Korean Job Discussion Forums

[parachute]

Hi everyone,

I'm thinking about applying to teach in Korean public schools next year, and I've been wondering about the role of the NET. What is it like working in a public school? Are they to act as supplements to KETs? If there is usually only 1 NET, they can't possibly be the sole person responsible for teaching English to the entire school, right?

What are the native English teachers responsible for? Encouraging speaking in English during class? Do they assign homework? How often do they see a particular class? I've been reading on these forums that classes get very little face time with the teacher -- how are the students supposed to make any progress that way? Do the students get other English lessons from Korean teachers as well?

I guess I'm trying to get a better feel for what it's like to teach at a public school and what the responsibilities of the teacher are. How much are they expected to do in comparison with the Korean teachers? How much of a "real" teacher are they? How fulfilling is the job? I'm also curious about the effectiveness of the native English teacher and how much respect they receive in the school.

Thanks for any insight!

[comm]

[young_clinton]

Since you have a Korean English Teacher, you will be teaching together with your KET most likely directing most of the teaching for the mandatory classes. Koreans are real picky about who they actually let teach the classes except for the after school classes. The after school english classes you will teach yourself maybe with the help of the KET. You will most likely be used for vocabulary and as an example of how to speak a word properly. I'm pretty sure the KET might have you giving instructions for games. Also you will be expected to walk around correcting the work of the children. It is not difficult with the exception of the items that are many times just thrown at you unexpectedly during the class. What you will do also in many ways depends on the number of classes you have and the size of the school. If the school is large the teacher will have less time to work with you and will use you when the option arises during the classes, A smaller school the teacher has more time for discussing co-teaching.

[andrewchon]

As said above, no universal way for the NETs to do their work.
I can tell you mine at an elementary.
The ministry directive according to co-teach:
1. I am to make learning English more fun and less scary.
2. I am to give exposure of my native culture to students.
3. I am to make corrections in students use of English including prononciation, writing, spelling.
4. I am to assist Korean teachers.
5. I am to help with running the summer and winter camps.
6. I also do the conversation competancy test. Students have a book of conversational English and I listen and check their conversation skills. Not all schools do this, I hear.
7. Keep my nose clean outside the school.

I am not responsible for:
1. discipline
2. each students' overall education

In short: I don't teach English, I am an English 'experience' for them.

[blm]

There are big differences between Elementary, Middle, High School (academic) and High School (vocational).

And then there are differences between schools because the actual role of the NET seems not to be defined from head office and it's up to the individual school to work it out. There are a lot of different interpretations of our role as a result.

I teach at a technical High School. I am told certain pages of a text book I should teach them and make 5 test questions (each term) for those pages.

I work with 3 different co teachers. One comes to class and acts as a safety net by helping out students with a Korean translation if they are stuck.
The other two don't ever come to class and don't want to know about it.

Some times you will be made to feel like just a babysitter but hopefully your students will make up for it.

[cheezsteakwit]

I teach at 2 public high schools. I have 4 co-teachers at an academic school and 1 co-teacher at a phys. educ. high school.

My first day at the phys educ. school, the principal handed me a note saying , basically, "Teach them practical English. Don't be boring. Don't let them sleep." That's the biggest challenge ... keeping them awake. These kids have loooooong days. A lot / most of the academic school kids have dinner at school and don't get home til close to 9 pm ish.

I can teach whatever I want and I see the kids only once a week.

The best classes are the ones where my co-teacher at least translates for me when / IF I need them to. (3 of my co-teachers do this)

The toughest classes are where the co-teacher does nothing. (1 co-teacher) or doesn't even show up for class (1 co-teacher).

For these classes, I'll use my English Korean dictionary to write a FEW key words on the board in English & Korean. It helps that I am also taking Korean classes at a local univ. so my Korean skills are getting better. I also make it a habit to incorporate a lot of visuals in my lessons.

To answer some of your other questions: I don't assign homework. I am supposed to encourage speaking in class & my first REAL 'graded' assignment in 4 months will be next week - a short 3 minute interview with each kid, one on one. I'm the only NET here and my day ends at 4:30. Korean teachers are here until much later ... 9 pm ish, i believe, in most cases.

