Korean Job Discussion Forums

[crazylemongirl]

I found a good thread on your situation from a few months ago which you may want to take a look at.

Is it good to be the only foreign teacher at a school?

As for your problems I know your feeling I was the only forgien teacher at my school and my first day's training was a joke. After my first two weeks I felt totally overwhelmed by everything and was very tempted to hop on the plane. It took me about 3 months to settle in but it's different for everyone. Just remember that your still adjusting to life in korea as well as teaching.

As the risk of sounding like a cliche my advice is to take it one day at a time and learn from your mistakes. Also buy some thing nice with your hard earned dosh come first pay day.

CLG

[UnJef]

Ok, so now after hearing about other teachers' job situations and seeing their apartments, I am thinking of trying to get out of my contract. I have been having trouble sleeping from the stress of not knowing how to teach and having no curriculum to follow, and while I realize that my position is probably better than some, I think it's probably worse than most. Several people have suggested I do the same, after hearing about my situation, and so I'm beginning to think that this might be a good idea. My thought is that it's difficult enough living in Korea without having to be constantly stressed out about one's job.

There's a clause in my contract about leaving for "personal reasons" and giving "approximately four weeks" notice so they can find a new teacher. I'd like to find another job in Korea, but I realize that this may be difficult to do visa-wise (I don't know how willing my director will be to release me)... or maybe I should look for a job in Japan or Taiwan or somewheres. All I ask is for a school with a curriculum to follow and some sort of support, as opposed to the absolutely nothing I have now.

Any thoughts, advice, criticism...?

[Mashimaro]

[J.B. Clamence]

After teaching for a while, you'll be able to learn as you go, and with some practice, you'll get better at it over time.

Having said that (and I know this isn't useful advice for you in particular now that you're here), but it is helpful to get some training for this job before you begin. Sure, you can learn through experience, but it's kind of like finding your way blind in the woods. A lot of people rip on courses such as the CELTA because, after several years, they managed to figure out teaching without it. However, they don't remember being lost at the beginning, or realize how much easier "figuring it out" could have been if only they had a bit of training.

And if you're still lost after a while, or just seeking improvement, it's never too late to do a course, not to mention that it may help you in the future if you plan to teach elsewhere. It's pretty surprising that schools in Korea don't seem to care whether teachers have ESL training or not. I don't know about the rest of Asia, but you would be hard pressed to find a decent job in Europe, the Middle East, or North America without it.

[UnJef]

This being my first teaching job ever, I have nothing to compare it to... I only have most of the people I describe my position to asking if I can get out of it, which is a good indication of its relative quality. My apartment also compares poorly compared to the others I have seen.

The question is, if I decide to head to Japan, how do I go about leaving? Do I take a paycheck and just run, or do I do the 'right thing' and explain to my boss that I don't think this is the job for me... give him time to find a replacement, etc. If I tell him, I get 2/3 pay until I leave, if I just run... well, I get full pay but bad karma.

[Austin]

Unjef,

Do you really want to spend your days comparing your life to that of other people?

In time, you will undoubtedly discover that making comparisons is a wasted effort, as it will not lead you to anything positive (the grass is always greener).

Why not take your experience for exactly what it is?

What happens when you go to Japan, and you come to find that other people have "better" situations than you do?

Some of the greatest rewards have been fashioned out of the greatest struggles. Simply trying to avoid an experience by pursuing a "myth" can be revealing in its own way.

Does asking others really help you to justify the decision that you have already made?

Only you know what you can handle and overcome.

[adventureman]

I hear NOVA in Japan practically spoon-feeds you its set curriculum

[UnJef]

Austin...

I appreciate your response and I understand and agree with what you are saying about comparing myself to others (I've read the Desiderata, too), however...

Before I knew about the situations other people are in, I wasn't terribly pleased with my teaching circumstances here (as evidenced by my initial posting on this string). Should I remain in a position in a foreign country that makes me stressed and unhappy if other options are out there? Is it enough to be in a situation that one can "handle and overcome" or should one pursue a position that one can both "handle and overcome" and be content and satisfied in?

I've made no decision yet -- I'm planning on talking to my boss about the lack of curriculum and guidance sometime today, see where it gets me.

[Austin]

Unjef,

Certainly, the decision to remain is your own to make.

