2. INTRODUCTION
In the first part of classroom management we take a brief look at the differences
between the State school co-teacher classroom management system, and managing
the ESL classroom in the Korean Hagwon (private school). We will look at the size
Of the empty classroom and its key fixed assets, how the electronic components
operate, and the available resources for use during practical classes. Then we will
Examine how to manage a classroom full of students, and see that sound
management by the ESL teacher minimises any unforeseen problems that might
arise during actual ESL teaching practice.
3. CO-TEACHER CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT IN
KOREAN STATE SCHOOL CLASSROOM
Those ESL teachers who contract to Korean State schools, and enter a co-
teacher classroom situation, will find that the state funded teacher resources
available in the State school ESL classroom, e.g. paper, pencil, games items,
computers, projectors, and large HDMI TV screen facilities, are second to
none. Private schools rarely compete at the same level with these classroom
management tools.
4. THE PRESENTATION OF ENGLISH THROUGH THE DIFFERENT LEVELS
OF STATE ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE, JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL, AND HIGH
SCHOOLS
The presentation of ESL English through the different levels of E,M, JGS, and HS
state schools is split into a General English section, and a Drama section.
The General English course work is aimed at bringing students to a year twelve
university entrance level. Where the emphasis is on drama the students the
objective is to become adept at devising scripts, creative writing, acting, them out,
and to be able to confidently produce their own competitive drama pieces. In a
class of thirty students, divided into five or six study groups, the students are given
topical subjects to work with. They learn to discuss the topics within small peer
groups, and devise roll play scripting. The ESL teacher is able to visit each groups
and spend S-T time discussing aspects of their endeavours, giving constructive
advice where needed.. Quizzes and vocabulary tests are also conducted in the
drama classes.
5. STATE SCHOOL CLASSROOM METHODS ARE SUPERVISED
THROUGH A “HEAD OF DEPARTMENT” TEACHER AND THE
KOREAN CO-TEACHING STAFF
Both of these classroom methods are supervised through a “Head of
Department” teacher and the Korean co-teaching staff. The ESL teacher attends
pre-lesson briefings from the Korean co-teacher and is given information on the
ensuing lesson plan, and how the teacher roles should unfold for the upcoming
lesson. Each lesson starts with the daily role call, (all Korean names for the
children), which is a good time for the ESL teacher to write up the date, and
century, on the white board, and prepare a weather report column, which is filled
in after the students have decided what the weather looks through the class room
windows. Everyday ESL students are asked what the time is (told from the
classroom clock), and what day of the week it (today) is, what month it is, the
year, and century, after which the lesson plan proceeds.
6. STATE SCHOOL CLASSROOM METHODS ARE SUPERVISED
THROUGH A “HEAD OF DEPARTMENT” TEACHER AND THE
KOREAN CO-TEACHING STAFF
When the lesson proper beg ins, there needs to be rapport between the co-
teachers, and a sense of passing the teaching lead back and forth between
themselves as the dynamics of the lesson takes place. Text books and large
computer controlled video screens are used, singing and roll play is often used in
classroom activities.
In both the General English and the Drama classes the ESL teacher may be
asked to take the entire lesson, where the Korean co-teacher is not available. The
internalised teacher resources, such as ACC TESOL teacher training in classroom
management provides, becomes invaluable at such times. Generally, though,
state school classroom is for managed by the State school staff, and is enhanced
by the ESL teacher's aptitude to co-teach,
7. CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT OF THE ESL
CLASSROOM IN THE KOREAN HAGWON (PRIVATE
SCHOOL)
The ESL teacher needs to quickly gather as much information as is
available about the Hagwon's physical ESL classroom environment. Its
size, the student number, the classroom seating arrangement. Where the
lighting switches and the power plugs are, and if there is an overhead
projector, if yes, how does it work. If other electronic equipment is available
how does it work? Are the chalk boards static, or movable in their frames?
Do they move up or down or side to side? Etc.. Where are any other
classroom resources kept? Where are the keys to the stock cupboard?
Having done so make a little drawing scheme for the front of the “lesson
plan” folder. This a hedge against disorientation of classroom assets for the
first week or two.
