 2012 4:03 am Post subject: |
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| Countdown to someone saying you should learn Korean so you can talk to her properly. |
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ewlandon
Joined: 30 Jan 2011
Location: teacher
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| Posted: Fri Jun 15, 2012 4:10 am Post subject: |
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you should probably just learn korean.
JK, but really your situation is unclear. You are her assistant teacher? She is an English teacher who cant speak any English at all?
I cant imagine that she cant speak english and would apply to be an english teacher. You probably just cant understand her.
What level/classes does she teach? Assuming you are not in a classroom with her (assistant) just do your job and ignore that she is a bad teacher, that is my suggestion. |
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Captain Corea
Joined: 28 Feb 2005
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Fri Jun 15, 2012 4:31 am Post subject: |
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| For me, it'd depend on how much I cared for my place of employment. If I was there for some time, and wanted to stay longer, I might broach the subject with the boss. If this person is so bad that he can seriously NOT do the job, it might be good to discuss that. |
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NilesQ
Joined: 27 Nov 2006
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| Posted: Fri Jun 15, 2012 5:51 am Post subject: |
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Also remember that, in many cases, when people secure positions they aren't qualified for, it's because they were the lesser of whatever number of evils available or they have connections with management. Be careful who you rat out!
Looks like a perfect opportunity to do whatever you want. If kids do start to leave because of her, you can be sure someone will take notice and replace her. |
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Dodge7
Joined: 21 Oct 2011
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| Posted: Fri Jun 15, 2012 6:20 am Post subject: |
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| ewlandon wrote: |
you should probably just learn korean.
JK, but really your situation is unclear. You are her assistant teacher? She is an English teacher who cant speak any English at all?
I cant imagine that she cant speak english and would apply to be an english teacher. You probably just cant understand her.
What level/classes does she teach? Assuming you are not in a classroom with her (assistant) just do your job and ignore that she is a bad teacher, that is my suggestion. |
lol it seems too hard too imagine, but as I said, I can't see how she passed the interview. This seems to be a 1 out 1000 case that the co-teacher is utterly and completely unqualified to teach English. She spits out words--not sentences in English and because she cant speak it properly she resorts to speaking Korean to me 90% of the time. This is no joke. It's serious!
Last edited by Dodge7 on Fri Jun 15, 2012 6:28 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Dodge7
Joined: 21 Oct 2011
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| Posted: Fri Jun 15, 2012 6:27 am Post subject: |
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| Seoulman69 wrote: |
| Quote: |
Speaking about the students. A student that I have taught for the 2 1/2 years I've been there, is quitting at the end of this month because the new teacher's English sucks. She said her pronunciation is horrible. Her mom is pulling her out.
I'm afraid the enrollment will drop. But, as I mentioned up top, I don't tell on people and I don't want to be the reason she loses her job. Who knows how much she needs this money. |
I'm interested what the student means when she says the new English teacher's English sucks. If the problem is with pronunciation is it related to a variation in accents? I've seen a lot of Koreans blame accents for their incapability to understand anything other than American English. All that money wasted when all you can understand is a standard American accent. |
LOL I said that she doesn't know English. Period. Imagine trying to teach your family Korean...it's like that only opposite--as much Korean you know (most likely a few words or sentences) is as much English this woman knows. And because her English ability is so bad her pronunciation is at the same level, and kids have taken notice. It's like the local G25 clerk trying to speak to you in English, that is what I compare it to. |
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luckylady
Joined: 30 Jan 2012
Location: u.s. of occupied territories
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| Posted: Fri Jun 15, 2012 12:20 pm Post subject: Re: Need Suggestion About Co-Worker Not Being Able to Speak |
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| Dodge7 wrote: |
I was brought up to not snitch on anyone. Furthermore, I really don't want to take food off anyone's table (I know this woman has a kid.)
