My Life! Teaching in a Korean University has Moved

This blog is slowly migrating over to a new site: http://teachinginkoreanuniversity.com at a rate of a few post a day, but there's already a lot of content up there now. I think you'll find the new site far easier to navigate than this one.

Here's just a sample of what's going on over there:

Syllabus for Teaching in a Korean University

How to Begin a Conversation Class

Top 10 Tips for Newbies to Teaching in a Korean University

How to Get High Student Evaluations

Academic Integrity in Korean Universities

Reader Question: Sample Syllabus for a University Conversation Class

This one from Joshua:

"Could you post a sample of a syllabus that you would use for a University conversation class in Korea?"

Hey there Joshua, no problem.  Check out the link here to one that I used last semester:

English Conversation Sample Syllabus

Some (most) people make their syllabi far more complicated/official sounding than this one. But, I like to keep it simple since it's my style and I always try to keep my audience in mind (students with sometimes quite basic English skills) and not worry too much about appearances for the sake of the admin.

On Organization, Part 2

 Yesterday, I talked about my experience in working for admins who are not really teachers and how that can lead to less than ideal results.  Today, I'll talk about the qualities of admins that I like to work for:

1. They are teachers, or ex-teachers.  They actually have spent a good amount of time in the classroom.

2. They give enough information to teachers about the class, but then are also hands-off in terms of actual teaching.

3. They filter the ridiculous.  One student complaining about something?  They never let it get to the teacher.  5 students saying the same thing?  They'll let the teacher know.  Discretion is required!

4. They want to improve their programs, which involves getting feedback from teachers at the end of the course.

5. They have clear, achievable goals for the students.

6. They do placement tests and divide the students into appropriate levels. 

7. They are easy to talk to.  This involves speaking English at least at an intermediate level and having some understanding of "Western" culture. 

Speaking/Speech Class

I heard that I'll be teaching a Speech class for the first time this semester, so I went onto the Kotesol Facebook Group (very helpful: join!) and asked for some advice.  People mentioned lots of stuff ranging from no book, to books, to video-taping presentations.  One book that was mentioned a few times was "Speaking of Speech" by David Harrington & Charles LeBeau, so I decided to order it and check it out.  It's quite expensive on Amazon, but I found it on Gmarket for around 15 000.  And, it arrived 3 days later. 

It looks pretty fabulous: it's beginner level, easy to understand, covers all the highlights such as posture, gestures, slides, etc and has fun, in-class practice things.  Plus, there are around 8 (didn't count yet!) ready-made speech assignments, complete with evaluation grids.  What more could a teacher want?  Planning/executing this course will be not as overwhelming as I first thought it would be. 

Ten Tips for Newbies to the Korean University Teaching Experience

Teaching in a Korean University

Semester 9 of my time teaching ESL at a Korean University is coming to a close, with only 5 more classes of speaking tests to administer and some spreadsheet grading magic to make happen.  And when I compare my first shaky semester as a naive newbie to now, it's almost astounding the differences in my teaching and management style.  Anyway, here are my tips for Newbies to Teaching in a Korean University.  I hope they're helpful to you.  I wish someone had told them to me when I first started.

1. Your students will not be as high of level as you think.  While they may have an impressive range of vocabulary, they're often extremely weak in actually using it.  And basic grammar points will need to be reviewed.  I have plenty of other posts about handling low level students in Korean Universities.

2. University is a party-time for Korean students, between Sooneung Hell and selling their souls to Samsung or Hyundai or Kia.  Adjust your classes accordingly.  If you make them too hard with too much homework, the students will be unhappy.  Give a little bit or homework and a few tests so you can have some self-respect but don't stress too much about making it like a university class is "back home."

3. Don't trust the students to "check" the box for their own attendance.  They will lie and cheat for their friends.  You need to personally do it.  And carefully.  It's the only fair way.

4. Don't accept Kyeol-gung-wons (absence excuse papers) for minor things like colds.  Reserve it for the serious such as a car accident/brain trauma/close family member's death. 

5. Chill out.  Korea is a Bali-Bali (fast-fast) last minute kind of culture.  Lots of decisions will happen just in time with regard to classes and schedules and housing.  Don't worry about it and just go with the flow.  If you stress out about it, something terrible might happen to you by the end of your year, like all your hair falling out.  I guarantee it.

