Korean Job Discussion Forums

[bosintang]

I'd love to see real lessons from fellow foreign teachers. Unfortunately the only demo lessons I get to see are shiny, pre-planned, pre-practiced demo lessons with the "co-teaching" nonsense that noone actually does in practice. They're more about the education board getting a back massage than about trying to improve teachers skills.

Is this the same all around?

[crazylemongirl]

I did a 'real lesson' had a real fight from my school over it though.

[Peter Jackson]

I kind of like the rehearsed, scripted demo class. I used to do theatre in high school and university and to me it is just like performing. As soon as I see the "audience" I turn on. The rehearsals don't usually go so well and I even surprise myself with what I come up with when I am being observed.

I know it isn't what I usually do in class, the kids know too. Even the education board observers must also know. It just is what it is.

What I find useful is to play up the observers; I always include them in someway, even if its just looking at them a few times. Make them laugh.

It is harder to please the native speakers but they don't sign my paycheck so I don't stress about them.

Good luck.

[dridgway]

I asked "Don't they want to see a REAL lesson?" and got "No. They want to see a PERFECT lesson."

[Boodleheimer]

i haven't been asked yet. i'm dreading it.

[Ekuboko]

[thegadfly]

I am confused Bosintang...are you saying that you would like to observe other teachers' "real" classes to get an idea of the kinds of nuts-and-bolts things that actually go on? If that is what you mean, then I have done so, but I needed to become friendly enough and sincere enough in my pursuit of new teaching techniques/styels/approaches to let them let me into their classroom (I observed for my own purposes, not for anything "official").

Are you saying you would like to see teachers teach real lessons for their observations? If so, I have done that as well -- I do not put on a dog and pony show for anyone -- if my normal lesson isn't good enough, then we ought to discuss why and how to improve it in the followup meeting. I do not mind defending my methods and practices, but some folks DO mind, so they would rather just put on a show and skip the drama that might follow otherwise.

[Yu_Bum_suk]

I've only been asked to put on a model lesson for a Japanese delegation that was touring a few educational institutions. The Korean government officials wanted to show them one school in my district, and my VP says they chose ours because I'm the best foreign teacher in the whole district, though the real reason is that I'm the only one who's been around for a while who looks young.

The lesson was about the Internet and I just planned my usual week's lesson. The Japs were late and the Internet crashed on the class computer, so I had to drag out my other materials as long as possible and they completely missed my opening phonics lesson. Still everyone was very impressed and praised me to no end. It was the first time my principal has ever observed me teach and apparently she was delighted. There were no other foreigners around to let me know how effective my approach actually was.

[laogaiguk]

[venus]

In Hannam city it's the same. Rehearsed classes with the best students, 50% Native teacher, 50% Korean teacher - nothing like what it's really like...

[ddeubel]

I feel for you and what you are saying. Teaching is not an art is the sense of any final product, but an art in the sense of doing "on your feet" , adapting and changing with what is coming at you / us / them.

I've done many demo lessons and have recently been throwing a wrench into the proceedings every time. I will start out on the level with the coteacher and follow the script but then take one quiet turn, then another and finally let the thing happen as it wants. Right? No. Ethical. No. but Dr. House would agree.

If you'd like to see an example, see my website. A demo lesson is for viewing there. Not too professional but after the first few minutes (where the interview gets cut up), it becomes normal.

DD

[Imbroglio]

[bosintang]

[venus]

You're asking way too much. When we go to Demo lessons my Korean coworker always says to me not to say anything critical about the class when asked for feedback. When the other teachers give feedback, we all kind of look at each other with these uncomfortable knowing glances...

It's so funny when you see a terrible class and everyone stands round saying how great and informative it was....

Gosh, mine is coming up in two weeks. And darn right I'm gonna plan it meticulously with my co teacher and rehearse it with the kids until it's perfect.

Because you cannot change the way things work in Korea. You can only learn to relax and realise you can change how you react and feel about it. Going with the flow is unfortunatley part of your job. I just think of the cash, the nice apartment and go with it. if the kids learn something - bonus.

That said, outaside of the demo lessons, you CAN change the way your classes work if you have good co-teachers, I do have and have radically changed the way my classes are structured and the materials I will use and all of my methods have been gradually accepted. They wil be if they're seen to get the kids talking in English more.

Anyway I think I went off on a tangent....

Ciao

[rothkowitz]

I have a High School demo lesson coming up in 3 weeks though my co-teacher isn't at all interested in contributing but wants me to write her dialogue.Chae su op so.......

Doubly annoying is that her English is actually really good.She just can't be arsed.

I found that in the demo classes the Korean teachers will generally try to find SOMETHING to complain about.In one demo class,it was the height of the teachers chairs at the back of the room.The western teachers tend to keep their comments to a minimum.They don't pretend its anything like a workshop situation.

So,I guess the only way to go about it is to give a polished sort of lesson with visual aids.Have the kids practice stuff,present,and then have a final activity which acts as a review.

For example-
1,Intro to topic(eg garage sale,shopping,at the airport etc)
2,Pre-teach vocabulary and expressions
3,practice and present the expressions as pairwork
4,Activity where they use or produce the language
5,Short further activity as a review

What kind of flow are others planning on using?