RANTING/VENTING MEGATHREAD 3.0

I create good lessons, I'm never late or absent, and I always say yes when asked to do something.

I don't know. I just feel discouraged right now. I was finally starting to feel good about staying for another year, I'm so excited about my Christmas lessons, and now I'm just... sad.

Popularity contests aren't easy.

What you listed above is pretty bare minimum.

I would suggest:

1. Learn your students names
2. In the beginning of every school year, have each student make an info card that contains key info, birthday, likes, dreams, family, etc.
3. Always smile and greet your students wherever you are.
4. Make a simple calendar with all of the students birthdays on0 them and acknowledge them on their special day.

So many other things you can do, but I'd start with the above.

I'll try to smile more often, but learning all of their names is daunting. I would love to. But I've got over 500 students across three different schools. They all use different books, so I average 14 unique lesson plans a week (two classes at a rural school are back-to-back; I do actually know those kids' names). I tried the name-card thing, but the kids don't have an English classroom and the homeroom teachers don't care, so they're inevitably lost from week to week. Probably used as spitball material. 

Hmm. Anyone have tips for learning names when there are just. so. many? Lol. That would actually be a cool goal for next year.

That's rough.

Much more difficult to build rapport in your situation.

Surely, every school, every classroom has a seating chart, no?

Start there.

Nicknames would make it easier.

I create good lessons, I'm never late or absent, and I always say yes when asked to do something.

I don't know. I just feel discouraged right now. I was finally starting to feel good about staying for another year, I'm so excited about my Christmas lessons, and now I'm just... sad.

Popularity contests aren't easy.

What you listed above is pretty bare minimum.

I would suggest:

1. Learn your students names
2. In the beginning of every school year, have each student make an info card that contains key info, birthday, likes, dreams, family, etc.
3. Always smile and greet your students wherever you are.
4. Make a simple calendar with all of the students birthdays on0 them and acknowledge them on their special day.

So many other things you can do, but I'd start with the above.

I'll try to smile more often, but learning all of their names is daunting. I would love to. But I've got over 500 students across three different schools. They all use different books, so I average 14 unique lesson plans a week (two classes at a rural school are back-to-back; I do actually know those kids' names). I tried the name-card thing, but the kids don't have an English classroom and the homeroom teachers don't care, so they're inevitably lost from week to week. Probably used as spitball material. 

Hmm. Anyone have tips for learning names when there are just. so. many? Lol. That would actually be a cool goal for next year.

Yeah every class will have a document with students pictures and names, there is a Korean word for it but can't remember right now. If somehow they don't know what you're talking about then use the first intro class to make the name cards and take a picture of each student with the name card.
Take the document to every class so even if you can't remember you can sneakily look and remind yourself.

I have the same amount of kids as you and this is how i do it at my bigger schools. I still don't remember them all but I've got the main players down.

Not really ranting, but we don't have a thread for bemoaning our existence... yet.

There's something seriously wrong with my emotions right now.

My school sent out a survey to our 4th and 5th graders and their parents asking how they felt about the English program and about me in particular. I got very... mixed reviews.

I'm a teacher. Kids aren't all supposed to like me and obviously some parents are against NETs in the classroom. So I shouldn't be so shocked and hurt.

I'm not normally the "cries-in-a-bathroom" type, but I have seriously gave my all this year. I create good lessons, I'm never late or absent, and I always say yes when asked to do something.

I don't know. I just feel discouraged right now. I was finally starting to feel good about staying for another year, I'm so excited about my Christmas lessons, and now I'm just... sad.

This is what happened to me 2 years ago.. That's when I decided, like the NET'S before me said, you are putting in waaay to much effort.

I teach what I am suppose to at a bare minimum, and actually my teaching stress has gone WAAAAY down, and some how the staff like me more etc... Kids attitudes didn't change at all.

People don't appreciate hard word and dedication/passion in Korea. They appreciate the illusion of it. It's not about doing work, its about being more stressed than your counter parts, alluding to your special situation why you don't do things.


