Author Topic: I'm a new high school teacher ..... HELP!!! (Read 63983 times)

PaperInky · « **Reply #120 on:** July 08, 2012, 03:41:32 PM »

Trying to emphasize free-speaking is really difficult. I have them keep a journal. They answer a question, write at least five sentences about it, and then you can use it to segue into the lesson. You have a lot of freedom, which is great. Pick three grammar points, like past tense, subjunctive, and future tense. Then teach that all year, in dialog, tests and whatever.

Good luck!

america69 · « **Reply #121 on:** July 09, 2012, 09:07:20 AM »

Yeah, my technical high school students are my toughest. They don't really care about learning English and I only see them once every two weeks so it is next to impossible to actually teach them anything constructive. My co teacher just said to make the class entertaining and to do a lot of games. I tried the 2 truths and 1 lie game but their English as too low for them to really get into it.. They did enjoy a celebrity taboo game though.

이지성 · « **Reply #122 on:** July 19, 2012, 07:40:30 AM »

I became a teacher later than my university friends. So I asked many things to them to have ideas about the school life. I was wondering what I have to tell in the class to make the atmosphere of the class active and comfortable. My friends told me that she taked about her daughter's color of the socks, how she cooks at home, her travel experience and so on. She tried to encougage me.
Now I feel very comfortable when I teach. I'm sure you can do well, too. Be corageous and confident.

JYK2003 · « **Reply #123 on:** August 26, 2012, 01:51:57 AM »

Well, I don't know if this will help but; you could talk about movies: ask what kind they like, talk about different genres. If you go to apple.com and click on movie trailers, you can show some (you'd have to go through them of course to see if they are appropriate) and ask if it's a movie they'd like to watch. Also, you can download a lot of movies, and make it a discussion class. I do this with some of my special classes; show them a movie and while they watch (with subs) I make questions. When I feel I have enough (about 5), I write the questions on the board and have them copy. Then they have to answer them and write the answer. This may be too advanced, but maybe you can make it easy?

Dela · « **Reply #124 on:** May 06, 2013, 03:59:19 PM »

Today was my first day and I feel like I was thrown for a loop. I spent all my time preparing a lesson plan around the textbook - which is what I was told to do. Then when I got to class, my co-teacher completely threw that out of the window and spent the lesson doing his own thing, getting them to ask me questions and speaking to the students on the side. I wish I had seen this coming because then I would have prepared a proper a slideshow - it just made me feel completely and seem as though I hadn't bothered to prepare a lesson. I really hope that it's not all downhill from here.

Wintermute · « **Reply #125 on:** May 07, 2013, 07:38:00 AM »

@Dela

Aww that sounds pretty bad, but very common. Just remember to communicate with him and all co-teachers what you want and what you will do in class, otherwise nothing will change. Don't just let them tell you what you will do and what they expect of you.

lennerz · « **Reply #126 on:** March 02, 2014, 11:14:51 AM »

Hi !!
I am also a new EPIK teacher and I will be teaching at Gyeongbuk Arts High school. I was told from the previous EPIK teacher that there will be no access to powerpoint so now I can't even make an introductory power point about myself. I start tomorrow and hopefully it will be just observing but I'm at a loss right now. I have no teaching experience and no access to technology makes things even more difficult. Any tips or suggestions?
Thanksss !

88matthew · « **Reply #127 on:** March 02, 2014, 01:34:12 PM »

Just concentrate on what it is you want to say. Little by little you'll get it.

q_man · « **Reply #128 on:** March 02, 2014, 04:51:34 PM »

Quote from: lennerz on March 02, 2014, 11:14:51 AM

Hi !!
I am also a new EPIK teacher and I will be teaching at Gyeongbuk Arts High school. I was told from the previous EPIK teacher that there will be no access to powerpoint so now I can't even make an introductory power point about myself. I start tomorrow and hopefully it will be just observing but I'm at a loss right now. I have no teaching experience and no access to technology makes things even more difficult. Any tips or suggestions?
Thanksss !

No access to Powerpoint, or not access to a computer? You can easily pop onto a computer and install Powerpoint Viewer if you have access.

