Poor guy.

If I had that kind of line-up at the back of my class, I'd be looking the other way and playing with a doll, too.



He's demonstrating an English-only class at one of the nine Seoul elementary schools who will teach English in English from the third grade.

Two things need to be said with regards to that. First of all, anytime a native speaker is teaching a class, it's English in English, especially since too often coteachers don't show up or participate. In fact, if you look through the Korean teachers' guides you'll see that they intend for the class to be taught in English, whether by a Korean teacher or a coteaching tandem. With a little confidence and initiative, even a teacher with limited English ability can get by in English by simply using classroom English, simple commands, and the target language in that particular lesson. However, even in front of young beginners, teachers are often too embarrassed to attempt to speak English, or don't know how to teach a student-centered class effective for a foreign language classroom.

Secondly, count how many native speaker teachers you see observing the class. When English in English is brought up the emphasis is always on having Korean teachers catch up, however it's important not to neglect the role foreign teachers play in the classroom, not only as important cultural touchstones but often as innovators who are better able to teach in a way appropriate for fostering English communication. However we are rarely given opportunities to observe others, and thus even those with certificates or training often lack the practical skills to be effective in a Korean classroom. I remember my year at a Gangjin elementary school I was invited to two demonstration classes. The first time I was asked to wait in the office with the other foreign teacher since *smacks forehead* our handler said the class would be boring since it was in Korean. The second time I watched a rehearsed fourth-grade lesson taught by the homeroom teacher. All the observing teachers then sat in two concentric circles after the lesson to give their thoughts on the class. They went around the room and every teacher made some comments, but when it came time for me to give my opinion they skipped over me. That was the last time I considered staying in Gangjin for a second year.

That teacher is a small celebrity today, having his photograph accompanying a number of articles. Unfortunately like many underappreciated native speaker teachers he doesn't merit mention on the school's list of faculty and staff.





There, now that last expression is something I can relate to. Browse the "English in the news" label for more takes on English education.