6. Cheating (cunning) is not such a serious offense in Korea as it is in the Western World.  Most students think nothing of plagiarizing something off the Internet for a written assignment.  Or copying off their friend in the few minutes before class starts.  Or bringing a cheating paper to the test.  So give assignments and tests that minimize this and you won't have to deal with it.  I do exclusively speaking tests, with groups of 2-4 students in my office.  There is no possible way for them to cheat.  And I simply don't assign the "workbook" as homework.  Check out Culture Shock Korea for some more insight into Korean Culture.

7. Class sizes really do matter.  Before accepting a job, perhaps the most important question to ask would be, "What are the class sizes?"  I'm not sure I would ever take a job with very large, multi-level classes.  This was the reality in my first semester and it was extremely difficult.  Now, some of my classes are down to 10 students and the difference is astounding.  I can actually get to know my students as individuals and see them actually improve their English skills.  It's far more rewarding.

8. Simple is better.  Syllabi, tests, activities, grammar points.  Everything really.

9. Keep on top of the paperwork.  Input attendance into the computer each week.  Enter grades into your spreadsheets as you get them.  Have at least a couple of weeks lessons planned ahead of time.

10. Your teaching impact does not equal your self-worth.  You'll have some bad classes and students that don't like you.  It doesn't mean that you're a bad person, or a terrible teacher.  Get some hobbies and friends and learn to leave your teaching behind you at the end of the day.

For the best tips on how to get one of these prime university jobs in South Korea, check out this fabulous book (by me!): How to Get a University Job in South Korea: The English Teaching Job of Your Dreams.

First Day of Class

And so it begins...another semester, my 9th at this same university.  After 8 semesters, I'm still nervous for the first day of class.  Anyway, here is my plan for today:

1. Teacher Introduction.  I basically give my name, and how they can contact me. 

2. Attendance, and I pass around an information sheet so I can get their names, phone numbers and email addresses. 

3. Textbook stuff.

4. Rules and attendance policy. 

5. Grades and assignments this semester.

6. Online Homework: I will show a short video and do a demo for how they can sign up.

7. Homework for next week: sign up for online homework thing and buy book.

Then I let them go early.  I'm all business on the first day and for the first couple weeks.  Then, once I get to know the students better and they know me and we have a kind of respect thing going, I loosen up and have more fun with them. 

Back to work!

Hello my readers...I hope you're still lingering around, after my extended absence.  Jeju got quite busy with diving, and friends, and going away dinners and other good stuff like that. 

It was back to reality yesterday with the orientation meeting my uni has every year before the semester starts.  It's essentially the only mandatory meeting we have, and it's only twice a year, so it's another reason why I appreciate my uni.

Anyway, the meetings usually feature the top 3 teachers (based on student's evaluations) out of the 26 of us doing a short presentation.  And yes, for the first time, I was in the top 3.  I presented on my reward/motivation system.  It was essentially what I did for my previous Kotesol presentation and what I will do for the Kotesol International Conference 2011 in Seoul Oct. 15/16.

Now, time to get that syllabus in order and organize my online homework thing, and print off attendance sheets and perhaps do a lesson plan or two, or three, or five.  It's my style to plan at least a few weeks ahead to avoid the mid-semester crunch.

My syllabus for the next semester

Book: Susan Stempleski: World Link, Book 1 Student Book.  Units 7-12. (No homework book)

Rules:          1. Bring your book.  No book=no study.  Go home!

                        2. Listen!

                        3. No cell-phones (only dictionary).

                        4. Be on time. 10 minutes late=no problem.  11 minutes late=door is locked.

                        5. Nametag.

                        6. Try to speak English!

 

Attendance:

If you miss 5 classes, you get “F.”  I only accept kyeol-gung-won for VERY SERIOUS things. Example: your mother or grandfather dies.  You are in a car accident.   

I don’t accept them for: festival, colds, sports game, stomachache, army body check, etc.

If you miss 4 classes, it’s okay, but your final grade will be low (if you want A/A+, then come to every class). 

Grades:

Participation/Attendance: 15%

If you are on-time, with your book, pencil, and nametag on your desk, you will get 1 stamp.  1 stamp=1 %.  No book, late, no nametag=no point. 

We play many games in class.  The winner gets a stamp. 

Midterm Exam: 20%.

Final Exam: 25%. 

Projects: 20%  (2 x 10%).  #1: information paper next week.  #2: in November.

Group Project (You’re the teacher!): 20%. (0ct. 11-15 and Nov. 29-Dec. 3).  More information later.