Seriously, I used to care, now I am just another, laughing all the way to the bank NET. It's sad, but I am waaay better off from it, and the attitude towards my teaching, and input from students hasn't change AT ALL.

To clarify, I'm unable, at my age, to remember all of the names of my students.  However, I always use a seating chart, so I am easily able to glance down and call on my students by name (it's a cheat, but as Dave mentioned above, it works a charm).

I would be lost without a seating chart.

I mean, how would one call on a student?  "Hey, YOU!" ;)

Wondering, do you do "passwords" with your students before they leave class?

It's quick and easy, but gives you a one-on-one, eye-to-eye with each student.

Also, do you try to call on each and every student throughout each class when/where feasible?  How do you do it to make sure it is fair?

I use a random name generator during activities when all of the students will eagerly raise their hands, as it is so very important to never being perceived as playing favorites with your students.

More later...

I agree with using a seating chart but not all teachers will give you one. 3rd grade is the only class where I don't have one cuz the teacher's a jerk but I have an attendence sheet back in October so I got most of the names down now.
As for planning it shouldn't be that hard. you don't need to write every word you'll say on a slide show. You don't need to do anything revolutionary. If you find a game the kids like, mod it for other lessons. Most of the textbook games blow, do a quick google search for "ESL kids games" and you'll find pages and pages of games (some needing no prep) that you can use.

In short: Reduce, reuse, recycle and you'll find yourself less stressed and less devistated when the plan you worked hours on didn't go as planned.

It's possible the secretary will have lists of the students with pictures. My schools are all very tiny so seating charts don't exist, but the secretaries printed off the students' school pictures for me.

Not really ranting, but we don't have a thread for bemoaning our existence... yet.

There's something seriously wrong with my emotions right now.

My school sent out a survey to our 4th and 5th graders and their parents asking how they felt about the English program and about me in particular. I got very... mixed reviews.

I'm a teacher. Kids aren't all supposed to like me and obviously some parents are against NETs in the classroom. So I shouldn't be so shocked and hurt.

I'm not normally the "cries-in-a-bathroom" type, but I have seriously gave my all this year. I create good lessons, I'm never late or absent, and I always say yes when asked to do something.

I don't know. I just feel discouraged right now. I was finally starting to feel good about staying for another year, I'm so excited about my Christmas lessons, and now I'm just... sad.

This is what happened to me 2 years ago.. That's when I decided, like the NET'S before me said, you are putting in waaay to much effort.

I teach what I am suppose to at a bare minimum, and actually my teaching stress has gone WAAAAY down, and some how the staff like me more etc... Kids attitudes didn't change at all.

People don't appreciate hard word and dedication/passion in Korea. They appreciate the illusion of it. It's not about doing work, its about being more stressed than your counter parts, alluding to your special situation why you don't do things.


Seriously, I used to care, now I am just another, laughing all the way to the bank NET. It's sad, but I am waaay better off from it, and the attitude towards my teaching, and input from students hasn't change AT ALL.

Yep, I'm with both of you. I just had the results of my half year surveys back. My main school was awesome and my travel school was as expected: RUBBISH. I had already told my main coteacher that I expected shoddy results from my travel school. Our POE bases the questions on coteaching, well quite frankly we don't coteach. One of the questions is something like "Your teachers help you learn about different cultures (score 1 to 6)" erm 0 because he doesn't even acknowledge that I'm in the room most of the lesson!

But as waywardtimelord said, just let it go, seriously don't worry about it, and don't put as much effort into things unless you know they're definitely going to happen. I've spent countless hours and money prepping for amazing (IMO) classes that never even took places due to schedule changes or the the attitude of the class that particular day.

Please don't be too harsh on yourself, yes it always sucks when you get a review you weren't quite expecting but I'm sure you're doing just great. And if kids were anything like I was when I was younger, they sure as heck don't tell the truth about what they do in class to their parents anyway!

