This is a video of my first day at my Korean Elementary School in Daegu.
It's a lot of first impressions, look at the classroom and the initial welcome program that they have with teachers.
Showing posts with label korean school system. Show all posts
Showing posts with label korean school system. Show all posts
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
This is a video of my first day at my Korean Elementary School in Daegu.
This is a video of my first day at my Korean Elementary School in Daegu.
It's a lot of first impressions, look at the classroom and the initial welcome program that they have with teachers.
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Korean Teacher Farewell Party at my School
If the YouTube video (above) does not show, click on the link to see the full page.
The Korean public school system regulates that it's teachers and principals change schools every five years. This year, six of our teachers were leaving (as well as my principal, whom I really love). This past Wednesday, my school had a going away dinner for the teachers in our school.
We had a dinner at a banquet hall and a buffet with tons of foods I could eat. Then it came time for the
Monday, February 14, 2011
The oddity of a 1.5 week of school
Sometimes, the Korean school system doesn't make sense. Not at all. Got back from winter vacation last Sunday to start school on Monday...
All 1.5 weeks of it.
My poor students.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
How can you improve your students' learning (and hopefully, boost test scores)? Maybe you shouldn't ask me...
Our sixth graders have scored the lowest of their region. This test was something like the SATs and our school stood out as the worse ranked. This came as a shock to our school. All the sixth grade teachers were nervous and the VP and principal were humiliated. The English department grades 3-6 had to start upping their game and employ new practices to ensure higher test rankings in the future.
This winter, I'm definitely chained to my school prison. Even my mother, who was visiting, desk-warmed with me just to spend time together.. and she caught a cold from it! Sad, right?
We can only thank EPIK and the public school system for this insanity. I will only teach one "token" week of school in February; unfortunately, my desk-warming won't change those kids' test scores, improve the teaching level for next year or make my students regain their "smart" abilities.
I could read a list of things the 6th grade curriculum at my school needs to improve--
The witch cackles and my warm desk-warming days end
This winter, I'm definitely chained to my school prison. Even my mother, who was visiting, desk-warmed with me just to spend time together.. and she caught a cold from it! Sad, right?
We can only thank EPIK and the public school system for this insanity. I will only teach one "token" week of school in February; unfortunately, my desk-warming won't change those kids' test scores, improve the teaching level for next year or make my students regain their "smart" abilities.
Our students bad test scores-- not a grand surprise to me.
I could read a list of things the 6th grade curriculum at my school needs to improve--
Monday, November 29, 2010
Model Schools in Korea: Classrooms on Steriods and Bred for Excellence
Daegu, South Korea. Kids chirp in unison after the teacher. Maybe they break into song as they break from their row and scurry along, moving their desks into their level groups. It reminds me of an elementary ROTC school.
They call them "model schools" and last month, I got to attend an open observation of one. What's a
Sunday, November 28, 2010
NET winter vacation days at EPIK- a Juggle or a Screw?
What's my Numero Uno reason for not renewing my contract? Travel freedom. It may sound "princess" of me to complain about vacation time. 18 days is a luxury compared to the standard two week vacation of a regular 9-5. ... but throw in the fact that we have "desk-warming days" during school vacation and the DMOE's screwing (or lack of stepping in when a school is screwing) our vacation time. There's a reason I was a freelancer all this time.
This past month was stressful for many. Why? Winter is coming up with speed and with that follows our 10 day winter vacation. For renewing contracts, there was an 10 extra days as re-signing incentive (which must be used by the period's end or ...lost).
The problem for many Daegu EPIKers is that it wasn't possible to use all of the allotted days, within the given school/winter camp schedule. With a ticking clock of rising flight costs near the holiday
This past month was stressful for many. Why? Winter is coming up with speed and with that follows our 10 day winter vacation. For renewing contracts, there was an 10 extra days as re-signing incentive (which must be used by the period's end or ...lost).
The problem for many Daegu EPIKers is that it wasn't possible to use all of the allotted days, within the given school/winter camp schedule. With a ticking clock of rising flight costs near the holiday
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Public schools get a bad rap over the hagwons
Korean teachers know there's a high pressure on students to study but I hear there may be cutbacks in the public education system with their English programs...