8. HAGWON, THE ACTUAL CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT
IS THE SOLE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE ESL
TEACHER
In a Hagwon, the actual classroom management is the sole responsibility of the
ESL teacher, there is no actual Korean co-teacher, but there is always someone to
consult if necessary. Here are a few pointers that can make the ESL teachers
classroom management a little smoother.
Hagwon classes, which can start daily at 9 am until 2 pm or 3 pm, but are more
likely to start around 4 pm and run until 9 pm or 10 pm daily, (life goes on after ten
pm in the Karaoke bars, and restaurants) have multiple student level classrooms
ranging from Elementary, Middle, Junior high school to High school, to adults.
Teaching hours in the classroom are 30 hours a week, but expect to put in at least
ten more hours in lesson preparation, planning, and making and writing up student
reports.
9. ESL TEACHERS NEED TO QUICKLY BECOME
ACQUAINTED WITH THE DIFFERENT STUDENT
LEVELS THEY WILL BE REQUIRED TO TEACH
ESL teachers need to quickly become acquainted with the different student levels
they will be required to teach in the Hagwon environment, and the aims and
objective of the different text books.
Some Hagwon classrooms have no text books and require the ESL teacher's to
draw upon their personal resources and teaching abilities (TESOL teacher
training), e.g. the ESL teacher might run “How to discuss” lessons with Junior High
School or High school students, or pick topics of current National interest and run
Debates classes. Having one or two printable ESL programs with practice ESL
material, and ESL tests on a USB drive that encompass English for academic
purposes material and that cover the combined set of Reading, Writing, Speaking,
and Listening skills is a useful resource that the ESL teacher brings to classroom
management resources.
10. ACTUAL ENGLISH GRAMMAR COMPONENT OF THE
COURSEWORK IS PROVIDED BY THE HAGWON'S
KOREAN TEACHERS
Because the actual English grammar component of the coursework
is provided by the Hagwon's Korean teachers, Australian ESL
teachers should familiarise themselves with any coursework text
book's “end of chapter“ grammar testing. Not all students fully
understand English grammar tenses and their attributes, so the ESL
teacher constantly redefines the grammar components of each
chapter, and reinforces student's comprehension.
11. AT EACH LESSON'S OPENING, THE DAY'S DATE, MONTH,
AND YEAR, THE TEXT BOOK CHAPTER, AND THE TEXT
CHAPTER TOPIC SHOULD BE WRITTEN UP ON THE WHITE
BOARD
At each lesson's opening, the day's date, month, and year, the text
book chapter, and the text chapter topic should be written up on the
white board visible to the students entering the classroom This
enables student's to identify the lesson and quickly find the correct
chapter.
Welcoming the students to the classroom, taking the roll call, and
arranging any classroom seating for group oriented lesson work, if
required, any teacher handouts and any pointers from the previous
lesson should be completed before the lesson proper begins.
12. PART OF THE ESL CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT
HINGES ON THE KEEPING OF STUDENT RECORDS
Part of the ESL classroom management hinges on the keeping of student
records. These may be a required on a daily, or weekly basis. They include
attendance records, student performance records, test records for the four
skills reading, writing, listening and speaking, and practice tests. Not all
Hagwons provide forms, therefore it incumbent on the ESL teacher to
provide suitable forms for each required task.
A good ESL teacher policy is to have a set of pre-written printable forms
saved on a USB or flash drive that can be modified at will.
13. ESL TEACHER MANAGEMENT OF SUMMER
AND WINTER CAMPS
Summer and Winter camps are more fun, they are relatively well paid short
contract assignments for ESL teachers.
The ESL teacher manages a group of students in daily English classrooms, and
many activities that include short roll play theatre, poster competitions between
other student groups, clay and plasticine modelling competition, Golden Bell
knock-out vocabulary competitions (very popular), wide games, treasure hunts,
bowling and pool activities, and co-teacher meal time supervision. Korean
teachers look after the students dormitory. ESL teachers are expected to
contribute and interpret the camp coordinators programs
14. Well, that's a little insight to managing the practical
classroom in the Korean ESL teaching
environment. Your TESOL teachers training course
will more fully describe Classroom Management
techniques during the TESOL coursework
