Korean Job Discussion Forums

[buffygrrl1]

its what the school i'm considering uses:
http://www.brainy-child.com/article/reggioemilia.html

[cranura]

sounds akin to either rudolf steiner or maria montessori -- my kids were raised under the montessori model and have done very well in life
would probably be a wonderful school providing the space and staff are knowledgeable and the kids are controllable

[ilovebdt]

How willl they give grades and tests? You know how keen Korean parents are on grades and tests.

ilovebdt

[buffygrrl1]

They don't they follow that plan and it seems to work for them. The kids are all 5 years old so I don't know how you can test them anyway?

[Canadian Club]

It does sound a bit like Montesori... I went to a Montessori school when I was a kid and loved it.

[mrsquirrel]

It's a bit like The Natural Method

[sojourner1]

Montessori can be a very good learning environment as long as you have hamoney between teachers and administration.

I teach in a montessori hagwon of traditional folk art style decorated with alot of nature themed art and has a yard, trees, garden, and grass surrounding it. The school is the most expensive in my local area and emphasizes nature, science, math, and natural environment with field trips once every 2 weeks to explore nature through an outdoor walk or something in the community like a visit to a fire station or museum. The curriculum is rigorous, but lacks discilpline and teaching support. When I ask for something, they just beat around the bush and make it an uncomfortable situation for me on purpose. This montessori thing here is just a facade over evil doings, but works in adding value to the school from a business perspective.

If it were not for the director and vice-director not liking me since day 1 and playing a favorites game with a couple other FT's, I would love teaching at this school. I have observed 2 other FT's who are not liked since day 1 too. Some FT's do enjoy it here very much and stay 2 or 3 years. The gyopo teacher is most favorited alone with the hippie backpacker dude coming in next. While it pays only 2 m for 30 teaching hours a week, it is an excellent work environment if you're liked or favorited by the vice director and director. I have known since day 1, I am not liked, but myself and the hagwon just keeps me for money reasons. I am very disappointed that they would hire me and bring me half way across the world just to disappoint me with an uncomfortable situation. What were they thinking?

[buffygrrl1]

sounds good to me. I found it quite interesting so I signed with then because I think I will learn a lot from the school and won't absolutely hate it.

[Jizzo T. Clown]

I'd be very interested to know how things go at this school. I have a hard time seeing how a hogwan is going to implement this methodology, especially when most Koreans are so results-oriented. Granted the "fun and games" part is part of every hagwon, this seems too progressive for society here...but I've been wrong before.

[buffygrrl1]

in my interview they said its very different and my TESOL will not help me much in this type of environment. They have a playground for the kids, sicence, math and art corners. They made it to be more of an American like pre-school.

[insam]

[crazy_arcade]

Buffygirl: How much research did you do about this? Where is the school located? Is it an English only kindergarten or a Korean kindergarten that wants a white face? You need to know this because if it's the latter then it's illegal.

I have a New Zealand friend that came and took a job at a school like this. She's in hell.
It's a kindergarten that uses Montessori (sp?) method. It's a Korean kindergarten and no-one (no coworkers) speak English. They put her in a room with 5 year olds and expect English magic. It's an illegal job and she's trying desperately to get out of it.

I hope you did your research.