This is what happened to me 2 years ago.. That's when I decided, like the NET'S before me said, you are putting in waaay to much effort.

I teach what I am suppose to at a bare minimum, and actually my teaching stress has gone WAAAAY down, and some how the staff like me more etc... Kids attitudes didn't change at all.

People don't appreciate hard word and dedication/passion in Korea. They appreciate the illusion of it. It's not about doing work, its about being more stressed than your counter parts, alluding to your special situation why you don't do things.


Seriously, I used to care, now I am just another, laughing all the way to the bank NET. It's sad, but I am waaay better off from it, and the attitude towards my teaching, and input from students hasn't change AT ALL.

I've started out with an f-- all attitude, and it has served me well. I still get complimented on my teaching. I don't think many people would recognize great teaching if it were to hit him in the face, or they just love baseless flattery. It seems that merely showing up meets or supersedes any expectations they have.

In the immortal words of Charles Bukowski, "Don't try."

Motivation is at an all-time low but the school bell is only gaining power/decibels.

Not really ranting, but we don't have a thread for bemoaning our existence... yet.

There's something seriously wrong with my emotions right now.

My school sent out a survey to our 4th and 5th graders and their parents asking how they felt about the English program and about me in particular. I got very... mixed reviews.

I'm a teacher. Kids aren't all supposed to like me and obviously some parents are against NETs in the classroom. So I shouldn't be so shocked and hurt.

I'm not normally the "cries-in-a-bathroom" type, but I have seriously gave my all this year. I create good lessons, I'm never late or absent, and I always say yes when asked to do something.

I don't know. I just feel discouraged right now. I was finally starting to feel good about staying for another year, I'm so excited about my Christmas lessons, and now I'm just... sad.

I feel you. I got mixed reviews as well. I think the bad reviews came from parents whose children are pretty much spawn of satan and I am fairly strict. Also my CT and I aren't exactly on the best of terms and I noticed that parents who are friends with her gave her rave reviews and me, not so much. She doesn't even teach or prepare materials or have anything to do with classroom management. She will play non English related fun Korean games with them though so of course they all love her more than the teacher who actually makes them do work and learn and who has to be the policeman. So be it. Can't please all of the people/kids/parents/CT's all of the time. Take the rest of the year to chill, throw together classes last minute, show videos, you did your bit just be kind to yourself now.

Where are all you people getting feedback from? lol. Never had any good or bad in a decade.

Where are all you people getting feedback from? lol. Never had any good or bad in a decade.

All of my students get given a form to be completed by them and their parents.

I don't think getting feedback from students is entirely fair.

Like Scarn, I've also never seen any of this feedback from my students but it sounds like the questions are all based around co-teaching or criteria that I've never been made aware of.

The students probably don't know that a lot of us are just thrown in at the deep end with no guidance or even a curriculum to follow.

Not really ranting, but we don't have a thread for bemoaning our existence... yet.

There's something seriously wrong with my emotions right now.

My school sent out a survey to our 4th and 5th graders and their parents asking how they felt about the English program and about me in particular. I got very... mixed reviews.

I'm a teacher. Kids aren't all supposed to like me and obviously some parents are against NETs in the classroom. So I shouldn't be so shocked and hurt.

I'm not normally the "cries-in-a-bathroom" type, but I have seriously gave my all this year. I create good lessons, I'm never late or absent, and I always say yes when asked to do something.

I don't know. I just feel discouraged right now. I was finally starting to feel good about staying for another year, I'm so excited about my Christmas lessons, and now I'm just... sad.

I feel you. I got mixed reviews as well. I think the bad reviews came from parents whose children are pretty much spawn of satan and I am fairly strict. Also my CT and I aren't exactly on the best of terms and I noticed that parents who are friends with her gave her rave reviews and me, not so much. She doesn't even teach or prepare materials or have anything to do with classroom management. She will play non English related fun Korean games with them though so of course they all love her more than the teacher who actually makes them do work and learn and who has to be the policeman. So be it. Can't please all of the people/kids/parents/CT's all of the time. Take the rest of the year to chill, throw together classes last minute, show videos, you did your bit just be kind to yourself now.

