Korean Job Discussion Forums

[nightrider_1981]

I just wanted to get an idea of the general conscientious regarding the recent start of the new term and the changes this naturally brings.

Mine has been nothing short of revolutionary. I�ve spent my entire time since arriving last May working with a completely unreasonable, juvenile, bitter, and quite nasty co-teacher, who made my time at school extremely unhappy. Our co-teaching style was me doing everything and her sitting there with a face like a smacked ass, ignoring everything around her. It got ridiculous; no help when teaching and downright rude behavior (I was ignored every single day, even when saying �hi�) at all other times. Yeah I could have done this, should have done that, and did try �this� and gave �that� a whirl. However I�m not going to dwell on what has happened, could have happened or should have happened, I�m writing to share what is happening now.

Last week a new co-teacher arrived, a fresh graduate. Her arrival has not only lifted my day-to-day dread of going to work, but has been a revelation. We talk together, help each other, and actually co-teach. Her attitude is positive and upbeat, and it�s rubbing off on me. Our lessons are great, I still do most of the talking but she walks around the room engaging students, and joining in when required. Teaching has become fun and interesting, both for me, her and most importantly our students.

I�ll not be renewing my contract come May, for many reasons (including the fact that the first 8 months sucked), but at least I�ll finish my year with a positive experience. I just wanted to share this with you all.

[Yu_Bum_suk]

- Working with two rookies who actually seem like quite a potential improvement over last year's rookies (not that that's saying much).

- Last year's grade 1 MS angles have turned into utter brats this year in grade 2.

- Grade 3 MS classes look to be an absolute joy.

- Academic HS classes look like great fun so far. Some of the new grade ones don't really know what's going on but the grade 2s are a blast to teach, and I have a grade 3 class that could kick most uni class' asses.

- New vocational HS classes are large and can't understand a bloody thing.

- School appears to be undergoing a (much-needed) tardiness crackdown in the vocational programme and a (from my view, pointless) uniform crackdown over-all.


... and the novelty of having a foreigner is decreasing exponentially (if that's possible).

[Cerebroden]

sounds like both posts so far have been for public schools but since I started last month I'll chime in.

Korea needs to develop a bill denomination larger than a 10, I got paid and the stack was 3 inches high and its a pain in the ass to count that high.

I work 7 1/2 hours a day yet somehow according to the director fall just short of the 120 needed for overtime.

Yesterday my director forced me to tape a "NOTICE" to my wall instructing me how to properly move children from one classroom to another. (line children up, walk them to next class) It's not fricken brain surgery.

I have been giving level tests for the past month continually, and it was like pulling teeth. Now daily I get new kids in my classes that are at different levels than what I put them at. I'm sure its real comforting for a kid to get shoved into a class full of readers when he can't even tell me what letter his name starts with.

Pencils? "I will buy" Paper? "I will buy" Scissors? "I will buy" crayons?"I will buy" Copy machine? "huh?"

"no use other book. Only ChildU, but no write in book"

"when you finished with curriculum? today?" Umm...you're making me draw up curriculum for 6 classes for an entire month and you're giving me a day? "ok, how bout Friday?"
Next day...
"ok.ok. change curriculum....only teach childU M,W,F" (Now scroll back up where I was told to only use childU and not any other books and give the same WTF look I gave her)

Did I mention I got paid?

[cornie_man]

3 inches high huh? Even if it was, its still not high enough for that kind of b.s.

[Pak Yu Man]

Bunch of Freshmen classes.
2 electives.

Boring schedule.

[inverse_narcissus]

[Pyongshin Sangja]

Do you mean consciousness?

[mj roach]

....'consensus'??

I'm very glad to be back with the students after the break. The level of new classes seems to improve every year.

[theatrelily]

It rocks so far!

I am so happy to have the kids back...I was going out of my mind without them.

The new first graders kick serious tail....overall English level is high, very energetic, active and genuinely funny.

Before starting with this public school I worked at a very large/well known hagwon in the area teaching elementary school kids....

....and now several students in each first grade class are either my old students from the hagwon or my friends' old students from our sister campus.

Also, we lost two classes in the new year (government cut our numbers back) so we have two empty classrooms on our top floor that are no longer being used and it looks like the admin might actually accept a proposal I put in to convert one of the rooms into an English resource room.

If it gets approved (I find out tomorrow) then I am going to set up group work tables with extra materials for self study, have English movie viewings after school, and try to create a fun and creative place the kids can hang out before class in the morning, at lunch and after class to speak English.

I am extremely stoked. Fingers crossed for approval.

[Wrench]

So far all my classes are great. Maybe since the kids know me and like me.. Unfortunatley my 2nd school is still stupid and unmotivated in doing any work or behaving.