Contentment is exactly that, and I doubt any other would begrudge you for trying to find it. However, your method might leave something to be desired, if you are not upfront and honest in your handling of the situation (no point in making the children and employer suffer for your aims).

Adjusting your expectations before your next encounter might help you to remain "pleased" throughout your journey.

I hope your meeting goes well for all.

[iiicalypso]

Is there anybody there that you can rely on for social support? Don't worry about the teaching part so much-- I have taught at three high schools in the US and it took me about four months each time just to start to get comfortable. The key is, no matter how bad you screw up today there is always tomorrow's lesson to redeem yourself. So long as you have someone that you can vent to, or whine to, or whatever, you will be okay. Unless there is a compelling reason for you to leave this school (serious isolation, regular beatings) I would suggest that you try and stick it out, since you are likely to experience the same adjustment periiod at any school, no matter where it is. Good luck!

iii

[UnJef]

My main complaint about my situation is the lack of a curriculum, in that it requires me to spend far too much time preparing outside of class without really even knowing how to prepare. My apartment is unfortunate, but I've lived in worse (once).

No, there's nobody at the school that I can vent to... just me and some Korean teachers who hardly understand me when I talk, anyway. My director speaks English relatively well, but I can't really vent to him.

I realize I'm perhaps representing myself in an unflattering way in this string of mine, but I'm really at a loss for what to do here. The present kinda sucks for me right now, at least as far as my job goes, and I spend much of my time outside of my job worrying about my job... I don't want it to be this way, and I don't think it should be this way. The real question seems to be: is it like this at other teaching jobs?

I don't know.

[iiicalypso]

I understand your anxiety, but honestly, if you relax and let the class happen it will be much easier. As for the question of whether every school is like this, I guess the answer is yes and no. Most schools have some sort of organization and curriculum, but there is always going to be some sort of problem. Don't look at it as a problem, but as an opportunity. Remember, whatever you teach them is going to be something they don't already know, and unless you are told otherwise, use your judgement. And don't kill yourself overplanning for class, since chances are you will have to shift on the fly anyhow. There are plenty of resources available online and in bookstores-- the best thing you could do would be to invest in some crayons and an educational coloring book, so you have your backup parachute ready if you run out of things to do. That sort of backup has done much to relieve my pressure.

As for venting, it seems like most people here are pretty supportive, and many give good advice. Steal as much of both as you can, and if you have the temprament for teaching you will find it gets better.

iii

[waterbaby]

What books are you using?

Some of us might be able to provide you with some good extension activities, websites with worksheets, activities etc. If you can give us a bit more detail about what books & topics you're teaching, age levels etc.

I'm in a situation similar to yours where I'm the only foreign teacher, there is no set syllabus as such but at least I've been given the opportunity to have my say on what books & materials we use & I've got good support from my wongjongnim and Korean co-worker. I teach kids between 5~13.

I remember my first hagwon job was at a franchise and that had lesson plans provided for every class. What pages to read, what workbook activities to do, what exension activities to do etc. Even with that I was still overwhelmed for about the first month until I finally started to be able to picture the kids I was next going to teach & got familar with their levels - what they could and couldn't understand. I had two days of "training" (aka watch a few classes of other teachers.) All up, it took about 3 months for me to really settle in.

Are you in Seoul? Can you get to a bookshop like Kyobo? PM Kimcheeking and ask him for advice about a good book about teaching.

And as for venting here? It's what we're here for. If there was no venting, then we'd be just another country listed on Dave's International board

[Son Deureo!]

I'm with Waterbaby in that you need textbooks. Listen, a lot of ESL textbook companies have made books that are so easy to teach that a monkey could do it as long as English was its native language. Convince your boss to let you level test your kids, to get each kid a textbook.

The only books I have experience with personally are Let's Go and New Parade. Both are pretty good for teaching elementary school students, I'd suggest Let's Go for older elementary kids (3rd grade or higher), and New Parade for anyone younger (but not kindy). Be sure to get the teachers guides and read them, you'll definitely get some useful ideas there.

A pre-made curriculum will make your work life a lot easier, since it sounds like that's your number one problem. You mention you're not really happy with your apartment. How bad is it? Most foreign teachers' apartments that I've seen in Korea aren't particularly great.

Once you can relax a bit at your job, I'm sure you'll find that you can have a lot of fun in Korea, and save a pretty big chunk of your salary without having to pinch pennies.

[Zed]