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your compassion is heartwarming - but is she impeding your ability to do your job?
that's the most important question -
students will quit for all kinds of reasons - don't worry about that either
it could also be that she's terribly intimidated working with a foreign teacher for the first time, and afraid to even try to speak in front of you. remember, every Korean has been studying English for around 10 years, just not always - and sometimes never- with a native speaker.
try turning that compassion into a useful force and sit down with her alone, go over some of the texts and ask her to read, see what she does and does not know. point to something and ask her to identify it, etc.
overall, try and relax and act like it makes no difference, chances are your expressions are scaring the daylights out of her, just from the way you post makes it seem like this is over the top - seriously - you are an ESL teacher, you're going to be around people who don't speak the language, and yes, some of them will be teaching it as well - they just need some practice with a native speaker is all.
if after a few weeks, there is no improvement at all, then chances are the students will rat her out for you - to their moms, who will make sure she's replaced. |
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Nismo
Joined: 31 Aug 2005
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| Posted: Fri Jun 15, 2012 5:14 pm Post subject: |
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If you were working for an engineering firm and found a new hire for a position as an engineer knew next to nothing about engineering, would you let it slide? I wouldn't. I wouldn't let this lady slide, either. It's a disservice to both your students and other teachers in the field.
Actually, if your boss knowingly hired someone like that, it says a lot about the real goals of the business. And, to be fair, most native English teachers in South Korea don't know (or care) about either the theoretical underpinnings of foreign language pedagogy, or even practical applications of theory in actual English teaching. Their qualification is that they were born in an English speaking country and went through a process of natural language acquisition, which is still better than a non-native who can't even claim that. |
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happiness
Joined: 04 Sep 2010
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| Posted: Fri Jun 15, 2012 5:19 pm Post subject: |
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| Dont do it man. Leave her be. She will lose face (which she will eventually) but from you? She can make all kinds of trouble for ya. Leave things as they are....Trust me. Ive met English teachers here who never speak English to me. I worked in a school full of them! Be cool. |
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rabidcake
Joined: 10 Aug 2009
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| Posted: Fri Jun 15, 2012 7:08 pm Post subject: |
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| edwardcatflap wrote: |
| Countdown to someone saying you should learn Korean so you can talk to her properly. |
I always wonder about this. Are there any teachers here that must rely on their own Korean abilities with their co-teachers because it's much better than the English of the co-teacher?
I'd assume it isn't a common occurrence, but I'm curious of the people that manage their relationships in Korean but continue teaching in English. Not to mention the difficulty it would still bring for the co-teacher to help teach English (unless she gives full responsibility to the English teacher, which to some is the best).
I think she sounds like a very nice lady that can't speak English. It's a pity, some people have the ability but the wrong attitude, and others are the reverse. |
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fustiancorduroy
Joined: 12 Jan 2007
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| Posted: Fri Jun 15, 2012 7:37 pm Post subject: |
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| rabidcake wrote: |
| edwardcatflap wrote: |
| Countdown to someone saying you should learn Korean so you can talk to her properly. |
I always wonder about this. Are there any teachers here that must rely on their own Korean abilities with their co-teachers because it's much better than the English of the co-teacher?
I'd assume it isn't a common occurrence, but I'm curious of the people that manage their relationships in Korean but continue teaching in English. Not to mention the difficulty it would still bring for the co-teacher to help teach English (unless she gives full responsibility to the English teacher, which to some is the best).
I think she sounds like a very nice lady that can't speak English. It's a pity, some people have the ability but the wrong attitude, and others are the reverse. |
I work with some Korean teachers who don't speak very much English. Considering that I'm living in their country and that they don't need to be able to speak English to teach reading and listening comprehension classes, as they are simply translating the English passages into Korean, I don't see why I shouldn't be able to communicate with them in Korean.
