Korean Job Discussion Forums

oneofthesarahs · Joined: 05 Nov 2006 Location: Sacheon City

Tomorrow is my last day of teaching, although I'll have 2 more days of tagging along after the new teacher making sure she doesn't screw up. What have you done for your students on your last day? I'm expected to still cover the scheduled material for the day, but I really like my students and want to do something nice for them. Any ideas?

One of my classes is mega-pissed that I'm leaving. They have taken to talking crap about the incoming teacher, even though they haven't met her (although they've talked to her via webcam). It makes me a little sad that I'll be leaving them, but it also makes me feel good that they are so upset about my leaving. I'm so conflicted.

sojourner1 · Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2007 6:45 am Post subject:

Wow, congrats on completing an arduous contract of long teaching hours, assuming you were in a hagwon. Those long days of over schooling are over. Might you go to a better job where you don't have to teach so damned much? I sure hope so. Smile

Enjoy your end of contract time. Smile

I sure am looking forward to this day too. It makes me happy to think about it. You paid your dues, now go enjoy yourself for a couple months and then do whatever it is you're doing next.

Best wishes...

JAWINSEOUL · Joined: 19 Nov 2005

It's nice to see you care so much. Very Happy

oneofthesarahs · Joined: 05 Nov 2006 Location: Sacheon City

It's weird...it came up on me a lot faster than I thought it would. I hit a point about 7-8 months in and I couldn't wait until it was end of contract time. But now that it's time to go, I don't wanna! I'll miss my students. And my boss has been really great in the end-of-contract process despite other issues we had earlier in the year.

Korea can't get rid of me so easily. I'm coming back in January (want to spend Xmas at home), but I'm shooting for a job in or around Seoul this time. So if you know of any good ones, send 'em my way. Very Happy

tanklor1 · Joined: 13 Jun 2006

Yu_Bum_suk · Joined: 25 Dec 2004

When I left my first job (I was quitting, not finishing) I had little parties with ice cream, cola, and cookies for the classes I liked and did nothing in the classes I didn't like. The point wasn't lost on anyone, not even thick Koreans.

diablo3 · Joined: 11 Sep 2004

Many Korean students get hypersensitive when you are about to leave and then desensitised when you stay or come back.

oneofthesarahs · Joined: 05 Nov 2006 Location: Sacheon City

I was still expected to teach today, which I did for 40 minutes. Then we partied it up for the last 10. My students were really sweet. I got lots of handmade cards. One of my littlest students started crying when I said that it was my last day, even though she knew it was coming. I wanted to hug her forever.
I'll see them all again on Monday, because I'm coming in to follow around the new teacher (no classes tomorrow). There was something really bittersweet about the whole thing. My students were sad that I was leaving, but they seemed happy that I was coming back to Korea and that I would be seeing my family. I really will miss them. Crying or Very sad

Milwaukiedave · Joined: 02 Oct 2004 Location: Goseong

I set aside the last 10 minutes of the classes and showed a slide show of pictures I put together with some music.

Yeah, some of my students got really upset. They get so attached.

That was four months ago....today I went back to visit and I swear to god it was like a riot broke out. I was just swarmed with students as soon as I walked into the school and they were so happy to see me. I met the new teacher (he came about 2 1/2 months after I left or just about 6 weeks ago) and we talked about stuff.

So my advice, go back to your school to visit in four months and visit (if you are here) and you'll enjoy their response.