[Denis DNT]

It's a common practice in most of the schools. The foreign teacher handles the ESL class together with another teacher whose first language is the same with that of the students.
However the style varies:
Style 1. Some schools put the two teachers in the class at the same time. The foreign teacher is the main speaker while the other teacher a kind of interpreter and also incharge of discipline.
Style 2. Some schools have the local teacher introduce the topic, teach the related vocabulary, grammar and sentence structures. Then the foreign teacher comes in towards the end with oral practice.
Style 3. Some schools let the foreign teacher introduce the unit and teach the general idea. The local teacher only helps in doing a kind of review with the students helping in areas they didn't understand.
Style 4. Some schools have two teachers for the same class but they teach separate course books and evaluate the students separately.

I have worked with styles 1 and 4. Currently I am working with style 2. Honestly, I have not yet found any satisfaction in co-teaching. I had more satisfaction when I used to teach French speaking students without a co-teacher.
What's your experience with co-teaching folks?

[mesmark]

Style 2 is the norm in Japanese JHS.

It's quite difficult to deal with if you don't agree with the objectives. I assume the general reason for English study in that situation is for test prep?

That's the case in Japan, so communicative competence is sort of thrown in there as a bonus for the students, but not really the 'meat' of the course.

[mesmark]

I should say the most effective and satisfying team teaching experience was when I was team teaching with another native speaker.

We were able to model the conversations together, model the students' role, and get around to the students better. However, I had pretty good rapport with the other teacher. I taught with another teacher in the same situation and eventually we just agreed that I'd do the work and he'd stay out of my way. (He actually said in his interview that he didn't like children, yet they hired him for an elementary school position anyway ????)

So, I think chemistry (and again objectives) really plays a big part in satisfation.

[Denis DNT]

Oh! Co-teaching with another native speaker must be a really different experience. How was it?

[Eric18]

In American IEP programs, especially in the summer, co-teaching occurs quite a bit.

Personally, I'm a bit ambivalent. If you respect your co-teacher and they do a fine job, than it's wonderful to have a second voice to help students. Unfortunately, sometimes you can find yourself working with a fine person with limited teaching skills and a rigid ideology. That can complicate matters.

Teaching a course, by yourself, is the easier and often more satisfying option.

[Denis DNT]

A friend of mine had a co-teacher whose job was actually to watch his lessons and send reports to the school administration. He received tons of criticism in several months from the adminstration and found out that his 'co-teacher' was actually his spy only at the last minute when he was about to leave the school.
Sucks really!