coteacher troubles

[lindsayfo]

I am having some problems with my coteacher. She is a very kind and helpful lady towards me- always willing to help me with bank stuff, my apartment etc. She is also always looking to improve her English (her pronounciation and grammar is terrible) and I help her for an hour or so each day. But when we teach together she is a totally different person. She does not let me teach the kids AT ALL. She controls the whole lesson and even goes so far to talk over me when I do say something. I have tried to prepare some games to add to her lessons but she never wants to use them. Even though I have tried with other classes and the kids have loved it. The most frustrating thing is that she is teaching the kids bad pronounciation- as she insists they repeat after her, and not me. She has asked me not to correct her in front of the class, which I obviously wont, but every lesson she teaches the kids incorrect English. It makes my blood boil as I wonder why on earth they want a native English teacher if my only job is to help the kids find the right pagey. Any tips?

[abipawlowski]

Hi
I had this issue with a co-teacher last year. I concluded that the reason she does these things is because if she allowed you to do the stuff you're talking about then the kids would realise how bad her english is, and what a crappy job she'd been doing and she would lose face. Which as i'm sure you're aware is a huuuge no-no in Korea.

My suggestion would be that you try and talk to her about it directly (using a translator if necessary or possible). If you spend a lot of time together you can use that time as an opportunity to bring it up, and if she's still resistant you may just have to put up with it until March - and hope she moves schools/roles.

If you do talk to her then i suggest you explain that you want to help the kids in the same way that you help her, maybe ask her to come and observe one of your other classes so she can see how your ideas work in practice.

Good Luck!


I am having some problems with my coteacher. She is a very kind and helpful lady towards me- always willing to help me with bank stuff, my apartment etc. She is also always looking to improve her English (her pronounciation and grammar is terrible) and I help her for an hour or so each day. But when we teach together she is a totally different person. She does not let me teach the kids AT ALL. She controls the whole lesson and even goes so far to talk over me when I do say something. I have tried to prepare some games to add to her lessons but she never wants to use them. Even though I have tried with other classes and the kids have loved it. The most frustrating thing is that she is teaching the kids bad pronounciation- as she insists they repeat after her, and not me. She has asked me not to correct her in front of the class, which I obviously wont, but every lesson she teaches the kids incorrect English. It makes my blood boil as I wonder why on earth they want a native English teacher if my only job is to help the kids find the right pagey. Any tips?

[lindsayfo]

Thanks a lot for your suggestion. I guess the only way I can sort it out is to speak to her about it. Will do my best!
Thanks

[red]

I am currently facing the same problem. Well, I have two co-teachers,but I am having a stressful time with one. Most of the time, I would just stand in front of the class and sometimes not even say a single word until the class hour is over. I had a terrible day with her just yesterday. Before that day, she told me that we don't have class. The next day, she told me that we will have class,ten minutes before the time. So I kept asking about our activity but she never told me. I told my husband about it over the phone, I couldn't help it,,I cried. I thought of talking to her but I realized that I think that might make the problem worst, I need to deal with her until February.. I decided to extend my patience and widen my understanding,,

[red]

by the way, my husband is a Korean, and he agrees with my decision-he said it's better. I won't be working with her for a long time anyway.

[dporter]

I am currently facing the same problem. Well, I have two co-teachers,but I am having a stressful time with one. Most of the time, I would just stand in front of the class and sometimes not even say a single word until the class hour is over. I had a terrible day with her just yesterday. Before that day, she told me that we don't have class. The next day, she told me that we will have class,ten minutes before the time. So I kept asking about our activity but she never told me. I told my husband about it over the phone, I couldn't help it,,I cried. I thought of talking to her but I realized that I think that might make the problem worst, I need to deal with her until February.. I decided to extend my patience and widen my understanding,,

This is more common than you can possible imagine. The best approach is to always assume that the class might be canceled and to always assume a canceled class will be held. Have a lesson or two in your back pocket that can be used in any situation.

There will be times when you stand in front of class and say nothing and then the next day the co-teacher will tell you to conduct the entire lesson - with no warning.

There were many times when I made a worksheet based on the week's lesson only to never use it. But I always had it ready.

