Korean Job Discussion Forums

[stretchio]

hi there.
i have just joined this wonderful site and have a small problem, which im wondering someone can help me with. Im basically coming out from england to teach english (to elementary children) in early may. I have my degree and everything, and have pretty much finalised a job. The only worry i have is the fact i have no teaching experience what so ever. If i was just put in front of a class of children now, i genuinly wouldnt know what to do or say. cud anyone please give me a little help in terms of what i am actually expected to do..
thank you guys
stretch

[billybrobby]

The job mainly consists of dancing whilst they fire six-shooters at your feet.

[laogaiguk]

[stretchio]

haha.....seriously though..im not sure i explained myself that well.. im just a little apprehensive in terms of my lack of experience. basically....what would be a typical first day for example?

[Yu_Bum_suk]

[poet13]

"im not sure i explained myself that well.. "

You explained yourself quite well. The likelihood of you actually "teaching" here and at that level is slim. The other posters weren't taking the piss either when they talked about dancing and bear suits....

First day. Smile a lot. Use short simple sentences. Repeat yourself. My name is ...... My name is ........ Have fun. If you're into kids, it could be the best experience of your life. If you're not, we have something here called soju that might help.

Welcome and good luck!

[stretchio]

yeah im into kids...so will be avoiding the 'sojo'.....your obviously going to have to explain that, u hav got me guessing.
'the other posters weren't taking the piss'.....
you can see how i thought they may have been! dancing around in bear suits sounds a bit fuc**d up!
so you smile alot.... and repeat yourself. do you read books to them and stuff like that?

[Scouse Mouse]

ABC Chocolate (buy bags of it from any korean shop)

The kids love it, and as long as they know you have chocolate to give them, they can be pretty good. At the very least it will stop them complaining about you whilst you find your feet

[stretchio]

cheers scouse mouse...so your bosses don't mind if you bring in bags of chocolate? i can see how it would win the kids approval!

[hubba bubba]

One word:

Hangman

[stretchio]

you surely can't get away with playin hangman all day hubba?

[poet13]

When I worked in a hakwon, I started out with the really basic stuff. Learning the alphabet. Numbers. Introducing yourself. These kids are very competitive. Learning the alphabet becomes a competition. Who can get through it first, fastest, loudest, backwards, silliest (deepest highest) voice. I did an attention drill with the alphabet. The first kid I point at says, A, then next says B, and so on. They have to pay attention cause they don't know who will be called next. When someone messes up, or isn't paying attention, we start again.

[laogaiguk]

[Milwaukiedave]

Don't expect miracles from them. Like someone else mentioned, their level of English will probably be pretty low. I'm not sure if your teaching in a hagwon or public school.

On my first day I came in and observed two classes and then they fed me to the lions. That's how little training I got. And I'm probably lucky to have got that much. I also had no experience teaching kids (I did have some as a teaching assistant at one of the universities I went to).

I would pick up a good book on child development. It will at least give you somethings to think about when your teaching.

The second year I was here I took a TESOL course that helped me learn more about lesson planning and curriculum development.

[stretchio]

thanks for the adivce.
im doin a weekend tefl course next week, which should hopefully point me in the right direction. now u are more experienced and done the tesol, has ur pay gone up from 2 million a month (that seems to be the standard rate).... also...what is the deal with accommodation....do you get a dingy room...or a nice furnished apartment? or does it differ?...and do you share with people?