Generally, foreign language teachers whose first language is not English are expected to be able to communicate in English while teaching in English-speaking countries, such as the US. Why should people from English-speaking countries not be expected to learn the languages of the countries they are teaching in as well, such as being able to communicate in Korean while working in Korea? Is it too much to expect language teachers to be able to, you know, learn languages in addition to teaching them? Yes, I of course realize that most people have no prior training in the Korean language before coming to Korea and that English is the so-called "global language", but that doesn't mean we should be too arrogant to learn Korean or any other language, especially when the people of our host nation often speak little to no English. |
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Whistleblower
Joined: 03 Feb 2007
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| Posted: Fri Jun 15, 2012 8:59 pm Post subject: |
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What the Korean teacher starts babbling on in Korean, just frown at her and say "What?!??". If she is speaking to you in Korean in front of the kids, repeat above and ask the kids what she is talking about.
After a week, confront the boss and explain your grievances with your Korean teacher present (1. She speaks Korean to me in front of the kids 2. She does not speak English to me 3. etc). Do not be too direct but explain that it is making your job harder and you appreciate if she could speak English.
I am sure you will find out the true reasons of having a Korean teacher with no English skills. My guess is money. |
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Dodge7
Joined: 21 Oct 2011
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| Posted: Fri Jun 15, 2012 9:37 pm Post subject: |
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| fustiancorduroy wrote: |
| rabidcake wrote: |
| edwardcatflap wrote: |
| Countdown to someone saying you should learn Korean so you can talk to her properly. |
I always wonder about this. Are there any teachers here that must rely on their own Korean abilities with their co-teachers because it's much better than the English of the co-teacher?
I'd assume it isn't a common occurrence, but I'm curious of the people that manage their relationships in Korean but continue teaching in English. Not to mention the difficulty it would still bring for the co-teacher to help teach English (unless she gives full responsibility to the English teacher, which to some is the best).
I think she sounds like a very nice lady that can't speak English. It's a pity, some people have the ability but the wrong attitude, and others are the reverse. |
I work with some Korean teachers who don't speak very much English. Considering that I'm living in their country and that they don't need to be able to speak English to teach reading and listening comprehension classes, as they are simply translating the English passages into Korean, I don't see why I shouldn't be able to communicate with them in Korean.
Generally, foreign language teachers whose first language is not English are expected to be able to communicate in English while teaching in English-speaking countries, such as the US. Why should people from English-speaking countries not be expected to learn the languages of the countries they are teaching in as well, such as being able to communicate in Korean while working in Korea? Is it too much to expect language teachers to be able to, you know, learn languages in addition to teaching them? Yes, I of course realize that most people have no prior training in the Korean language before coming to Korea and that English is the so-called "global language", but that doesn't mean we should be too arrogant to learn Korean or any other language, especially when the people of our host nation often speak little to no English. |
I would entirely agree with you that we should learn the language--but it doesn't happen over night. Furthermore, when two teachers have to rely on each other to communicate for the betterment of the school, there has to be a solid foundation--not one teacher asking questions in English and the other teacher replying in Korean. It's just not effective. And pretty counter-productive. Not to mention strange. She knows I can barely speak her language but she rattles off sentences and paragraphs at me like I'm fluent. I understand maybe 25% of what she says half the time.
Any other field where co-workers are forced to work with each other I'd back your statements, but for an ENGLISH learning school setting, I think English should be the main language spoken at all times between the teachers, 100%. I mean, that was why she was hired, right? because she can actually SPEAK the language? I think she was a last second hire myself.
And I don't agree with what you said about a Korean teacher not really needing to know English that well to teach reading and comprehension. Teaching is more than writing on the board. She has to bring the language to life through her words and knowledge of the language to even make it appealing to the students she's trying to teach. Besides, how good can a teacher be, even if they are just teaching reading, if they can only manage 2-3 English words at a time when they speak? Her own comprehension of the language should be questioned to begin with and that kind of teacher has NO place trying to teach other abut a language she can hardly grasp herself. Any teachers' credibility that I sat under would be shot on scene if I found out they couldn't speak in the language they were trying to teach me. Come on. Use logic here.
That's my 2 cents anyway... |
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