Korean Job Discussion Forums

Demonicat · Joined: 18 Nov 2004 Location: Suwon

Ok, this has happened a few times now at this particular school, but now I'm starting to get really steamed. Everytime one of my classes finishes the student book, reviews it, tests it (I require a minumum of 88% form everyone in the class), and oral tests for it- I'm feeling pretty good. Until that is, the boss lady determines that we did it too quickly (12 4 page units in 3 months) and the children didn't learn enough. Much of the "didn't learn anything" arguement comes from the parents saying that when they ask the children questions in English- they don't understand. Nevermind that the parents don't speak English...
The management response is that I have to walk into my classes and tell a room full of 8-14 year olds (who are incredibly excited about the possibility of getting new books), and I have to tell them to open up to page one and erase all of the work that they had done. More than a few times my students have cried over this.
My questions are multiple: 1) is this normal in Korea? I've taught in the U.S. and Africa and parents we ectastic when their kids we fast learners. 2) Any advice on how to make the kids happy about having to redo their hard work 3) Any advice on keeping my temper when my babo bi$%h of a director decides that I don;t know how to teach (nevermind the diploma or years of experience) and my students can't possibly learn by activity and conversation instead of mindless drill? Ok, Question 3 was just a rant. In fact, the whole #%%ing thing was just a rant, but any advice or antecdotes would be cool.

kprrok · Joined: 06 Apr 2004 Location: KC

I know my math skills aren't great, but you're taking 3 months to do a 50-page book? And that's too fast? Sheesh. I'd do that in about 6 weeks. Well, depends on what level the book is.

I've had the same problem. I was thrown a phonics book that is intended for early beginners and these kids have been studying phonics for about 15 months or so. They had already gone through at least 4 longer and better books on phonics, and there I was teaching "A, apple. B, boy..." We ripped through that 50-page book in about 3 weeks. And then my supervisor said "too fast. take another month on it!" I started laughing at her. She finally figured out that the book was far to easy for them and we got a new book anyway.

But yes, it's happened to me before, and I'm sure it'll happen again. The only thing you can do is say to your boss..."the kids are finished with this book and all of them scored well on my test. We need a new book. Until you give us one, we'll play games and just have fun. Thanks."

KPRROK

Bozo Yoroshiku · Posted: Fri Mar 25, 2005 2:58 am Post subject: Re: Whole book, one more time...

Saxiif · Joined: 15 May 2003 Location: Seongnam

Wow, that's more surreal than anything I've ever encountered Shocked

Doing the same book six times, that's insane Shocked

The closest to that I've ever had is a kid two did a book twice with another teacher and once with me, but the kid was pretty slow...

Well having all of the middle school kids at my old hagwon stuck in one class despite some not knowing how to read and one knowing what "superlative" meant was pretty bad too I guess...

Badmojo · Posted: Fri Mar 25, 2005 4:27 am Post subject: Re: Whole book, one more time...

Bozo Yoroshiku · Posted: Fri Mar 25, 2005 4:34 am Post subject: Re: Whole book, one more time...

some waygug-in · Joined: 25 Jan 2003

Strange. I had the exact opposite problem last year. The director wanted us to do Let's go in 2 months, no reviews, nothing. Shocked

After a while and some teachers trying to talk some sense into her, we changed to 3 months.

The worst though was that she would jump kids all over between classes. So you would get kids who had finished level 2 moving to level 5 or 6. Or students who had just finished a book being moved to a class that was just starting the same book. They had all the answers done and it was a real battle trying to stop the other kids from copying. I finally had to follow the advice given above, and copy my own material. Do 5 mins. of the book and then my own handouts for the rest of class.

It also was ridiculous.

VanIslander · Posted: Tue Mar 29, 2005 4:59 am Post subject:

Kimchieluver · Joined: 02 Mar 2005

The sad fact is that the director probably doesn't want to buy new books and the KTs aren't teaching anything close to the books you are. So, when the director is a little less cash strapped and the KTs get around to teaching them the finer things that you can't teach (Not saying there is any) then you will probabaly get a new book.

As for flying through the books too fast, well that may have to do with the age of the students to get them caught up to a certain level the director thinks is appropriate. Of course this is all horsecrap because the director 90% of the time doesn't know anything about English and the KTs only tell him/her what they want to hear. Other than that its all about the money.

That's for a lot of hogkwans, not mine, but I had been in both situations before.

jajdude · Joined: 18 Jan 2003

Maybe he doesn't want to buy new books? Don't the students' parents pay for them?

I might buy a new book myself and make copies. I did that before.

Sometimes they finish too fast. But are not ready for next book. Material too hard. Did not learn material well enough but go to next book anyway. I got a lot of that now.

The worst is, the thinking they are in grade x, should do grade x book of American, not EFL, material!

Yu_Bum_suk · Joined: 25 Dec 2004

Yes, this appears normal. It's even worse at my hogwan, where we have to make teenagers read and re-read books that were written for little children.

guangho · Posted: Tue Mar 29, 2005 8:11 pm Post subject:

When I came here, I had the dubious pleasure of "reviewing" the Child U books for 2 months while waiting for the Say Say books. The Say Say books btw are about 40 pages long and I am expected to teach no more than 2 pages (1 and a half of which are pictures with captions) a class. Usually we just and up talking.