Korean Job Discussion Forums

[paperbag princess]

so i work in an afterschool program. i have a co teacher who is supposed to be keeping the kids in check and making lesson plans. this is why i'm being paid so poorly, they said that i don't have to do anything other than show up and teach. no diciplining, no marking, no lesson plans (i don't mind doing any of these though and help the korean teacher with all of them). the only thing i don't like doing is diciplining the students, and lately i have to do more and more of it. yesterday the coteacher told me that her mum says that she should stop yelling at the kids because it makes her sad, so now she's doing nothing and getting paid for it.

how do i politely let her know that it's her job to make the kids be quiet and be well behaved? i don't mind that she's slacking on all of her other responsibilities, i'd rather do my own plans etc... but if she isn't doing anything, why is she there?

arhg.

[Kyrei]

[paperbag princess]

i know, but how is the question at hand.

[Grotto]

My advice? If the kids are getting out of hand and or a discipline problem comes up and your co-teacher does nothing...stop the class, calmly tell your co-teacher that you will wait outside until she has dealt with the problem. Go outside as many times as it takes for this lazy bugger to get off their ass and do their job.

[Kyrei]

I guess you could start by pointing out to her (over lunch/coffee or under the auspices of a 'department meeting') that totally removing discipline is not helping anyone, least of all the kids. If she is too "sad" to discipline children then she should probably re-evaluate her carreer choices. Question: is she older or younger than you? If younger, then you can take the Korean role of "senior-giving-advice" if you play your cards right.

[paperbag princess]

she's older than i am. that's why it's a little hard to tell her these things.
i've tried hinting, but she isn't getting it.

grotto, thanks i may try that today.

[TJ]

[paperbag princess]

ok, will do!

thanks for all the great advice!

[UncleAlex]

I have been teaching at Korean middle and high schools since 1998.
What I have found the most unpleasant about teaching in this curcuit
has been the attitude and behaviour of most of my Korean co-teachers.
Normally they have served well in keeping the disruptive kids in line on
rare occasions, but I have had a few Korean teachers take obvious joy
in watching some students disrespectfully ignore my pleas for calm and
order. These are the teachers who resent our presence here, simply
because we are foreigners who they wish not to serve as our assistants.
I'm sure your particular co-teacher could have responded without yelling
in a menacing way or by wacking a big stick on somebody's desk, thereby
inducing an acute state of trauma in a sensitive and spoiled brat - one who
is prone to go running home to mommy. I only hope you aren't accused of
being "too serious" by that co-teacher 'babo' as I have been, although I
don't go walking around the classroom and school with a big stick.

[manlyboy]

She's a permanent public school teacher? That makes her practically unfireable...meaning she can do pretty much whatever she wants unless it's against the law...even sitting on her arse doing nothing.

If you "insult" her by trying to get her to do her job, it could make things a lot worse.

[sadsac]

Grotto's advice was good advice. If the class becomes too unruly, walk out of the classroom. If when you get to the class there is no lesson plan, stand there and do nothing. Your primary responsibility is teaching the material supplied, if it isn't there you can't teach.

[schwa]

I dont understand why you'd accept lousy pay to teach someone else's lesson plans in the first place. Stinky lesson = bored students = acting up. You thought you were saving yourself some effort?

Some KT's can have a calming effect in the classroom, but lots dont. It comes down to how youre coming across.

Not to claim I have a perfect handle on all my classes (I dont) but I question my own performance before I start tossing out blame.

[I_Am_Wrong]

1) set-up a reward system whereby good behaviour, doing one's homework, class participation garner points that lead to a treat or something at the end of the week.

2) make sure class rules are well established.

3)You and the co-teacher can't be afraid to discipline if the need arises but it should be relegated to last because positive reinforcement works exceedingly better.

[inkoreaforgood]