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Woden
Joined: 08 Mar 2007
Location: Eurasia
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 Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2007 7:49 am Post subject: Do I need to be a dancing clown to teach elem public school? |
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I am starting Elementary Public School in August...
I am creative and like to have fun in my lessons, but I am not a singing, dancing monkey...will I find elementary public school alright?
I might be able to be a clown for some lessons, but couldn't pull it off for a year! |
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yingwenlaoshi
Joined: 12 Feb 2007
Location: ... location, location!
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| Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2007 9:02 am Post subject: |
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"I dunno?", said Petey the public school clown. "I dunno?" |
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Woden
Joined: 08 Mar 2007
Location: Eurasia
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| Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2007 9:22 am Post subject: |
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| I'd be happy wiv the make-up! |
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yingwenlaoshi
Joined: 12 Feb 2007
Location: ... location, location!
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| Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2007 9:24 am Post subject: |
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| Seriously though, I don't know. I guess it's what you can make of it. I like to rib public school teachers because it's just not for me. I like small class sizes. Tried the big ones and just got a big headache. |
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yingwenlaoshi
Joined: 12 Feb 2007
Location: ... location, location!
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| Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2007 9:27 am Post subject: |
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| Woden wrote: |
| I'd be happy wiv the make-up! |
I'd probably wear the makeup and clown suit and just say, "I dunno? Tell me what to say. I'm a teacher's assistant. Would you like some coffee?" Then nod and smile. |
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Treefarmer
Joined: 29 May 2007
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| Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2007 9:57 am Post subject: |
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can't sleep
clowns will get me |
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VanIslander
Joined: 18 Aug 2003
Location: Geoje, Hadong, Tongyeong,... now in a small coastal island town outside Gyeongsangnamdo!
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| Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2007 10:03 am Post subject: |
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no, but it helps
(i don't sing nor dance in class yet the term 'dancing clown' might still apply to my fun-based apprach to active student-centred learning ) |
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kimchi_pizza
Joined: 24 Jul 2006
Location: "Get back on the bus! Here it comes!"
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| Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2007 12:31 pm Post subject: |
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Nope.
From the get-go establish your expectations, goals and most importantly, RULES. And have in mind a way of maintaining control (a quick phrase or sentence that is cool and students must immediately repeat after you to quiet down and focus on you)and discipline (a system of reward and punishment with stickers, stamps, play dollars, REAL dollars, 2x4...).
If there is any acting, singing, dancing to be done, get them to do it and you can just direct unless they're kindy students or have no - very low English abilities. I absolutely refuse to sing. I'm there to teach, not entertain so that is my main focus. Besides, I'll make my students cry in anquish and create a fear of English if I try singing!
Naturally, letting your hair down once in while and joining in activities excites and motivates the students and as they feel relieved knowing you're human as well. You're not only teaching your language, but yourself and your nationality, customs, race/ethinicity, etc., etc., etc. Even my hairy arms are a source of amazement and there's been plenty of times they will cop a quick feel, but I ignore it as they're just curious.
Just don't do anything that you really don't feel comfortable with or you'll get burned out. Take your time and be yourself.
Thing about EFL is that there are so many hand movements and face and body language going on that you might as well take up acting! |
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Sody
Joined: 14 May 2006
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| Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2007 2:11 pm Post subject: |
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| kimchi_pizza wrote: |
Nope.
From the get-go establish your expectations, goals and most importantly, RULES. And have in mind a way of maintaining control (a quick phrase or sentence that is cool and students must immediately repeat after you to quiet down and focus on you)and discipline (a system of reward and punishment with stickers, stamps, play dollars, REAL dollars, 2x4...).
If there is any acting, singing, dancing to be done, get them to do it and you can just direct unless they're kindy students or have no - very low English abilities. I absolutely refuse to sing. I'm there to teach, not entertain so that is my main focus. Besides, I'll make my students cry in anquish and create a fear of English if I try singing!
Naturally, letting your hair down once in while and joining in activities excites and motivates the students and as they feel relieved knowing you're human as well. You're not only teaching your language, but yourself and your nationality, customs, race/ethinicity, etc., etc., etc. Even my hairy arms are a source of amazement and there's been plenty of times they will cop a quick feel, but I ignore it as they're just curious.
Just don't do anything that you really don't feel comfortable with or you'll get burned out. Take your time and be yourself.
Thing about EFL is that there are so many hand movements and face and body language going on that you might as well take up acting! |
Great advice. I would suggest to the OP that you write down and sit down with your co-teachers about what to expect for the year. So many times the new teacher just jumps right in without any kind of planning and the onus is really on you to do this because many times the Korean teachers don't know what to do. Don't know what SMOE is like but if it's anything like EPIK or GEPIK then you need to figure out a plan for effective teaching yourself, you will get no help whatsoever. The teaching is so different in Korea, take a little bit of their style and combine it with your own. BoL.