In case you don't have access, definitely have a list of rules, and procedure that you want to start teaching immediately. It is true that the first day is for introduction about yourself, but you definitely need to outline some expectations about what how you want your student to behave in the classroom. This can be as simple as entering to classroom, to whether you want to assign seats that day.

Otherwise, keep it light, have some jokes, and let the students ask questions about you.

lennerz · « **Reply #129 on:** March 03, 2014, 08:10:17 AM »

Thanks for the tips!
and yah I clarified it with one of the teachers and they do not have computers in any of the classrooms but he said I could bring my own laptop if I wanted. I feel like this week is my start to desk warming.

LupinTheThird · « **Reply #130 on:** February 28, 2017, 08:18:36 AM »

I'm a new teacher in Jeju.....and I'm already not thrilled with the deskwarming.

I could be unpacking and getting settled in my apartment....but I have to come in and sit for 8 hours and do nothing?!

What is the point of this?

Datasapien · « **Reply #131 on:** February 28, 2017, 12:45:09 PM »

Welcome to Korea

If you're new, there must be some planning / prep you could be doing for your classes, no? If not, Youtube is your friend.

LupinTheThird · « **Reply #132 on:** March 02, 2017, 12:11:22 PM »

I'm not new to Korea but new to Epik.

It's complete and utter b.s. that I have to get up at 6, get on a bus at 7 and sit at my desk doing nothing until 5pm and then leave.

When am I supposed to go to the bank and pay my bills? (And no, I don't want to do internet banking)

This feels like jail. I literally feel like I am chained to my desk.

I've heard people talk about how Korea is a feudal system because they own your visa, but it has never felt like it to me, until now. I am the school's property.

I've been here two days and I want to quit. I haven't even started teaching yet.

It is a complete and utter waste of my time.

kriztee · « **Reply #133 on:** March 02, 2017, 01:18:16 PM »

Quote from: LupinTheThird on March 02, 2017, 12:11:22 PM

I'm not new to Korea but new to Epik.

It's complete and utter b.s. that I have to get up at 6, get on a bus at 7 and sit at my desk doing nothing until 5pm and then leave.

When am I supposed to go to the bank and pay my bills? (And no, I don't want to do internet banking)

This feels like jail. I literally feel like I am chained to my desk.

I've heard people talk about how Korea is a feudal system because they own your visa, but it has never felt like it to me, until now. I am the school's property.

I've been here two days and I want to quit. I haven't even started teaching yet.

It is a complete and utter waste of my time.

You don't need the bank open to pay bills. You can do it at the atm. When you start teaching it'll seem better. You'll do your classes then prep for the next day then get a bit bored and skim through waygook looking for drama to read, sometimes chime in. That's what a good portion of epik teachers do :)

castowers · « **Reply #134 on:** March 03, 2017, 10:33:08 AM »

Quote from: LupinTheThird on March 02, 2017, 12:11:22 PM

I'm not new to Korea but new to Epik.

It's complete and utter b.s. that I have to get up at 6, get on a bus at 7 and sit at my desk doing nothing until 5pm and then leave.

When am I supposed to go to the bank and pay my bills? (And no, I don't want to do internet banking)

This feels like jail. I literally feel like I am chained to my desk.

I've heard people talk about how Korea is a feudal system because they own your visa, but it has never felt like it to me, until now. I am the school's property.

I've been here two days and I want to quit. I haven't even started teaching yet.

It is a complete and utter waste of my time.

If you need to go to the bank, you can always ask to leave early. Most of your co-teachers will understand and let you go.

Deskwarming can be frustrating but once you get to know your co-teachers, they may let you leave after lunch or let you "work from home". Which is, technically, not allowed via our contracts but, if your principal agrees, you're golden. Most POE's don't really care. It's in our contracts as a fail-safe because, in the past, EPIK teachers were getting 4-6 week vacations since their schools were lenient. And other EPIK teachers, who weren't so lucky and forced to deskwarm, were jealous and complained.

Just pop on Netflix and chill. Or you know, prepare for your upcoming classes. It sucks but there's not much you can do.

tommyb.goode · « **Reply #135 on:** March 03, 2017, 12:06:14 PM »

Quote from: #basedcowboyshirt on March 03, 2017, 11:38:48 AM

Quote from: LupinTheThird on March 02, 2017, 12:11:22 PM
I'm not new to Korea but new to Epik.

