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Snowmeow
Joined: 03 Oct 2005
Location: pc room
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 Posted: Thu Sep 20, 2007 9:54 am Post subject: schedule for teaching adult students |
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I've become interested in teaching adults lately and I understand that a typical teaching schedule at a hagwon for adults is something like
7 - 10 am
6 - 9 pm
Sounds like one would have to go to sleep shortly after finishing work with maybe a couple hours of leisure at night, and then wake up and go right back to work. In theory it seems like it's not a problem but who has worked this kind of schedule, and how did you feel with these hours? Ready to pass out half of the time?
Up until now I have only taught kindy, elementary, middle school and some high school students. In what ways does teaching adults differ?
One thing I would expect to be different is the level of formality with which I address the students. I would just wave my hand and say hello to kids, but with adults I'd expect there to be a lot more protocol.
With adults I also assume there is more pressure to keep the students pleaseed with the service received since they are the ones that pay. |
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Ya-ta Boy
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: Established in 1994
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| Posted: Thu Sep 20, 2007 1:39 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
Sounds like one would have to go to sleep shortly after finishing work with maybe a couple hours of leisure at night, and then wake up and go right back to work. In theory it seems like it's not a problem but who has worked this kind of schedule, and how did you feel with these hours? Ready to pass out half of the time?
Up until now I have only taught kindy, elementary, middle school and some high school students. In what ways does teaching adults differ?
One thing I would expect to be different is the level of formality with which I address the students. I would just wave my hand and say hello to kids, but with adults I'd expect there to be a lot more protocol.
With adults I also assume there is more pressure to keep the students pleaseed with the service received since they are the ones that pay.
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I found the schedule mind-numbing. Here is why: After work in the evening, the first time during the day that I FELT I was free, it took some time to unwind. There is precious little to do at 9 o'clock at night, so I found myself in the bars more often than not. Going to bed at 12 meant having around 2 hours of play-time and then going to bed and getting up about 5 hours later. Not enough sleep for me.
I'm a morning person, so I could get through morning classes OK, but definitely felt the need of a nap. If you add nap time in to food preparation time, the gap of 'free' time during the day is shorter than you'd imagine. A second problem with the free time is everyone else is working, including any students you may have become friendly with. So social options are severely limited. On top of that, it's always in the back of your mind that you have to get back to work at whatever time, so you don't completely relax, nor is the time entirely yours. You are limited in how far you can travel and what you do because of having to get back to work. Also, nap time during the day can be problematic with noisy neighbors and ringing telephones.
In short, adult hakwon schedules can be very draining.
I do not find there to be a different level of formality with adult students.
You are on to something in your last statement. You do have the pressure of keeping them interested and entertained, and if they aren't, they stop coming. The problem is, everyone starts each month excited but then their exhaustion level sets in, just like yours, problems/obligations at work and home, and soon enough, no matter how good your class is, the attendance begins to drop off. Bosses tend to think only of the part you play, not the other obligations students have.
I find adults by far the most rewarding to work with, but that is a personal preference.
I hope this has been some help. |
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Snowmeow
Joined: 03 Oct 2005
Location: pc room
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| Posted: Thu Sep 20, 2007 4:48 pm Post subject: |
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Thank you for your thorough reply. You've given me something to think about when I am checking for new job postings.
| Ya-ta Boy wrote: |
I found the schedule mind-numbing. Here is why: After work in the evening, the first time during the day that I FELT I was free, it took some time to unwind. There is precious little to do at 9 o'clock at night, so I found myself in the bars more often than not. Going to bed at 12 meant having around 2 hours of play-time and then going to bed and getting up about 5 hours later. Not enough sleep for me. |
I completely understand your point here. I like having a large block of time after work because that's the time I really feel the need to relax. I have worked an afternoon schedule before, and had time in the morning but as you have said, the thought of having to go to work later in the day was always on my mind.
The schedule I'd prefer more than any other would be to start work at about 7-8 am and go until 12-1 pm. It's compact, keeps me on a semi-normal sleep schedule and I have the rest of the day to myself. But I've never seen such a schedule so I won't get my hopes up. |
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