Korean Job Discussion Forums

[renzobenzo1]

I mean 10-40 of them and 1 of you, not to mention and entire school of different people to you--not in a rascist sense....

Are we meant to all be nerves of steel teachers or is it ok to be nervous and anxious sometimes, and to endure some culture shock in the classroom teaching or if you feel this way is it better to choose another profession?

[tanklor1]

I wouldn't put much thought into it. Any job is going to be stressful. Just know your role within the school, be friendly as all hell, and you'll do fine.

[Draz]

Students can smell fear. Be careful out there.

[Colorado]

A little stress and anxiety can be a good thing. Nervousness can heighten your energy and awareness in the classroom, making you a better teacher. Like an actor on the stage, you can learn to control and channel it.

[Cornfed]

It's probably inevitable that you will be nervous at first, but if you continue to be nervous indefinitely it might indicate that you have chosen the wrong profession. Two months into "teaching" in Korea and I am no longer nervous or anxious; just a little frustrated and homicidal.

[Easter Clark]

I've always gotten nervous the first class at a new job. You don't really know anything about the students you're teaching, and no amount of preparation will make up for this. The best you can do is try to come off as personable yet in charge. The classroom is, after all, your domain. Never forget that the students need a leader, a teacher, an authority figure-- and that that leader is you!

[BS.Dos.]

If it's your first time in a classroom, then being nervous is to be expected. I was terrified when I did my teaching practicals for my TESOL, but by the time I'd done the required six, I was fine.

You need to learn to strut around like you own the place and project yourself both verbally and physically and always let them know (the students) that the classroom is only their's when you're not in it. You'll be fine in a week or two.

[hugekebab]

Don't worry OP, after your first week, you won't believe how much the nervousness declines. I did a CELTA and it still freaked me out mildly when i saw 60 students in a class staring at me with absolutely no motivation, but I got used to it in I think it was 2 days. Whats really stressful is how shockingly bad Korean management is; the cause of so much stress in our uni.

You'll be fine, when I was nervous, it actually gave me more energy in the classroom.

[Dome Vans]

Before every TP lesson for my CELTA I would wretch in the bogs before. The first time I brought my breakfast back up. From that day on my CELTA I had no breakfast because I knew nerves would bring it back up. I'm pretty introverted and the idea of stading up and teaching in front of 16 upper intermediate adults in Hungary was a bit daunting. Scared me a little.

When I came to Korea, I had no problems teaching in front of kids. They're not going to ask me anything I can't answer. I find Korean children very respectful so I feel comfortable, there's only the very rare piece of indiscipline. Although I do shake a bit when I'm angry when I tell someone off. I think it's because that's not my style and not really me so I don't do it often at all. All my students have learnt my style and we seem comfortable in the classroom, so nerves have disappeared all together. Over time if you still have nerves and fear going into the classroom then maybe teaching isn't for you.

hugekebab wrote:

[Fishead soup]

Run your class like it's the Marines

[Faunaki]

Yah I get nervous, especially when my class is being nice to me. No just joking. Every teacher gets nervous, it's normal. The way I deal with it is to make fantastic PPTs so the focus is off of me, then get the kids working at something so they are busy. If the kids are just staring at me in total wonderment of how bored they feel then I get nervous.

[WoBW]

My first teaching job was in Thailand. I had to teach a class of about 45 13 year old girls. I was provided with no materials, not even a textbook. This was before I did my TEFL course, too. The training I had from the employer beforehand? 1 day watching another teacher at another school.

I was nervous as hell the first class. I didn't have a clue.

On the second day I had an 80 minute class, with no break. Being a newbie, I hadn't prepared enough activities and didn't have a clue how to fill up the remaining time after I ran out of activities. I spent 10 minutes walking up and down at the front of the class mumbling like a fool. Then one of the girls whispered "Teacher, do you want us to help you think?"

That was sweet. Thank God it was an all girls school.

By the end of the first week, I'd found some activities that worked and I felt fine. Feeling nervous at first is natural, but you should get used to it pretty quickly. If you are still nervous after a period of time, maybe you should do something else. Who wants to work in a job that makes them feel that way all the time.

[KYC]

Don't worry. You're the teacher. You'll be seen as the teacher. It's not as if the kids will question your methods or anything. I've made some bad lesson plans before but the kids always did what I asked them to do even though they hated it and didn't want to.

[Easter Clark]

[KYC]