It's complete and utter b.s. that I have to get up at 6, get on a bus at 7 and sit at my desk doing nothing until 5pm and then leave.

When am I supposed to go to the bank and pay my bills? (And no, I don't want to do internet banking)

This feels like jail. I literally feel like I am chained to my desk.

I've heard people talk about how Korea is a feudal system because they own your visa, but it has never felt like it to me, until now. I am the school's property.

I've been here two days and I want to quit. I haven't even started teaching yet.

It is a complete and utter waste of my time.

Why are you doing nothing? That's your choice. If you have unlimited free time, there's lots of things you could be doing. Start making some materials. Watch a movie. Study. Read a book. Go for a run on the school campus. Call your family. Literally endless possibilities.

Also, saying "I don't have time to do my banking" and then saying it's because you "don't want to use internet banking" is like saying "I don't have time to make a sandwich because I don't have time to bake the bread and grow the tomato and lettuce and make my mayonnaise from scratch."

Based, always the voice of reason.

To add to this: you say you don't want to do internet banking, I know it's a hassle but you also say you're wasting time doing nothing. Why not cancel these two out and use that time to set up internet banking?

LupinTheThird · « **Reply #136 on:** March 06, 2017, 03:06:18 PM »

Quote from: #basedcowboyshirt link=topic=2162.msg687925#msg687925

saying "I don't have time to do my banking" and then saying it's because you "don't want to use internet banking" is like saying "I don't have time to make a sandwich because I don't have time to bake the bread and grow the tomato and lettuce and make my mayonnaise from scratch."

Multiple Korean banks have had breaches of security. Saying "Suck it up and do something you don't want to" is super helpful, thanks.

oglop · « **Reply #137 on:** March 06, 2017, 09:06:12 PM »

Quote from: LupinTheThird on March 02, 2017, 12:11:22 PM

I'm not new to Korea but new to Epik.

It's complete and utter b.s. that I have to get up at 6, get on a bus at 7 and sit at my desk doing nothing until 5pm and then leave.

When am I supposed to go to the bank and pay my bills? (And no, I don't want to do internet banking)

This feels like jail. I literally feel like I am chained to my desk.

I've heard people talk about how Korea is a feudal system because they own your visa, but it has never felt like it to me, until now. I am the school's property.

I've been here two days and I want to quit. I haven't even started teaching yet.

It is a complete and utter waste of my time.

this is why i quit public school. desk warming is an absolutely pointless load of bullshit

CJ · « **Reply #138 on:** April 04, 2017, 02:04:43 PM »

Hey all,

I'm returning to Korea soon to teach in a public high school.

Is there usually a textbook to teach from?, and if there is, how closely is one expected to follow it?

It seems from a quick perusal of the lesson plans that powerpoint presentations are very popular. Do all teachers do this? Several lesson plans seem merely like someone giving a presentation, with zero eliciting of vocab and zero modelling and drilling in the lesson plan.

Not to criticize, but is this how people teach in Korea? It doesn't seem very student focused.

In regards to the desk warming thing, yes, it is BS but moaning and whining isn't going to help.

slycordinator · « **Reply #139 on:** April 04, 2017, 09:48:04 PM »

Quote from: LupinTheThird on March 02, 2017, 12:11:22 PM

When am I supposed to go to the bank and pay my bills? (And no, I don't want to do internet banking)

If you have an occasional time where you have to go to the bank, doctor, etc, you simply set up the appointment to be in a time where you have no more remaining classes and ask to go for those. Your coteacher will be able to enter it in for you, as at least where I taught, the time-off requesting thing is entirely in Korean and impossible to navigate without help.

Quote from: CJ on April 04, 2017, 02:04:43 PM

It seems from a quick perusal of the lesson plans that powerpoint presentations are very popular. Do all teachers do this? Several lesson plans seem merely like someone giving a presentation, with zero eliciting of vocab and zero modelling and drilling in the lesson plan.

Not to criticize, but is this how people teach in Korea? It doesn't seem very student focused.

All that means is that the materials people are sharing on here are mostly powerpoint, not that the lessons entail nothing but powerpoint. Some of the people have textbooks that they're using and the powerpoint is supplementing it, with the vocab coming from the text.