Korean Job Discussion Forums

[kentucker4]

Is this supposed to be this difficult? I have zero teaching experience, so I don't know. I have worked here for almost seven months, though, and I am still finding it very difficult. Is it because of the fact that they speak a different language? I don't know. I keep thinking it has to be the language barrier and the diversity of ages that I teach plus the workload. I can't stand it when they mock me or shake their heads when I am trying my best to communicate with them. It just makes me feel like their is no hope with some of them.

To be honest, I thought I would come over here and get an easy job and see the world. Now all of a sudden I am sucked into this. The harder I try to make my students feel good and learn while disciplining them...it seems like the harder I fail.

[olabueno]

Welcome to the profession...

[sojourner1]

I went through this hoopla too at a hagwon. And at the same time, you're worried that the director is trying to get over on you when you have incidents (red flags) such as your utilities being cut off, shorted money, slow or non-payment to NPS and NTS, and a myriad of last minute changes sprang on you as if it's an emergency and the ship is sinking.

English class is a big break for these over-schooled kids, though it's not our place to tell the Koreans about how this creates a situation of diminishing returns or even negative progress as a result of over doing it. These kids are not robots as the system tries to mold them out to be, who could keep achieving if they were A.I., but are little human beings who need a balance of daily activities around the clock such as work, school, play, art, music, socializing, sleep, etc. Hunger is also a huge problem you have to roll with the punches on, not because students are poor, but because whoever made their custom schedules forgot to include lunch!

Due to no recess play times or times to get physical fitness, I would run them around in circles in the classrooms to run off all that extra energy so they could actually sit down at their desks for an English lesson. Us adults also need a balance or we go berserk or even crazy...

Lighten up on em' at times and play games, sing songs, and use more visual aids to draw their short(ened) attention spans into what you are trying to convey or teach them. Having more than enough activities and materials is ideal.

[kentucker4]

[olabueno]

If you have a nack for it, it will come with time. The best teachers I know fail at something everyday. Just try not dwell on your perception that your're not getting through to any of them.

PMA!

[fromtheuk]

After about 6 months, I felt similar to you kentucker4. I think I was partially homesick and felt I wasn't getting very far with the students.

If you wait it out and persist, eventually it gets better. I feel the students now respect me more and listen attentively because I've been here for almost a year. The students are used to me.

Once the students begin to accept your existence, you feel more relaxed and the students give you more respect. This enables you to teach more effectively.

[nobbyken]

There are always those Ss who want to learn, even if it's only 1-5% of the total.
Concentrate on these, and not on the attention deficient ones who want to take up class time by mucking about. Stand them in a corner, be stern, don't let them look at the other Ss having a good time and learning.

[crusher_of_heads]

Give it time-it's not just the language barrier, as I had zero good times and less than zero effective times my first go around

[ddeubel]

I went through years of teaching where for a few months it was just "a headache" and despite my energy I was worn down, tired, frustrated and really stressed.

Then, the mood would break and I was clicking my heels, proud, envigorated and feeling so good about everything.

This "wave" would continue to break, back and forth. Sometimes over a few weeks, sometimes over a few months. Like someone said above, "welcome to the teaching profession".

Don't think it will always be so "hard". It gets better but then worse, then better.....but the small effort you make does make a BIG difference. Take solace in that.

DD
http://eflclassroom.ning.com

[PRagic]

Plus, 90% of the people teaching at schools and hakwons in Korea are not trained teachers. Like the OP, though, many are cursed with a work ethic; they are getting paid to do a job so they try hard and care.

My suggestion has long been to fight the urge to take your teaching job here too seriously. If they want trained professional teachers, let them recruit and pay for them. As it stands, they want warm bodies to augment their ineffectual English Language education program. They get fresh blood in, and then tell them that they are 'now professional teachers.' News flash: Not true.

Enjoy your time here. Do things the Korean way. Don't argue. If your boss or co-teacher says something, just nod and say, 'Oh, of course. Yes, sir,' then go about doing things however you want. This is Korea. The important thing is to not cause someone to lose face. As your superior, they can rant all they want to you; your face is not as important as theirs.

Unless you plan on getting certified and continuing in teaching as a profession, you are needlessly worrying about misplaced critisism. If you'r'e just here for a year or two, put your brain in neutral. They get what they pay for, and they paid for you!

[mrsquirrel]

Peaks and troughs.

All part of living in a foreign country.

Good days can depend on the following

Weather
Announcements at school
Day of the week
Day of the month
Months
Season
Colour of your shirt

Bad dayWeather
Announcements at school
Day of the week
Day of the month
Months
Season
Colour of your shirts can depend on

[Yu_Bum_suk]

[agoodmouse]

Vis a vis students' comprehension of what you say, remember to grade your language. Use language they can easily understand. If you introduce new language, remember to model it and reveal its meaning. Be consistent when giving directions, using language you've used previously.

[Easter Clark]

[kentucker4]