Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Yu_Bum_suk]

I know there's a lot of whining here about idiot KTs, most of it justified. However, I have to say that when you have ones who are competent and help you out 100% to the max it makes such a huge difference. My case in point is the senior English teacher at my middle school. Twice a week the middle school has blocks set aside for extra subjects. This year, my extra subject is a writing class and the senior English teacher's is a listening class (using various recordings). I requested that I only get get students drawn from the top third of grade 2 and 3 students and got it. For his listening class he has a disproportionate amount of the worst students. Quite typically, the younger teachers get shafted with the worst students for these lessons. It definitely happened to the rookie one-term replacement English teacher we had last year. Her extra class was so bad that she couldn't maintain any control unless I came along to help and she ended up just showing them DVDs every lesson. However, this year the senior English teacher at my school was willing to take on the lower-level ones, including a number of more troublesome students, because he realises that the brighter students will learn more from me than him and vice-versa for the lower-level students. It would have been very easy for him to make his life easier at my expense and yet he didn't.

The result is that I have probably the best extra class of any of the teachers at my school and we're really making excellent progress. The students in the class get me three times a week and I'm sure their listening skills will also improve vastly. Does the fact that I've also spent hours and hours doing editing work for the senior English teacher, and will be the primary editor of his PhD thesis, have anything to do with all this? Perhaps, or perhaps he's just caring enough about everyone concerned that it wouldn't. The bottom line is that if you can get in a relationship with your Korean co-workers where you're supporting each other 100%, the results can be hugely encouraging.

[dmbfan]

You know, I do agree with you. Having an outstanding K-teacher makes things better, smoother, and more enjoyable for everyone. I am not in a position such as you, having more access to my students, but I do have a a few k-teachers who know what to do.

The funny thing is, is that I pretty much run the show. All I ask of the K-teachers is to be observant of the students, offer translation when it is evident that they don't get it (which is funny sometimes........using charts and graphs, puppet dolls, and I still can't get it across). The classes in which the K-teachers are proactive, are ALWAYS the most enjoyable.




cheers.

dmbfan

[pkang0202]

Me and my KT handle the class 50/50. I'd say in a given period, we always get equal time.

If one of us talks for a while then we just switch off. Its like we play tennis with the students. We volley the student's attention back and forth.

So far its worked out really well. During my extra classes she always asks me if I'm handling everything ok and if I need her to come in to help out. during my extra classes. She asks this out of genuine concern, not because she thinks I'm incompetent.

My school wants me to teach a class once a week with some of the parents of the students. Now THAT will be an experience.

[Missile Command Kid]

I work at a hagwon, but I'll be the first to say that each and every single Korean teacher at my school has been extremely helpful. They've helped me order stuff over the Internet, teach me a bit of hangul when I'm trying to spell it out myself, or bringing me food when I royally twisted my ankle last week and couldn't go out for dinner (!). When my daughter turned one in November, they went together and bought a gold ring for her, as per tradition for a Korean baby's first birthday.

It helps that nearly all the K-teachers have spent substantial time abroad, I suppose, but even in old positions back in Canada, rarely have I had an entire group of colleagues as a whole be so friendly, cheerful, and helpful. I feel very lucky that my school as a whole provides such a supporting atmosphere.

[poet13]

My co-teachers rock....except for the married guy who I think has been hitting on me. Still good in the classroom though...

[Alyallen]

I have one co-teacher and he's fantastic. We switch off. Depending on what the activity is, one will be in charge and one will back the other up. It was just so natural. It's never been awkward in the classroom. We correct each other in front of the kids, so they know that anyone can make a mistake, even a native speaker We ad-lib activities, we just bounce ideas off each other and click. I guess we have the same views on teachings so it's just as natural as breathing.

I know I'm really lucky. This is my last year at my school and I'm sad because I don't think I'll be so lucky again.

[Yu_Bum_suk]

It's interesting how many people write about good co-workers being active / pro-active in the classroom. For the most part that's not what I want, and I'd rather take care of everything myself, but perhaps that's just becaue I'm a megalomaniac control-freak. What I want more than anything is support outside the classroom - teachers who listen to my ideas, like my schedulling ideas, give me co-teachers for the classes I want and don't for the classes I don't, get me the extra classes I think would be most beneficial, etc. I don't always get what I want, but all in all I've been a lot more successful than most public school teachers, and the senior English teacher at my middle school has been absolutely awesome in this respect.

[some waygug-in]

I have a mix. My level 6 co-teacher is awful (more about that later) and my level 5 co-teacher is awesome. Level 4 classes are a mix because I have a different teacher for each class. So I'm never sure what to expect.

My level 5 teacher is so helpful and she tries to let me run the show as much as possible. She always discusses everything over with me the week before and makes sure we are both together on things. These classes are a joy to teach, both fun and educational because everyone knows what they should be doing and we try to do it well.

On the other hand, my level 6 teacher doesn't communicate well at all.
Her English is pretty weak, but she really doesn't make much of an effort.
She runs the class blibbering on and on in Korean...and suddenly ...ok Mr. XXXXXX ...go. And expects me to just know what's going on.
When I am doing something, she constantly interupts telling me I should change this or that, she jumps around the CD and expects me to just pick up wherever. She changes lessons in mid-class and wonders why I don't know what she's doing. Luckily, her class is cancelled this morning.
I supose I should just tell he to f* off and let me teach, but I don't want to make waves, being new to this public school and all.

[pkang0202]

[some waygug-in]

She is older than the level 5 teacher, but this is her first experience with co-teaching. The level 5 teacher has done it last year, so she knows what's what.

I was told that the level 5 teacher is the head or main co-teacher, but it seems like the level 6 teacher does as she pleases. The main co-teacher is quite shy and not very assertive, so I doubt that she would be much help.

I think the best way is for me to talk to her directly. If I involve anyone else it's sure to offend and probably make things worse.

Anyway, I'm not alone in this kind of experience. Many of the native teachers here are having similar experiences.

Cheers.

[nobbyken]

I have the same, great KT for all 23 classes.
If I didn't chip in with suggestions, she would probably plan the the whole lesson without a grumble.

We share everything, and as I am a newbie it is terrific. Boring at times, but we hang about till 4.30 each day. Sometimes rpeparing activities and trying to nake good and fun lessons, or just looking on the internet.

She handles all the discipline and does all the shouting, so that suits me fine. There are a few people over the week who are not as bright as the others, so it is great having 2 teachers to be able to go and help them. She is more help than me, because she is fluent in Korean,
and I am just 조금.

Makes the job so easy with Korean teaching CDROM's etc.