Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Peter Jackson]

I've just been told of an open class next month at my high school. To those who have done them before: what should I expect? Who will be there?

I was told by my co-teacher that I will have to start teaching from the lame book he uses in his class. When I first came, I was told to design my own class, which I did, using my own book. Has anyone else been told to use the "official" book for this shindig? What's the point of a native speaker's class if he is to use the gargage Korean publication with the glaring errors?

Of course I have learned to just "do" in Korea....nod, bow and swear under my breath.

[stumptown]

The few that I've had to do in the past always had a lot of parents show up. My technique was to get the parents involved in the activities such as role playing or some sort of textbook related worksheet. It gives a parent an insight on their kid's level and shows what you are teaching. It's always worked out really well and is better than having a room full of ajummas glaring at you while you're trying to teach.

[zappadelta]

There won't be any parents there. Most likely it will be foreign teachers and coteachers from other high schools in your area as well as one or two mean looking guys from the department of education.

[Homer]

[jacl]

Goooooooooooooooooood times!

[crazylemongirl]

The point of these classes is that the school shows that they are 'following' the education office guidelines. What actually goes on in class is irrevlant to your open class.

Now you have a choice.
You can either do things your way and spend the next few weeks fighting with your co-teachers about it.

Or you can just sit back and do what your school says and take part in an elaborate play called 'the open class'.

Afterwards a bunch of other foreign teachers will say nice things about your class. Then the adminstrators will hand forms in korean for the other teachers to fill in. Then the adminstrators will talk at length in korean, as in all the open classes I've been dragged to, I've yet to find one that could speak better english than my 1st graders. The korean teachers will say something in korean.

Later you'll get a report on your class, which the school will promptly file and ignore.

[Homer]

What kind of open class is it OP?

With the schoolboard (as CLG described) or with parents in attendance (more of a school activity)?

[Demophobe]

I've done 3 of these "open classes" this year already. This is the chance to show what a regular, unscripted class is all about.

Don't sweat it....it's a piece of cake. Just make a solid plan and stick to it. Parents or BOE guys, it doesn't matter. All they want to see is you doing a good job with the kids.

I had one last week, two full days actually, for the mothers of my elementary school students. I guess it went well....they all agreed to pay me an extra 300,000 won per month out of the local PTA fund to keep it legit, and they went through the proper channels, so it's not a "gift", but a raise. Cool.

After my last one for the BOE guys, all they did at the end was shake my hand, and say "good job, handsome man." Pathetic.

[crazylemongirl]