Korean Job Discussion Forums

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I know that it's a bit different from HS, MS and ES, but I'd like to know how other teachers in ES are having their after school programs run?

So if I'm not mistaken, ES official classes are periods 1 to 6? And then usually periods 7 and 8 are known as "ASP" classes? Do your kids in your school have a variety of options to choose from and have to get a paper signed by their parents as to which classes they have signed up for?

For example, I have english ASP during blocks 7 and 8, but according my schedule, there are also a few other classes available such as music/band, or art, or phonics, robot, belly dance, etc (varies each day of the week).

The reason I am asking is because in my first couple years, my asp classes were pretty much full classes of each grade so I got to teach them at least once a week or more on my own in ASP classes (my own materials, lessons, and not the gov't curriculum with co-teacher).

But these past couple years, it seems that my ASP's have turned into a "babysitting" club of the worst students. What I mean is, some of my asp classes now have only 3 to 7 students (the ones that often are the most difficult and troublemaking students who don't sign up for music or other classes and just keep coming to mine 6 to 8 blocks a week!). I find it sad to have such small amount of students AND the same students who I have to repeat the same activities/lessons over and over for them each week because there are a couple other students I only see once a week and want to use that lesson/activity for them, too, but the same 4 have already been in my class and so they have to do it again (which they dont seem to mind lol, but from my perspective it would be nice for them to take other classes so they can learn other things rather than repeat my class 6 periods a week!).

The other thing is that while i see these particular students 6 to 8 periods a week, I don't get to see or teach the other students anymore all week except for during gov't curriculum classes. It makes me sad and feel a little disgruntled because I would have liked it to be equal where I can teach each class at least once a week for ASPs and share my lessons with them. I know I can't tell the school to make those kids take english once a week but I thought ASPs were usually once a week at LEAST for each student. How is it that it is now OPTIONAL for them and they don't even have to take english ASP anymore? Some of the students also seem to be doing nothing just wandering the school or halls or playing during these times and makes me wonder, why don't they just structure ASP classes so that it's not an "option" but a balanced rotation where they can take their music, robot, art, chinese, etc classes AND still have at least 1 english asp in the week?

The other issue I noticed and often overheard from other students is that they sign up to classes based on where their friends are going and/or to avoid other students. For example, since I have those same troublemaking students in my english ASP now for 6 to 8 periods per week (per.7+8 on tues, per 6,7,8 on thurs, per 7+8 on fri)...yes that many times i see the same students, i overheard some other students say that they didn't want to be in english asp because of those ppl in my class. So they are stuck with me AND it seems to deter/repel other students from ever wanting to join english ASP because why would anyone want to be in a class where u have to put up with those particular students for 1.5 hours?

I am considering asking my school to try and re-schedule or re-structure a couple periods just so that I can switch out those same students and teach a whole group of other students so that it's more balanced. But at the same time, if this is ENTIRELY SIGN UP ONLY / OPTIONAL, then i guess it's something I can't change as the student's parents pretty much decide what ASP classes they want their kids to take.

Is anyone else dealing with similar ASP english classes/schedules like this or am I a rare exception?

As I said, I used to teach ASP english to a FULL class, and then the next day it would be another class of different grade students. So it was consistently balanced and structured being able to teach a new grade each day and not have say just 4 to 6 students leftovers who didn't want to go to music 6 times a week.

[wonkavite62]

Well I suppose you have to be Gyopo Korean American or married to a Korean to do after school jobs at all nowadays. The advantage seems to be a lighter schedule than in the hagwons.

You should also ask for advice on www.waygook.org

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[wanderkind]

Just to clarify, are you a public school teacher that the school has conduct after school classes the school offers? Or are you employed in an 'after-school' job?

I have a regular teaching schedule from 9-4, and then Tuesday and Thursdays (it was originally M-Fr but then they decided against that since it would involve paying a lot of overtime) I teach 2 afterschool conversation classes until about 6:15. In my case, only 6 kids signed up, but all of them want to be there, except 1 whose mother is one of my co-teachers.

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