Sody |
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yingwenlaoshi
Joined: 12 Feb 2007
Location: ... location, location!
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| Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2007 2:36 pm Post subject: |
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Clownie wownie. Yes.
Print this out for them to color:
First week's lesson for every class taken care of. Easy as pie. |
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unknown9398
Joined: 03 Nov 2006
Location: Yeongcheon, S. Korea
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| Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2007 3:48 pm Post subject: Re: Do I need to be a dancing clown to teach elem public sch |
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| Woden wrote: |
I am starting Elementary Public School in August...
I am creative and like to have fun in my lessons, but I am not a singing, dancing monkey...will I find elementary public school alright?
I might be able to be a clown for some lessons, but couldn't pull it off for a year! |
During my first few months, I took my teaching duties too seriously. (I thought I was supposed to teach English only). But I was taken aside and told that it was also my job to keep the students happy by making class more enjoyable. That way, the hagwon keeps its customers. I thought it was sensible, so I adjusted my approach to teaching and became an edjutainer. Everyone's happy now.
I haven't worked in a PS, and don't know if that's what they're looking for, but I would guess so. Because if the students go home unhappy or griping about the waygookin, the admin gets complaints they'd rather not have to deal with. |
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some waygug-in
Joined: 25 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2007 4:43 pm Post subject: |
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It really depends on your school and your co-teacher. Some of them will stand at the back and let you run the class as you see fit, others will run the class all in Korean and ask you to be a human tape player...interjecting a sentence or word of English now and then.
Many are somewhere in between.
I have more that fit the second category however. |
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The_Conservative
Joined: 15 Mar 2007
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| Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2007 4:53 pm Post subject: Re: Do I need to be a dancing clown to teach elem public sch |
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| unknown9398 wrote: |
| Woden wrote: |
I am starting Elementary Public School in August...
I am creative and like to have fun in my lessons, but I am not a singing, dancing monkey...will I find elementary public school alright?
I might be able to be a clown for some lessons, but couldn't pull it off for a year! |
During my first few months, I took my teaching duties too seriously. (I thought I was supposed to teach English only). But I was taken aside and told that it was also my job to keep the students happy by making class more enjoyable. That way, the hagwon keeps its customers. I thought it was sensible, so I adjusted my approach to teaching and became an edjutainer. Everyone's happy now.
I haven't worked in a PS, and don't know if that's what they're looking for, but I would guess so. Because if the students go home unhappy or griping about the waygookin, the admin gets complaints they'd rather not have to deal with. |
Actually no. The students HAVE to go to the PS. They don't have to go to the hakwon. At a public school you have far more leeway. The adminstration can just shrug their shoulders and say "Take it up with the foreigner". Since very few Koreans have the English skills or nerve to do so, they can like it or lump it. Students realize this and generally save up their complaints for the hakwon teachers. First two hakwons 1 complaint. Next two hakwons 6 or 7. Starting my third year soon at the PS...zero complaints. And I'm pretty much the toughest teacher at the school. Nor do I sing and dance. Save that for hakwons. |
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dmbfan
Joined: 09 Mar 2006
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| Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2007 5:03 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2007 12:31 pm Post subject:
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Nope.
From the get-go establish your expectations, goals and most importantly, RULES. And have in mind a way of maintaining control (a quick phrase or sentence that is cool and students must immediately repeat after you to quiet down and focus on you)and discipline (a system of reward and punishment with stickers, stamps, play dollars, REAL dollars, 2x4...).
If there is any acting, singing, dancing to be done, get them to do it and you can just direct unless they're kindy students or have no - very low English abilities. I absolutely refuse to sing. I'm there to teach, not entertain so that is my main focus. Besides, I'll make my students cry in anquish and create a fear of English if I try singing!
Naturally, letting your hair down once in while and joining in activities excites and motivates the students and as they feel relieved knowing you're human as well. You're not only teaching your language, but yourself and your nationality, customs, race/ethinicity, etc., etc., etc. Even my hairy arms are a source of amazement and there's been plenty of times they will cop a quick feel, but I ignore it as they're just curious.
Just don't do anything that you really don't feel comfortable with or you'll get burned out. Take your time and be yourself.
Thing about EFL is that there are so many hand movements and face and body language going on that you might as well take up acting! |
_________________
Exactly!
The only thing is, O.P....is that you have to be with a public school that will actually support, help and work with you.
dmbfan |
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Jizzo T. Clown
Joined: 27 Mar 2006
Location: at my wit's end
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| Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2007 5:07 pm Post subject: Re: Do I need to be a dancing clown to teach elem public sch |
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| The_Conservative wrote: |
| And I'm pretty much the toughest teacher at the school. Nor do I sing and dance. Save that for hakwons. |
Cheers for that! 
I feel much better now. |
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