Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Real Reality]

I saw the head of the department today. We were talking about classes and the final exams. He made an emphatic command. He was very serious.

"You should have all final exams like the TOEFL and TOEIC."

What does he mean? How can I do this? My classes are not for studying the TOEFL and TOEIC (that is, I do not teach test preparation courses).

[The Lemon]

Do what the Korean employees do. Say, "great idea boss! I never thought of that! We're working for a visionary here!"

Then keep doing what you were always doing, the way you always did it, and make like you never heard him.

[Real Reality]

The Lemon,

The head is expecting to see results on the students' TOEFL and TOEIC scores this summer. Apparently, he receives TOEFL and TOEIC reports during the summer.

He said, "The students' scores should be higher this summer."

[mokpochica]

Maybe you can design your exams to practice skills that will be tested on the TOEFL and TOEIC (Reading, writing, listening, etc.) but with questions that you feel are worthwhile and important and that are related to your class material. Perhaps even throw in a few generic multiple choice sections like they have on those tests to appease the guy, but in general just test on what you have been teaching the kids (which probably is the above listed things anyway).

I taught a Spanish AP class in the US (kids who would take the standardized AP test and hopefully pass out of some college level classes). Even in this 'test-preparation class' we just taught kids the skills that they would need to have in order to do well on the test and did not 'teach to the test' as some say. Actual class tests were not designed like the AP tests, but homework and classwork were sometimes multiple choice-style practice papers. Also, the kids were encouraged to do a lot of this studying on their own at home, depending on their level of preparedness for the test.

Since you're not actually teaching a test preparation class at all I think that you shouldn't have to do anything more than what you are probably already doing. If the students are planning on taking these tests, there are plenty of textbooks and classes available specifically for that.

That said, this is Korea and I guess they are even bigger believers in teaching to the tests than some people at home. I hope that this guy will just get off your case and let you do your job.

[The Lemon]

[whatthefunk]

This kind of thing really bothers me. My boss tells me to do the same, but its clear to me that being able to do well on a writen test doesn't mean ****.

My boss wants results she can see and show the parents, not speaking ability. Kind of a double edged, Korean style sword. Koreans are very business minded, so they will do anything to get money, but at the same time, the whole country seems to really want to learn english. English is a buisness opportunity some, and a wanted skill for others...the two kind of negate each other and allow people like us to come to Korea for free, make heaps of money, and do little work. No wonder they can't speak english...