Job Discussion Forums

[shorain]

hey,
just wondering if anyone's done the move from Korea-town to Spain as i'm considering it for the New Year. finishing up here in October going travelling for a while & then home for Christmas.
really need a change & would love some advice....as strange as it seems i think teaching in Spain might be somewhat harder never having felt like I actually taught anything here...(hagwon of course)...strange that!
any advice appreciated

[jr1965]

I've lived in both places (Korea and Spain). I taught college students and business people in Seoul; when I moved back to San Francisco (where I'm from) and worked as a teacher, I had a number of Spaniards in my classes. I'm living in Madrid now (husband is from this city), but I haven't taught here as of yet.

I'd say that, in general, you'll find adult Spanish students easier to work with. (I've no idea about working with kids.) Most of the time, they have a great attitude; they LOVE to talk, and will really take what you've prepared and run with it (as long as it's relevant & interesting to them).

In terms of quality of life, I liked Seoul, but the day-to-day in Madrid (and Spain in general it seems) is much more relaxing and enjoyable I think.

The big plus in Korea of course is that pay is better and most of the time housing is provided. I can't say that the same is true for Spain.

[alexcase]

I would take that comment about Spanish students being relaxed about what they do in class with a pinch of salt until that poster gets their end of year feedback. Just like in Thailand, smiling faces do not really mean much. Spanish students are actually the most grammar and correction obsessed students I have met- and I teach in Japan, which is supposed to be famous for it.

The other main downer is the complete lack of support from the schools with practical stuff like accomodation, although the fact that the language is easier to pick up means that is easier to do yourself than in some other places.

That said, I enjoyed it a lot (see my sticky post above)

[jr1965]

Alex,

I think you misunderstood my comment above. I said that LIFE in general is more relaxing in Spain/Madrid than it was for me in Seoul. I didn't say that Spanish students are relaxed about what they do in class. In my experience, Spanish learners have a great attitude and are in class to make the most of their time. Whatever you're teaching had better be well prepared, relevant and interesting to them, or they will certainly let you know that they are displeased!

In Korea, the majority of my students also had the same expectations (in terms of class being well prepared, etc.); however, I found that at times, they were somewhat reluctant to actually use the language in class, or would give one or two word answers. I can't say that this was ever the case with my Spanish students. This was the point I was trying to make in my original post when I said that adult Spanish students might be easier to work with.

[alexcase]

My apologies, I did indeed misunderstand. It's a common misconception, glad you haven't fallen into that trap.

Not that I'm always trying to find negative points, but... I found the down side of Spanish students always being willing to talk was that they often would not listen to each other! In FCE speaking practice here in Japan you have to say "You have to try and speak 50%". In Spain, it 's "You have to let the other person speak 50%, and show you are listening to what they are saying".

Ditto with some of my Spanish female friends nattering on and never listening, but that is true even in Japan...

[jr1965]