[jayewileysmith]

WOW! Is all I can honestly say. I think you should call the Board of Education and let them know what's going on. Now I read some post where people are telling you to talk to her, you did that , now your next step is to go to the PRINCIPLE directly, if your principle doesn't do anything about it, then you should CALL the BOARD OF EDUCATION. The Board of EDUCATION is not paying you to just stand around and help students to find the page they should be on. Now the ball is really in your hand, how bad do you really want to help your students, as far as teaching them English, instead of just enjoying standing there doing nothing. Yeah, that sounds really relaxing, but when i read your comment, that is really terrible. You must not let her be in controll of YOUR class, as it is stated in all contracts (The native teacher is suppose to lead the classes and the co-teacher is suppose to help and assist you with making materials or whatever else you may need). Now, you NEED to get your contract and show her where it states that. Don't allow her to do your job, you need to take control over your classes. If you keep this up, you will not gain any experience whereas to teaching foreign students your language. I emphasize my statement strongly and I hope you take action very soon. As you know we all have an evalution at the end of the school year, where you have to teach an open class for the Board of Education ( and it will be video recorded) your co-teacher and you have to show the Board of Education that you know how to co-teach students together. As far as people telling you that you shouldn't worry about it ( because you don't have to deal with her for long) don't CHEAT yourself. Do what you know is right, if you said you tried talking to her, then you NEED to take the next step of action ( and that's if you honestly want to teach students) instead of just standing around. Please don't let her controll you, her job is to assist you, if they wanted Korean teachers to teach students how to SPEAK like a NAtive speaker, then they sure in HEll wouldn't have hired us to do the JOB. I LOVE teaching my students and I have ABSOLUTELY controll OVER my CLASSROOM,my CLASSES and my STUDENTS. You NEED to take CHARGE and do your JOB( and I emphasize this, because that's our duty as Native speakers and teachers). I hope I didn't offend you are other readers, but the truth is the truth......Now, what are you going to do?

[kerrym]

Before the  poster goes to (as you say, "the principle"), she and you should realize, that going to the office of education will insure that she never gets to teach at that school, or possibly in her city after her contract ends. That's the way things work here. We are not in the USA. You can fight for your principles, but going to the principal and complaining will only end your opportunites in the future. I'm glad the previous poster has such "controll" over her classes, but berating and asking, "so what are you going to do" just because you landed in a better situation is a little rude.

[bjhanson]

Sorry to hear that. It can be frustrating at times. I've been through a number of co-teachers. I've had really good co-teachers, but I've felt frustrated by not being able to teach as well at times. I know this may sound like poor advice, but in all my experiences I've learned to just let it go. Yes, make an effort to let her know that you'd like to teach and that you'd love to help anyway you can. Perhaps even talk to someone with higher authority and ask what you should do. But, it ultimately seems like it's their decision because they're the Korean teacher. Honestly, I'm sure she's just lacking confidence in her speaking ability and doesn't want to be embarrassed in front of the kids. My advice: 1) always be prepared as if you had to teach a lesson by yourself, 2) let her know that you're more than willing to help out and would like to, then 3) follow her lead(if she wants you to help, help her. If she doesn't want help let her do it herself).

[YanGudanets]

I am new to teaching, korea, and co-teacher relationships. I do however have 3 co-teachers all with completely different styles. I have challenges similar to you, and far more challenging issues in regards to my housing or lack there of. I come from a very direct sales background and am used to getting what I want, how I want it.

However, in korea that is not the case and we cannot expect our notions to transfer over to their country. Frankly being overly direct about such challenges will certainly make things worse for you.

The best thing you can do is always be prepared for schedule changes, go with the flow, if you are caught unprepared, improvise. In terms of your actual class just let it go, let her do her thing, it really is about her saving face and do not forget this is her "life" not her travel adventure.

Thats my opinion. However if you do want to go the route of being direct, it is always easier to do so earlier then later. If you establish a precedent of being fine with "whatever" and then break from that it will come as a giant shock and will cause and even bigger problem. Hope this at least lets you know that other people have the same challenges!

[jh64487]

Talk to her in a non confrontational manner and discuss how you can make more of an impact on the class.  Tell her you want to be used and useful in class and that you feel frustrated and bored simply being a quiet assistant. 

It is absolutely unnecessary to simply "go with the flow" though i wouldn't suggest, and i don't think you sound like the type, to try and raise hell over this, especially if it's just one teacher.  Have a chat with her, she sounds like a nice lady who's scared to look like an idiot in class.  Be sure to have some specific suggestions for what role you want to have in class. 

gah, this whole "accept their culture" thing is nonsense. Yes saving face, not looking stupid, is important, but this is way past the line to not even allow you to talk in class.  I also have a coteacher whose English isn't good and she doesn't have any problem trying to follow along with my lessons in class.  On the other hand I'm in Seoul and everyone pretty much speaks English already so maybe it's different.

[sheila]

It sounds like you are teaching elementary if I'm not mistaken...? I would suggest to her that you plan out your lesson times together and specify exactly which section of the lesson she will be taking and which will be yours.  If you want to make this suggestion kindly, try saying, "I would really like to be prepared for how we'll teach for open class." Your teacher will understand this because it is recommended to be 50/50 and they know this really well.  My planning was down to the minute to get this right on.  Just a simple suggestion like that may change things a lot because the teacher may feel pressed for you to be ready as well. Good luck~

[dharmabrother]

Try having SEVEN different co-teachers... well atleast they just stand there in the back and whack the kids' desks when they get to loud..But I thought I would be a CO teacher not the full on Man.  Oh well, what better way to learn how to teach than get through into the deep end?