I just do the best I can with the limited time I have with them and try to make the class fun & practical.

[Weigookin74]

Depends on rural or urban. In urban, you go to one school and are more or less a part of the school. There will be more input with co-teaching and the like. But how much can vary from school to school. In a rural or semi - rural location you will go to multiple schools. Maybe one day at one school or even half a day in some very rural places. Most of the time in these cases, there is very little time for collaboration or co-teaching. You prob just teach your own thing whatever you want or the KT has planned the lesson and she tells you what to help with.

Less pressure in rural, but more boredom from nothing to do living there, often long bus rides, and not many folks who speak English.

Urban more work and being part of the school. But, social life is way better and many Koreans around who can speak English.

[Weigookin74]

[passport220]

[schwa]

[passport220]

^ No, I did not misunderstand, I just focused my general anwser on the OPs general question:

[schwa]

Fair enough, Passport, sorry. The OP seemed concerned that all the students' english study would be on his shoulders, which of course its not. Clear, OP?

We act as supplementary to the school's core english teaching, which as others have noted is handled differently in just about every school. Passport's experience provides useful insight, its not untypical, but you never know till you're here on the ground.

Best any of us can offer as to what you will experience will be anecdotal.

Best case (& most likely) you will get a chance to make a real difference in your kids' learning if you apply yourself. Not sure what you mean about being "a 'real' teacher." Respect is earnable but not a given.

Best luck, OP.

[passport220]

^ No problem. I wanted to give a general anwser, I think it is good and fine that you more clearly addressed the specific question of the K-teachers role and as a NET you are only one part of a Korean student's English education.

I agree with andrewchon's comment about NETs interacting as an English native speaker "experience" more than having traditional responsiblities as a teacher. Traditional teaching roles are filled by K-teachers as you more clearly flush out.

[allan of asia]

i agree with the rural urban split - when I was in a rural area - I felt like I didnt belong anywhere and there were some scheduling issues between schools where they wanted me on the same day - and it made me a little uncomfortable although the rural allowance was nice! I also spent a lot of time on random buses in the middle of nowhere, and was having to run to catch them as they were like 1 an hour!

Now I am in Seoul, I feel like part of the school - and as far as my responsibilities go they might be more than some NSETs, but I have asked to get more involved - for example - I have responsibility for supervising some students' cleaning, and I will always step in if I see kids misbehaving/smoking etc - in fact I work in a school with a severe lack of male teachers (5 out of 61) and often am called by the adjumma teachers to break up fights with the boys and so on. I was also given responsibility for organising parts of the school festival and I have stepped in for taking the swimming classes too in the past as i am a qualified lifeguard back home.

Saying this, I also speak Korean at an intermediate level (not fluent by any means), so that might explain why I can do this. I usually do the non English duties in a mix of English and Korean...good practise for me and the kids I think.

Things like this work both ways - my school is very flexible to me in return with no deskwarming, providing a glowing reference to teacher training back home and let me move house to another part of Seoul just cos I wanted to on their dime.

[pegasus64128]

There have been plenty of responses to your posts so far so I don't need to add much. You will certainly not have sole responsibility for all English academic problems and curriculum testing etc. but your input may be required. You will certainly be the go-to person for some tasks. I was asked to paraphrase a journal on linguistics recently. I didn't mind too much as I learned something and increased my rep. Working at a public school is not for everyone, especially if you don't like the solitude, and being the only NT in the school. I worked at a private elementary school with other NT's before but I like public school the most as I'm left alone for the most part.

One thing I would say about public school is that the government requires the school to have an NT and a prescribed number of English classes / week. There will undoubtedly be some Korean teachers (real teachers) there that don't want you there. Please note that even if you have a teaching license, you are not a real teacher in their eyes.

As above posters mentioned, your days will be determined in large part by your co-teacher(s). Some real sorry-assed co-teachers can be found. My current co-teacher is ok however. Be prepared for sudden alterations to your day.

Mentally / psychologically speaking, my advice is to assume nothing and don't expect any red carpet of any kind. If you have any national/ cultural pride and like to fight on these issues, then I have pity for you. I tend to pity Americans and Canadians the most on that front as they will fight more on these issues. Have to go record my voice in mp3 form now - another task you may have to do - no biggie!