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karmarooster
Joined: 11 Jun 2008
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 Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 7:23 am Post subject: SMOE application and essay |
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So here's the topic:
"We are interested in your ability to perform as a successful teacher in Seoul public schools. Please provide your educational philosophy of teaching young learners, and express thoughts on encountering with cultural differences."
Since I have no teaching experience whatsoever, i was wondering if anyone could post some useful links, so that i might develop my "educational philosophy". I have read that the "natural method" is favored, but a google search brings up a wide variety of things i'm not looking for.
When i did study abroad in Italy, we had 2-3 hours of language study per day with native Italian speakers who spoke little English. every day, it seemed as tho we were slacking off, just talking about whatever (in Italian), but i realized that seemingly useless conversation wasn't useless. we would talk every morning about what we did the day before, what we watched on TV, what we had for dinner, etc. the biggest challenge we would run into was when there was a topic that the teacher had difficulty explaining in other words in Italian.
I have seen some posts that in korea some teachers make their students listen to NPR and discuss the topics. this sounds like a great idea, but would only be useful for students who have a high level of understanding.
any help is much appreciated. |
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Bibbitybop
Joined: 22 Feb 2006
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 9:25 am Post subject: |
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If you get the SMOE job, you are going to be teaching elementary or middle school students (unless you are a rare breed who gets high school, but with no teaching experience, you won't be). You will be teaching sentences like "How to I get to the post office?" "Go straight, walk past the library and turn left." Now, only 25% of your students will be able to answer the initial question on their own. Listening to NPR? Ha ha ha ha ha ha! Try Sesame Street and go from there.
So, it sounds like you DO have teaching experience, or at least experience with languages in other cultures. Use it. Your experiences in Italy are going to be better experiences than most of the people who've studied or taught only in their home countries.
For philosophy, talk about motivating the students, using real-life material, helping all students of all levels and making class fun. Research and cite some basic EFL methodologies if you want, but they want to know more about you as person and a teacher. Don't forget to stress your love of other cultures and all the wonderful things you've read about Korea and Korean people. |
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mrsquirrel
Joined: 13 Dec 2006
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| Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 1:40 pm Post subject: |
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Google - teaching philosophy/teaching statement/teachers profile
Copy
Paste
Take out any personal details that don't belong to you.
Submit.
Fucking hell it's not an essay for your final exams it's for a bloody ESL job in Korea. |
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karmarooster
Joined: 11 Jun 2008
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| Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 1:55 pm Post subject: you must be british |
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| mrsquirrel wrote: |
Google - teaching philosophy/teaching statement/teachers profile
Copy
Paste
Take out any personal details that don't belong to you.
Submit.
Fucking hell it's not an essay for your final exams it's for a bloody ESL job in Korea. |
um, thanks.
i'm fully confident in my ability to write an essay to get the job. i actually want to learn something. |
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sigmundsmith
Joined: 22 Nov 2007
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| Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 3:49 pm Post subject: Re: you must be british |
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| karmarooster wrote: |
| mrsquirrel wrote: |
Google - teaching philosophy/teaching statement/teachers profile
Copy
Paste
Take out any personal details that don't belong to you.
Submit.
Fucking hell it's not an essay for your final exams it's for a bloody ESL job in Korea. |
um, thanks.
i'm fully confident in my ability to write an essay to get the job. i actually want to learn something. |
Hey Mrs (know it all) Squirrel. OP said they had no teaching experience but gave us a readers digest version of their experience studying abroad in Italy.
OP stated that:
| Quote: |
| Since I have no teaching experience whatsoever, i was wondering if anyone could post some useful links, so that i might develop my "educational philosophy". |
They came here for help from what they thought would be professional and experienced English educators. Unfortunately, you don't fall into that category.
OP, like Bibbytibob (sorry can't remember how to spell) recommended, use your life experiences (and obviously studying in Italy - BTW I am very jeoulous of) and incorporate that into your teaching philosophy. Imagine yourself as a teacher and what problems you will come across teaching English and what methods/ideas about motivating and having the students enjoy your teaching.
Don't make it academic in contents. "KISS" - Keep It Simple Stupid - they want to find out more about your personality rather than your experience.
This is my 3rd year in Korea and my second with SMOE. Have met teachers with educational degrees who have a difficult time here. They are very set in the ways (not flexible) and thus, are unable to adapt to Korean culture and the work environment in the education system. Then I have met people with no teaching experience but life experiences who enjoy themselves and have little or no problems and have become enthusiastic English teachers and feeling that they are achieving something (even if it us snall) in educating their students. Of course, this is a generalisation.
Describe yourself as to why you would be a good teacher rather than producing methodologies that don't really describe you as a person.
Good luck. |
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mrsquirrel
Joined: 13 Dec 2006
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| Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 4:08 pm Post subject: Re: you must be british |
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| sigmundsmith wrote: |
| karmarooster wrote: |
| mrsquirrel wrote: |
Google - teaching philosophy/teaching statement/teachers profile
Copy
Paste
Take out any personal details that don't belong to you.
Submit.
Fucking hell it's not an essay for your final exams it's for a bloody ESL job in Korea. |
um, thanks.
i'm fully confident in my ability to write an essay to get the job. i actually want to learn something. |
Hey Mrs (know it all) Squirrel. OP said they had no teaching experience but gave us a readers digest version of their experience studying abroad in Italy.
OP stated that:
| Quote: |
| Since I have no teaching experience whatsoever, i was wondering if anyone could post some useful links, so that i might develop my "educational philosophy". |
They came here for help from what they thought would be professional and experienced English educators. Unfortunately, you don't fall into that category.
