Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Yu_Bum_suk]

So today I go into school to meet my middle school co-workers. One, the best I've ever worked with, is back from a one-term break and the other is one with whom I've really developed a good working relationship. Only now she's going on a one-term study leave. And her temp is coming to meet us today. He walks in with an older guy. Holy shit, I think, looking at him. Please tell me it's the older guy. No, it's him. He wouldn't get into a bar in most countries without ID. Seriously, put him in a high school uniform and he could walk down the road without anyone batting an eye. How are the middle school students going to respond to and respect someone who looks like he might not be 20 (he's mid-twenties, but shit does he ever look young).

Then I get to the high school staff-room and find out that last year's contract English teacher is moving to a school closer to his home. He did seem a little strange when I last saw him in February, like something was up. We'll get a new teacher next week. To be honest the old one was mediocre at best, but still I'd rather go with the devil I know than take my odds with a rookie.

So now this year I'll have to start from scratch with two more Korean newbies. I've already had to work with four in the public school system; only one of them had any idea what she was doing and she learned the ropes at a crap hogwan like me. Does anyone have any experience starting off with Korean newbies and getting them to do anything effective and helpful besides translating hand-outs? I seem to have had very little luck so far.

[ilovebdt]

Hey don't complain man I see a golden business opportunity here training newbie Korean English teachers how to work with their native English speaking counterparts.


ilovebdt

[Yu_Bum_suk]

[ilovebdt]

[oneofthesarahs]

Everybody's gotta start somewhere.

[bnrockin]

Hmm, so know I will know exactly what is going through the other foreign teachers heads when they see me for the first time. In the states I look like I could be a senior or junior in high school.

[bosintang]

[Yu_Bum_suk]

[mrd]

I wish when I started teaching in Korea I knew a teacher as understanding, patient and as experienced as you.

They are lucky to have such a role model. Indeed, since the one looks so young, he probably makes you look that much older and, evidently, bitter.

Cheer up, have fun with them, and don't pretend you know everything. Perhaps you can learn as much from them as they can from you.

[oneofthesarahs]

Oh, and by the way, one of the Korean teachers in my school looks like he is about 18, tops. He is one of the most loved teachers in the school: the director likes him, kids like him, parents like him.

[Kimchieluver]

YBM, I have a bunch of new co-teachers too. Don't be too discouraged, if they are young, they probably carry a lot less baggage than teachers that have been transferred. Also, they may not have given up on improving their English.

[mindmetoo]

[nautilus]

A good co-teacher really makes the job here. Married women are definitely the best.

With the men theres often an ego problem, with the unmarried women theres often either UST or problems arising from "RST."

[yingwenlaoshi]

It's only a public school job. I wouldn't worry about it. Not like you get much accomplished anyway with these once or twice a week classes. Just breeze on through the year and don't worry about a thing. You're just there so they can say you're there. Have a good time and just joke around with the newbie co-teachers. Can't take such a job too seriously.

[indytrucks]