Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Olly]

Hello!

I am about to send all my documents off for visa processing and it has all of a sudden hit me that I will actually be teaching a class of foreign students for the first time in my life!

So, I was wandering if you might be able to help me out a little..?

I am going to be teaching elementary and middle school age groups and kinda wandered how much English they already know at this age? I understand that learning English is very important to Koreans but just was not sure what will happen when I first see a classroom of children?! Will they be able to say 'hello' or am I going to literally have to start from the beginning?

Also...any advice or words on the Mokdong area??

Thanks all!

[icicle]

By the way that you said you would be teaching Elementary and Middle School students I assume that you will be teaching in a Hagwon ...

I guess the best way to explain what you will face is ... that how much English the students can already speak will to a certain degree depend on how much English they have learnt in Hagwon's out of normal school time ... But they are likely to have an overall higher level than you would find in a typical/average public school where you will probably face a much wider range of ability in the one class ...

I am currently teaching Kindergarten and Elementary in a hagwon after teaching Middle School in a public school last year (I am a qualified primary teacher) ... In the hagwon generally there is a wide range of ability levels that in general does increase with the age of the students ... We have both Kindergarten students who are essentially taught in English from 9:30-2:30 five days a week (who are around 5-7 Korea age - so from 3-5ish English age) ... Their ability to understand English is much higher than the Kindergarten students who come in for lessons for about 1.5 hours 2 days a week in the afternoon (so after their normal kindergarten has finished) ... I don't teach the afterschool Kindergarten students but I did do a short oral test with them all one on one last week as part of their testing ... I teach the youngest Kindergarten class and they can understand and follow most normal classroom instructions in English ... But are still most likely to talk to me in Korean (which I do not understand much of ... But somehow seem able to respond appropriately to ... so much so that they seem convinced I understand what they say ... as do a couple of the Korean teachers ... But I honestly don't) ...

In the afternoon I teach several different elementary classes ... One set of 4 classes Monday/Wednesday/Friday and one set of 2 classes Tuesday/Thursday ... Even the lowest class I have has at least a little English ... But the main thing which helps for a smooth lesson is to have a normal lesson routine that they get used to ... or follow the one they are used to ... and keep instructions as simple as possible ... and be prepared to repeat them either to the group ... or individually with students to model to them what they need to do ... It is easier to do this with the smaller classes that you will have in a Hagwon than in a public school ...

And try to make an effort to learn as many of the students names as possible as quickly as possible ... This has been easier for me this year because most of the students in my hagwon use their English names in class (and for me English names are easier to remember) ...

And above all try to enjoy your teaching ... and have fun with it ... The students really do pick up on that and it really does make a difference both for you and the students.


Icicle