Korean Job Discussion Forums

[cubanlord]

What would you say are good qualities of an EFL teacher here in Korea?

I'd say:

Patience - The students do speak another language. Let them try to express themselves before you correct them.
Adaptability - Try to make the best of the situation, regardless of the obstacles.
Resiliency - understand that there are no two like minds and that the majority of your students learn differently than sya, the way you learned, so a mixture of content delivery would be the best solution.
Objectivity - Be willing to take more than one answer with hypothetical questions rather than trying to dictate what is "right" and what is "wrong"

[Ilsanman]

Tolerance: Since I have yet to work in a well-organized educational institution here in Korea.

[ddeubel]

Although teaching skills, personal qualities all matter, I believe the greatest quality to possess and one which will overcome all other shortcomings is MOTORvator.

Meaning, ongoing reflection upon how lessons have met learning goals (got kids interested to learn) and mostly, cheerleading, inspiring students to learn on their own and WANT to learn English.

A teacher can be poor in many areas but if he or she can't motivate students to be positive and inspired about English, he or she would do better in another profession no matter how they perform otherwise. Especially in the language teaching context and especially, especially in the Korean public teaching dynamic.

DD

[cubanlord]

all of you are coming up with some excellent points. Thank you. Does anyone else care to share their thoughts?

[schwa]

Genuine affection for all your students.
They'll respond in kind with effort & interest.

[VirginIslander]

MEMORY: Remembering what is like to be a child and a student.

[kimchi story]

[SHANE02]

Imagination


Risk taking


Perseverance


Commitment


Energy


A sense of humor

[AwesomeA]

Experience: Having been a foreign language student at some point.

Empathy and Understanding: Realizing that your students lead very busy academic lives and can't always do your homework.

[Sophocles]

[VirginIslander]

Sophocles wrote:

I encourage anyone try and learn Korean while they're here. Not only is it good for you in the real world around here but it also reminds you what it's like to try to learn a foreign language. Being able to idenitify with your students really helps you develop that patience-type thing teachers often lack large supplies of (including myself)

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Very appropriate comment. After my contract here, I am going to spend 10 weeks in Guatemala studying Spanish. I believe that will do more for me than earning my TESOL certiicate onsite for four weeks. Plus with room, food and five hours of one-on-one teaching for 1,250,000 Won, its cheaper than returning to the states. [/b]

[kimchi story]

[yawarakaijin]

I consider myself strong in most aspects mentioned but the one I hear most is " teacher we like the way you explain things." I think having the ability to create simple explanations/examples of how to use the target language is very important. Some people have it, some don't.

I find myself often getting annoyed with some of my friends who seem utterly incapable of describing a word to me. I once had a friend whose English was quite good but was unable to desribe to me what a reciept was. You now, a piece of paper you get after you pay for something? Did'nt seem too hard to me but maybe it's just a skill you develop as a teacher that some of our non-teaching friends dont have to work on too much

[zappadelta]

I think a good EFL teacher has to be both patient and stubborn. Patient in the classroom, and stubborn outside when dealing with bosses and directors. Well, maybe not stubborn, but firm.

[VirginIslander]

Kimchi Story Wrote:

I totally agree with the 'learning Korean for empathy' approach. And V-islander I've done the Guatemala thing - 10 weeks in Qetzaltenango at a school called Kie Balaam. No idea if they are still around, but it was an experience I will treasure forever. We did some work for an organization called Nueve Horizantes who ran a shelter for orphans and abused women, building bookshelves for a new library. Really mind blowing. Guatemala rules. Good call

Cool! I will be studying and living in that same city. I hope to learn a lot of Spanish and to get away from kimchi for awhile (despite the 50,000 Koreans living in Guatemala City).