I have said this many times before, NET"s are just a scapegoat, or someone to throw under the bus to make the Korean "English" Teacher look good.

How many post in these rant threads to people have to read, before they figure this out?

How is it, that the NET is responsible for all these check boxes, yet the Korean CT doesn't even get evaluated, and on top of that, your CT hands in an evaluation of you. Which is probably way lower than it should be to boost numbers. I had a great relationship with my CT"s, they loved my teaching style etc... then they tried to HIDE their evals of me... Why? Probably because they need to throw me under the bus for the parents approval and schools...

I will continue to say this, along with what I have already posted. The schools what want to have their cake, and eat it too.

They want a NET to be a HOMEROOM teacher, and be responsible for all the things that a HOMEROOM teacher should take care of... but at the same time undermine everything you do, not give you any real authority, steal lesson materials after they say it's no good, give you the shit contract teachers wage and benefits, but HEY YOU ARE A TEACHER SO... you didn't do this and this and this, and the students don't like this and this... "Umm excuse me, if I am an English teacher, then why in the yearbook am I not under the English teacher page listed as one. Instead, I am on the back page listed as the school's "foreigner."

Yeah go **** yourself. It doesn't matter what you do, the teacher in the end or school will resign or let you go on a whim, and it might have NOTHING to do with any of the things mentioned in the thread previously. It could be some petty gripe, because Koreans lack any sort of maturity in the workplace, and have to take a personal vendetta out on you when you disagree with anything, or whatever...

Show up, do your job with just enough effort, stop trying to build "relationships," and take your money to the bank.

It's hard to do at first. It took me a full year. I just couldn't accept that I had to be that way, I wanted the kids to learn, and I wanted to teach... but, the stress on your body and mind; it's not healthy. I still have times where I get upset, but its far less, and at least my time energy and effort weren't completely wasted.

Same for all of the schools I've worked at so far. If they have any evaluations, I'm not hearing about any of it.

Fuhhh so on the bright side, they upgraded/replaced my office computer (and my old computer is moving to the English lab, which is great) but on the downside, I don't remember how to change the display language to English.

Trying to figure that out again. If anyone knows offhand, that'd be cool to know.

Same for all of the schools I've worked at so far. If they have any evaluations, I'm not hearing about any of it.

Last year the kids returned the evaluations to the ct, I asked her about it, and she told me I was not allowed to see them.  This year, different co-teacher, she told me the general response I was given (thankfully positive).  So I wouldn't be surprised if all schools do it, you are just not told about it.  And if you can't read Korean, there's even the chance you've looked at it and not known it was about you.

Nice, wheresmycoffee changed their profile picture to something more appropriate! lol

Why, when you ask for advice on something specific, do people give you unrelated advice? I posted in a foreigner's group asking about some specifics regarding transferring money from my specific bank, and people are giving advice like "use western union! get an account with citi! use KEB!"

Um excuse you. That was not the question I asked. I asked for some specific information about my bank, not for advice on how to transfer money

Fuhhh so on the bright side, they upgraded/replaced my office computer (and my old computer is moving to the English lab, which is great) but on the downside, I don't remember how to change the display language to English.

Trying to figure that out again. If anyone knows offhand, that'd be cool to know.

This is assuming that the computer is running on Windows 7 and probably already has English fonts/script installed.

Go to : Control panel > Clock, Language, and Region (this will be the icon with the globe and clock) > Region and Language (globe and clock again, not the calendar)

A new window should pop up, the third tab is normally "Keyboards and Languages". The second button will be an option to install/uninstall a language (should have a picture of a shield on the button next to the text). Under that should be a box where you can select your display language (everything will be in Korean). Select 영어 (there will be multiple options for this, I always go for 미국).

You may need to change the Format to English as well (First tab of same window, first box).