OP, like Bibbytibob (sorry can't remember how to spell) recommended, use your life experiences (and obviously studying in Italy - BTW I am very jeoulous of) and incorporate that into your teaching philosophy. Imagine yourself as a teacher and what problems you will come across teaching English and what methods/ideas about motivating and having the students enjoy your teaching.
Don't make it academic in contents. "KISS" - Keep It Simple Stupid - they want to find out more about your personality rather than your experience.
This is my 3rd year in Korea and my second with SMOE. Have met teachers with educational degrees who have a difficult time here. They are very set in the ways (not flexible) and thus, are unable to adapt to Korean culture and the work environment in the education system. Then I have met people with no teaching experience but life experiences who enjoy themselves and have little or no problems and have become enthusiastic English teachers and feeling that they are achieving something (even if it us snall) in educating their students. Of course, this is a generalisation.
Describe yourself as to why you would be a good teacher rather than producing methodologies that don't really describe you as a person.
Good luck. |
Utter bollocks
You are applying for a job, not developing your teaching philosophy.
Copy Paste Submit.
Then get educated either on the job or read a book on the plane over. |
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Bibbitybop
Joined: 22 Feb 2006
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 4:16 pm Post subject: |
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Hey OP, if you are gonna take the time to criticize the idiots on this board, at least mention some thanks to the people who help you out. 
We need more teachers in Korea who care about themselves and the job. Those are people SMOE wants, too. |
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Sody
Joined: 14 May 2006
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| Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2008 5:39 am Post subject: Re: you must be british |
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| sigmundsmith wrote: |
This is my 3rd year in Korea and my second with SMOE. Have met teachers with educational degrees who have a difficult time here. They are very set in the ways (not flexible) and thus, are unable to adapt to Korean culture and the work environment in the education system. Then I have met people with no teaching experience but life experiences who enjoy themselves and have little or no problems and have become enthusiastic English teachers and feeling that they are achieving something (even if it us snall) in educating their students. Of course, this is a generalisation.
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You may be generalizing but you raise a very good point. I too have known many teachers with educational degrees who have an almost impossible time here in Korea. I have unrelated post grad education and it has been very difficult for me as well. Why? The biggest challenge of Korea is to lower your standards. You've got to lower them really low. |
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esetters21
Joined: 30 Apr 2006
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2008 5:57 am Post subject: Re: you must be british |
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| Sody wrote: |
| sigmundsmith wrote: |
This is my 3rd year in Korea and my second with SMOE. Have met teachers with educational degrees who have a difficult time here. They are very set in the ways (not flexible) and thus, are unable to adapt to Korean culture and the work environment in the education system. Then I have met people with no teaching experience but life experiences who enjoy themselves and have little or no problems and have become enthusiastic English teachers and feeling that they are achieving something (even if it us snall) in educating their students. Of course, this is a generalisation.
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You may be generalizing but you raise a very good point. I too have known many teachers with educational degrees who have an almost impossible time here in Korea. I have unrelated post grad education and it has been very difficult for me as well. Why? The biggest challenge of Korea is to lower your standards. You've got to lower them really low. |
 I understand what you are trying to convey, but I would word it as lowering your expectations instead of standards. Don't for one minute try to lower your standards as a teacher. |
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Sody
Joined: 14 May 2006
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| Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2008 6:40 am Post subject: |
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| esetters21 wrote: |
| Sody wrote: |
| sigmundsmith wrote: |
This is my 3rd year in Korea and my second with SMOE. Have met teachers with educational degrees who have a difficult time here. They are very set in the ways (not flexible) and thus, are unable to adapt to Korean culture and the work environment in the education system. Then I have met people with no teaching experience but life experiences who enjoy themselves and have little or no problems and have become enthusiastic English teachers and feeling that they are achieving something (even if it us snall) in educating their students. Of course, this is a generalisation.
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You may be generalizing but you raise a very good point. I too have known many teachers with educational degrees who have an almost impossible time here in Korea. I have unrelated post grad education and it has been very difficult for me as well. Why? The biggest challenge of Korea is to lower your standards. You've got to lower them really low. |
I understand what you are trying to convey, but I would word it as lowering your expectations instead of standards. Don't for one minute try to lower your standards as a teacher. |
Thanks, nice catch. Lol, I can't believe I wrote that. "Expectations," are what I meant. |
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karmarooster
Joined: 11 Jun 2008
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| Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2008 3:44 pm Post subject: |
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| Bibbitybop wrote: |
Hey OP, if you are gonna take the time to criticize the idiots on this board, at least mention some thanks to the people who help you out.
We need more teachers in Korea who care about themselves and the job. Those are people SMOE wants, too. |
you are right. thanks for the help on this subject, and for help with a previous post, too. i am going thru the application process now, and when i'm interested to see what position i am offered, ie grade level, and location in seoul. |
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Bibbitybop
Joined: 22 Feb 2006
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2008 4:38 pm Post subject: |
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| karmarooster wrote: |
| Bibbitybop wrote: |
Hey OP, if you are gonna take the time to criticize the idiots on this board, at least mention some thanks to the people who help you out.
We need more teachers in Korea who care about themselves and the job. Those are people SMOE wants, too. |
you are right. thanks for the help on this subject, and for help with a previous post, too. i am going thru the application process now, and when i'm interested to see what position i am offered, ie grade level, and location in seoul. |
They'll probably ask you if you want elementary or middle school, so make a decision before you talk to them. They will place you where they need, you but usually go with your preference. You won't find out about your school location until orientation week. |
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