Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Sapa]

I'm wondering if you usually get a couple of days after arrival before they throw you to the lions? I would hate to arrive on a Sunday and have to start working on the Monday. I bet this happend all the time though.
How do you even prepare for that first lesson? You don't know what the level of english is or anything.

[nomad-ish]

most of the time, yes. however, you might not be teaching the very first day (and even if you are, it'll be a very easy intro lesson, showing pics of family, your country, pets, etc... then you can always play a game with them or ask them questions about what you just told them... with some candy for rewards)

at my last public school, i arrived sunday night in korea and started work monday morning, but i didn't start teaching til the wednesday or thursday of that week

[plynx]

[Hyeon Een]

I was picked up by my boss at the airport and driven to my hagwan. He *told* me at the time that his brother was going to come to the hagwan and take me to my new home where I could relax...

After waiting in his office for about an hour my boss came back and told me that, actually, I had to teach a class now. He gave me a textbook and generously walked me to the elevator. I met my new coworkers in the elevator. Upon exiting the elevator I was walked to my new classroom, textbook in hand, shoved in to a room named "Denmark", stongly encouraged to teach and with that the door was closed behind me.

I believe this is the best way to learn in a Korean hagwan. I was thrust right in without any prep, stress, or, most importantly, expectations. There is no way they could ever hold the "But we trained you!" sword of Damocles above my head. I was straight off the plane to the classroom to the galbi-restaurant to my apartment. (My boss didn't show me my apartment, the keys were given to my new co-workers who I (re)met in the galbi shop who later gave the keys to me and took me to the door of my new apartment after some soju and beer and lots of galbi).

Anyway no matter how much training you have, the first few classes are just going to be 'introducing yourself' anyway. So relax. I'd spent a lot of 2003 reading this board and I was prepared for the worst. I got kind of the worst.. but I rolled with it, and it all worked out fine in the end. It's only as good or bad as you make it. I've been liking it here for a few years and you can do the same, or you could do worse.. but mostly the experience you have is on you, not the Koreans.

[Roch]

[Roch]

[Ya-ta Boy]

It's pretty common to have experiences like those of Nomad--ish and Hyeon Een. Mine was only modestly better. I arrived Saturday evening and was teaching Monday morning.

It's a good idea to develop a standard first day lesson plan to keep on hand so if anyone ever springs a new group on you at the last second, you have something to go with to deflect the stress. Here's an easy one that takes no prep: Ask the Teacher Game: a) On the whiteboard write Do you/Did you; Will you/Would you...; Have you ever...; Can you... b) Put the students in pairs or small groups c) Tell them to prepare 5 or 6 questions to ask you. No obvious questions (Are you a man). d) Walk around and help with grammar (You get a clue about their level) e) After 10-15 minutes call them together and let each group take turns asking you a question. f) Give long answers in a chatty way. Try to be humorous g) Award more points for a Yes answer than a No answer. h) Go around again but this time give more points for a No answer than a Yes answer.

I like the activity because they've had a grammar review, some writing, some speaking and some listening practice. You've learned a bit about their level and they've learned a bit about you and all with minimal stress.

I think Roch contributed a helpful post. You now know, if you didn't before, that a fair number of the foreigners here are tools and there is no avoiding them.

Good luck in your new job.

[icicle]

Last year coming into a Public Middle School I started teaching on my second day (after spending most of my first day sitting at a desk at school waiting for the apartment to be ready). I had already decided that the first lesson with each class was going to be a "getting to know me" lesson which was a good way to start. But I was definitely on my normal teaching load from the 2nd day.

This year coming into a hagwon ... I actually ended up with a very good orientation period and a gradual start of normal workload and chances to watch before I had to do. I arrived in the evening one day and was then picked up at 2pm the next day to go to school ... I observed for the next couple of days (the rest of that week) and then the following week observed/helped in kindergarten classes in the morning and taught elementary in the mid/late afternoon. And then the following week taught my full load. I know that is not normal ... but it was nice that the situation of the school with previous staff finishing up meant that it happened for me.

[cruisemonkey]

I arrived a 11:30 pm on a Monday and the director said he would pick me up at 8:40 Tuesday morning to take me to Immigration (in a different city) to get my ARC. He picked me up and said we would drop by the school so I could meet everone before heading down to Immigration. We went to the school and at 8:54 he said "Changee plans... butta, you not need go to Immigration... you teach 9:00, you do a good job!

[IncognitoHFX]

Got here around 2:30am. Slept for about ten hours. Woke up, and looked around and generally acted bewildered in my apartment as it was my first day in Korea.

Anyway, I started teaching around 1:00pm that day and finished around 6:30pm (they let me go early).

[I_Am_The_Kiwi]

depends on who your working for, and if its hagwon or PS.

Imat PS, i didnt start til after EPIK orientation, which was about a week. Had the weekend in my apartment and new town, then went to school on Monday, though there was no schedule for me to teach for about 2 1/2 MONTHS. So i was able to plan ALOT and just cruise.
Very nice way to start a new job i must say.

[Draz]

[ChinaBoy]

I thought it was illegal to work before going to the immigration office

[aarontendo]

[icicle]

It is illegal to work without the correct visa (which you usually get from the immigration office before you arrive in the country) ... BUt you do have 90 days to register with immigration here and get your Alien Registration Card (ARC).