[Paul]

To those stating that you control the lessons, and even if you don't lead, you come prepared with a full lesson plan thought out, may I respectfully ask how? Are you assigned to a single school teaching each class twice a week?

For myself, and many others in this situation, the "you teach every SECOND class" matra is used as a flimsy excuse to STOP us from having any impact on planning or teaching methodology. To me, this is the biggest roadblock (and not having a desk and computer). Without such a hurdle, I could simply plan a whole unit, FIRMLY ask to be given a chance to try my lessons out (or perhaps write it off as a "gift" to the co-teacher ) and prove my ability. If anyone out there has had co-teacher problems of the "demoted to waygookin-clown" variety, teaches only every second lesson, AND has coteachers that refuse to lesson plan, please share your route to success!

With all due respect, none of the above "solutions" actually take this into account.


Seems that outside of Seoul, everyone wants to be an English teacher, but nobody wants to actually speak English.

[LemonWater]

Every teacher is different. Each one has a different approach to teaching and different expectations in their classroom . . . remember, we are guests in their classroom. Don't come in expecting to change a lot.

The co-worker culture is different here - what you do outside of the classroom counts for more than what happens within the classroom. Try bringing in coffee and cake for your co-workers. Or asking them out to dinner. If it is a male co-worker, go get drunk with them (seriously). A lot of Korean-English teachers seem to feel a little threatened by native speakers. Get them to relax and establish some friendly connections - it will make work more pleasant and asking for things easier.

[SongLima]

"Find the right pagey"

LOL

Best quote ever! 

[kaymac]

completely agree with lemonwater. playing volleyball, smiling and being at staff dinners etc. is going to pull a lot more weight than what you do in the classroom. keep a lesson or two in your backpocket and just be ready to roll with whatever. we talked about how korean teacher's really do not appreciate having another teacher watching them in the classroom at our orientation. i don't teach with a co-teacher but I have before for an online class I taught, which had zero co-teacher involvement aside from her yelling off mic for students to be quiet. a good idea may be to look ahead in the textbook and try to come up with some games and maybe ask your co-teacher if there is some spare time you can play it? sounds lame, i know, but we are essentially here to assist and in a lot of cases, schools don't know how to utilize native speakers.

[Janitor]

Lemonwater is completely right. I find that co-teachers are non-confrontational. That means directly speaking to them or going above their heads and getting them into trouble is about the worst thing that you can do. Remember, you have to work and be around them everyday from now until the end of your contract. If you think that your co-teacher will automatically change once you talk to the "principle" or someone in the MOE, sadly you are mistaken. They will (like anyone) hold a grudge and they are the ones that will also evaluate you.

The key is to build a solid relationship with your co-teacher. This can be done in many ways. For males, it is totally centered around getting drunk. Male bonding here is important and you can create contacts that will last a long time. For female co-teachers, it could be simply going out for coffee or to a function. Sometimes older co-teachers want to take you to church or cultural functions, accept it and go along. This will again build a happy relationship.

I work with 5 different co-teachers(all female from 25 to 38 years old). Some have very frustrating habits like not showing up on time and then interupting the lesson to make sure that I am on the right page. After building solid relationships with each teacher, I have adjusted my teaching style for each teacher. I also find the ones that I have the best relationships with are the ones that I have hung out with a lot more. We teach a class like friends who understand each others strengths and weaknesses. That is the key, you must understand who you are teaching with and much as you must understand the material and the students

For them to understand how you feel, you must also understand their situation. For example my main "handler" is a mother of two with a husband that works all day and expects my coteacher to cook dinner, clean, look after the children and whatnot after working for 10 hours. So it is no real stretch that by her classes on Friday, she is burnt out. A little pat on the back and a "take a rest this class..." goes a long way. It may sound like kiss a** but it is all about building a relationship. This came in handy when I had some problems with the MOE. She stepped up, put her reputation on the line and solved the problem. If you are just a face in the crowd, why would they put their reputation on the line to help you?

The main thing is to also learn to roll with things here, not kick up hell because you want to take control of the class. If your co-teacher takes control of the class so be it! Find a way to contribute and make a new plan. Take your co-teacher out for coffee and talk about ways YOU can help the class. Getting annoyed at the way things are don't especially when it means working less does not get you anywhere here. Plan, prepare, and pamper you coteacher is the best way. Again, a little appreciation goes a long way.