Korean Job Discussion Forums

wking · Joined: 17 Jul 2007 Location: U.S.A.

I just wanted to thank you all for your efforts. I returned from Seoul recently to visit my daughter (Korean and American, 4 years old). I was visiting this board when I was in Korea and saw so much pissy crap but I wanted you all to know your efforts in teaching English do not go unappreciated. My Daughter takes English at a hogwon (sp?) and is doing just fine!

Your work does not go unobserved nor unappreciated and I hope you can feel proud of your efforts.

Regards.
Walter

P.S. Sorry If my 'merican is not perfect, feel free to help me in my English

Bibbitybop · Joined: 22 Feb 2006 Location: Seoul

Most of the happy and content teachers don't need to vent and are out in the real world, not online.

I find a lot of great teachers in the real world. There, no one flames or trolls over drinks.

Boodleheimer · Posted: Sun Dec 09, 2007 6:45 pm Post subject:

it's little things like this that make my day. (even though i work in a public school, so this probably isn't directed my way exactly...)

wking · Joined: 17 Jul 2007 Location: U.S.A.

wking · Joined: 17 Jul 2007 Location: U.S.A.

Hank the Iconoclast · Joined: 08 Oct 2007 Location: Busan

It makes it all worthwhile to me when I see a student learning English and become passionate in the same things that I am.

wking · Joined: 17 Jul 2007 Location: U.S.A.

normalcyispasse · Posted: Sun Dec 09, 2007 7:23 pm Post subject:

I occasionally complain about asinine policies -- be they national or local -- and other frustrations, but I try not to let these problems interfere with my work. I'd hate to let personal issues decrease the quality of education I give to my students, so even when I hate my school and administration I still work hard.

My reward has been watching a number of my elementary students begin to shine in English. They look forward to my classes and learn quickly. Obviously this doesn't apply to all of my students, but I can definitely tell a difference in some.

I'm glad that at least somewhere our efforts are appreciated.

wking · Joined: 17 Jul 2007 Location: U.S.A.

PRagic · Joined: 24 Feb 2006

I have couple of very close friends in K-12 educational admin back in the States. From what they and most of my teacher friends in the States tell me, teachers complain. Period. Then again, they are quick to state, who doesn't complain.

The principals I know are sympathetic. They taught for years before getting their Ed.D.s and going into administration. They know that teachers spend the better part of their work day in charge of and educating kids. There isn't much adult interaction.

It's not a 9-5 job where you get desk chat and watercooler justice. Therefore, teachers appear to complain more when they talk to other teachers, and they can be argumentative (ref: flame/troll on the board). They vent when they can, and are used to being in charge.

Now throw cross-cultural issues into the fire and compound it by the fact that a good number of the teachers here are either new at it, or, in many cases, just figuring out if teaching is what they want to do!

The board here gets a lot of anger because a lot of the people posting are not professional teachers. Many of the irate posters are here teaching at hakwons for a year or two, they don't have teaching degrees, and most of their problems are not teaching oriented. They do work in a market that solicits their participation, though, and they are teaching in Korea. This board should provide assistance and advice when possible, in my opionion, and give people a place to vent if they need it.