Bad test scores
My co-teacher was in a panic last year when we found that 6th graders scored the lowest in the district. Our principal and vice principal weren't happy. The low scores didn't surprise me. Between the constant underestimation of students' abilities and the concern that our students are overburdened with family pressure and homework from hagwons, there was actually little challenge being inserted into the lessons. My 2nd and 3rd graders in the afterschool program learned more advanced stuff than what I got to teach my 6th graders! They got more culturally fun and fast material, while my material got constantly scrutinized and censored as "too fast, the kids won't be able to follow it".
Public schools get a bad rap over the hagwons
At the time when I mentioned giving our students homework, I was told, that we can't do that. Why? They were getting them from the hagwons and this was where the parents would prefer the students to get them. Perhaps its because parents dole out top dollar for private education that that's where all the focus is. And maybe that's why there's never a lack of job positions at hagwons. The business of educating Korea through private lessons is thriving!
I hear word this sentiment is gaining rise today in Korea and that public education system is being discounted. But if the system continues to defer to the hagwons, then the schools shoot themselves in the foot.
Shoot for the moon and you're bound to hit a star. Shoot for the ground and you'd as well wish for dirt.
That's where we were at back then. We were dirt. The teaching sentiment with Korean teachers that I was around was-- shoot for the ground. Of course, I always aim higher for my kids despite what i'm told.
But challenge of the public school is having multi-level learners in one class; instead of separating students by skill level. And a bonus for hagwons is the external pressure and reinforcement they get from parents; with money being spent for accelerated performance, the child knows they need to take their studies seriously or get chewed out by their parents.
Bad test scores
My co-teacher was in a panic last year when we found that 6th graders scored the lowest in the district. Our principal and vice principal weren't happy. The low scores didn't surprise me. Between the constant underestimation of students' abilities and the concern that our students are overburdened with family pressure and homework from hagwons, there was actually little challenge being inserted into the lessons. My 2nd and 3rd graders in the afterschool program learned more advanced stuff than what I got to teach my 6th graders! They got more culturally fun and fast material, while my material got constantly scrutinized and censored as "too fast, the kids won't be able to follow it".
Public schools get a bad rap over the hagwons
At the time when I mentioned giving our students homework, I was told, that we can't do that. Why? They were getting them from the hagwons and this was where the parents would prefer the students to get them. Perhaps its because parents dole out top dollar for private education that that's where all the focus is. And maybe that's why there's never a lack of job positions at hagwons. The business of educating Korea through private lessons is thriving!
I hear word this sentiment is gaining rise today in Korea and that public education system is being discounted. But if the system continues to defer to the hagwons, then the schools shoot themselves in the foot.
Shoot for the moon and you're bound to hit a star. Shoot for the ground and you'd as well wish for dirt.
That's where we were at back then. We were dirt. The teaching sentiment with Korean teachers that I was around was-- shoot for the ground. Of course, I always aim higher for my kids despite what i'm told.
But challenge of the public school is having multi-level learners in one class; instead of separating students by skill level. And a bonus for hagwons is the external pressure and reinforcement they get from parents; with money being spent for accelerated performance, the child knows they need to take their studies seriously or get chewed out by their parents.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Decoding my Korean workplace: an NET’s Class Schedules
When I first signed up to be a English Teacher abroad (NET aka Native English Teacher), I had no idea what was expected of me. And when I got here for my EPIK orientation, I still didn't know.... Worse even still, two weeks into teaching classes, I still didn't really have a clue. They call this Dynamic Korea. There's no head's up, no real advice as to how to work with your co-teacher, etc.. but people just figure things out as they go, as change is a common factor which keeps you on your toes. This article (click on the link to my main blog) will open the door for you and give you an insider's peek on how it works. It's my personal experience. It's not full-proof and at best, always a work-in-progress.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Teaching Teacher's English: Introductory Rules, Gossip & Cosmo Glamour
Class 3: Rules & Followup lesson & Vocab for subjects in Class 1 & 2 (Carla Bruni & Cosmo).
English Class Rules & some Informal introductions (thanks to Epiker Anika for the latter)
Class 2 Material Followup: Cosmo Vocabulary
Includes:
"Cosmopolitan"/Cosmo Vocab
Description of a Sweet 16 Celebration
- with link to an MTV show I shot & produced
- I thought a dynamic bridge between Cosmopolitan/Cosmo lifestyles & Gossip/Rumor Lifestyles
- I showed the first 5 minutes to give them an idea of the Cosmo vocab words like glamorous, etc..
Carla Bruni Vocabulary Worksheet
(got some of this from Breaking News English site & revised some)
-Didn't get to do the exercise cause I was already running overtime. The exercise we can do next class.
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