Korean Job Discussion Forums

[rojees]

Im a newbie here and would like some comments about your own experiences

When i ask which is the best, I mean regarding curriculum, general work hours, prep time, students, level of discipline, shifts, accommodation etc

Please state your reasons for your selection

[Hyeon Een]

It depends on YOU.

Personally I get on great with any ages older than kindergarten. I'm good with elementary, middle and high school. I also get on great with University aged students.

I don't like "proper" adults and I don't like Kindergarten. They are poles apart but neither are my cup of tea.

My personal ideal ages are Elementary 4-6 grade and University age. Some teachers here will totally love different ages. It's hard to know until you have experience with them. (I also totally love middle school when they love English and are there because they want to be.. )

Your poll is so difficult to answer. I have my favorites but they can be totally blown away by certain groups of awesome students of any age.

Spend some time with people of ALL ages and it might give you an idea of what you'd be good at teaching. But it might not. It's a tough question until you have experience. If I had one choice of ages it'd be University freshmen (before the guys go into the military).

(And all my comments are regardless of prerpwork. I'm talking about pure 'feeling' here with regards to the students. For me the books and prep matter less than the feeling I get)

[Colorado]

I love the challenge of Middle School.

[Thunndarr]

I like elementary 3-5th and adults. I don't like teaching the young kids as it's often a total waste of time for them to be studying English, and I can't stand the attitude of (many) middle school and high school kids.

[corroonb]

Adults.

[mountain goat]

[JMO]

I like grades 5/6 elementary school to high school. Anything younger just seems futile to me, although I do have my younger classes only once a week and I think that they think it's playtime. I havnt taught university or adult but I have taught every other level. To me kindergarten is hell. Everything else I can deal with. If I could make all my classes from one level, I would make it middle school.

[jlb]

Kindergarten and middle school are hell, though for very different reasons. I've never taught anyone older than middle school so can't comment on the other ages.

Kindi: just sucks the life out of you. So tiring. 30 minutes feels like an hour.

Middle School: somewhat disrespectful and all about the looming tests. Very quiet too.

Elementary is awesome. Lots of energy and happy to be learning English.

[Sod_em_and_begorrah]

In my experience-Elementary is my favourite in general, because the kids are a lot more enthusiastic and easy to manage.

Middle school-in the hagwon drawing answers out of them is like getting blood out of a stone. They don't want to look smart and they don't want to look stupid, so they say nothing. I taught for 10 weeks in a public middle school and only the same few students in each class wanted to learn-which is only to be expected.

High school-I'm currently teaching a class of students who have just finished high school and are starting uni soon. It's my favourite class, they all speak good English and are all enthusiastic about learning. I have no idea what teaching in an actual high school is like but I'd like to do it someday.

Uni-never taught

Adults-I taught a few adults, three ajummas and an ajosshi who were only doing it as a hobby. It was hateful, because they didn't bother learning anything-it was like a coffee morning for them. The same mistakes came up in every single lesson. Mistakes that my 7-year-olds only make once or twice.

I wouldn't teach kindergarten.

[Homer]

Worked with elementary school kids, middle school and high school students and now with adults and university students.

Each has its own set of advantages and disadvantages. It really does depend on what you are looking for and on what type of teacher you are.

Do you like kids?

Are you an energetic teacher (this is required for kids)?

Are you patient? (required for kids)

Do you prefer more grammar oriented lessons (adults)?

Do you prefer adult learners that include those who want to learn and those who are just there and pretty hard to motivate?

Do you prefer split shifts (usually for adults)?

These are just a few questions and really the input you get here will only be minimally useful as none of us can know what you prefer and what your personality is more geared to....