Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Yu_Bum_suk]

So, now that things are winding down, how did it go?

I found that this year was in some ways the easiest but sometimes the busiest for me yet. It seems that every year the amount of extra work I take on increases, but dispensing with the work I have to do becomes less and less troublesome. I'm really going to miss the HS students who are graduating this year. They haven't been the most brilliant year I've ever taught nor have they been the best behaved; but they have definitely been the most fun.

Especially in terms of classroom management it seemed that this year just didn't present that many problems. I never once had a class that I'd describe as 'out of control'. Yes, there was the odd time I lost it, one trip down to the staff room for a meeting with dam-eam's stick, some sore arms and knees, and second-year middle school students acting like second-year middle school students. But for my first year ever I can honestly say there were no classes I really wished I didn't have to teach. Out of 20 classes there wasn't one I dreaded going to, though with a few I had to make sure I was better prepared than with others. My first-year MS students this year have been the *best* year of middle school students I've ever taught. One of my grade 3 HS classes was also just such a pleasure to teach.

On the down side I'm increasingly wondering how little difference I'm really making, apart from with a few students and some specific projects. I especially felt this way after our third-year HS students' absolutely mediocre performance on this year's suneung. I've been teaching these students for three years and have done a lot of extra work with some of them, yet last year's university entrance placements looked more impressive. The only positive is that they did better on the listening component of the suneung than the reading component, but I don't know whether that's just them or the national average. It also seems I have virtually no effect whatsoever on my high school co-teachers' approach. They leave me to teach however I want but when they teach it's GTM and word lists, taught all in Korean, 99% of the time.

The real problem I'm facing is that while I'd like to get a uni job and start working more on career progression, and move out of hicksville, I just find myself much too content here. If next year is like this I'm not sure I'll be able to bring myself to move.

So how did your school year go? Better or worse than others? First-time joy or first-time misery?

[Fishead soup]

Have you thought about working in a foreign language high school. On the plus side you would have a higher standard of students . On the negative side they might make you live in a dormatory.

[princess]

My school started out last year being pretty darn good. I was in year two this year with them, and since october, it went downhill fast. First, we had new management and the name of the school changed (that usually spells trouble, I think), and then we got a new boss in November who is totally clueless, bless her heart...and now, I should sue for therapy over my arc issue.

[Easter Clark]

Generally poor in almost every respect.

Out of 18 classes, there were 3 that I dreaded going to. The only good coteacher I had left to go to teacher training for a year and he was replaced with a clueless temp who somehow managed to undo everything I had accomplished with these kids over the past year. Of the 15 classes that I didn't dread going to, there was one I looked forward to and 14 that I taught out of obligation. My best student was attacked and has lost all interest in speaking English in class. My school did nothing to punish those responsible.

I'm leaving the school, as you know, and my once fun-loving coworkers miraculously changed into strangers overnight. As well, the principal (who drank soju with me many times) did his best to keep my here under coercion. My new handler also tried to make me do things like find my replacement (which I tried), conduct phone interviews (which I didn't), and come back to the school next month after the new FT arrives so I can "give him an orientation."(yeah, that'll happen)...lets you know how much you're respected.

I've finished all of my grade two classes for the year and not one student has thanked me in private or come to say goodbye. All of the old worn-out chalkboards and desks and chairs in the school were replaced except for the ones in my classroom. I was told they didn't have the money. Meanwhile a new science room was built.

The only good thing about my job is that I'm leaving next week, Yay!

[Yu_Bum_suk]

[aka Dave]

My first semester was great fun, and really laid back teaching conversation at the Uni. My students are great (I got several Christmas cards and other small gifts last week during the last class).

However, my second semester was much more stressful, as I had to teach several writing classes preparing my students for the Korean English teacher exam.

Ironically, the writing classes were the toughest work, but also the most rewarding. I really do love my job, but when you love a job you usually work hard doing it.

I'll know whether the semester was a success when we get the results of that exam next month.

[maingman]

id vote second from bottom

cheers !

[moosehead]

second from bottom for me too.

glad it's almost over.

[Bibbitybop]

2nd to top for me. After I cast my vote, I was surprised to see the majority of people felt the same way. I though we only bitched and moaned on Dave's.

[ajuma]

Horrible, terrible, hell on earth, the WORST job and HARDEST job I've ever had...in Korea AND the States. And I've had some pretty tough jobs!!

Ask me again next year when I'll be back in uni-land!!

[Colorado]

My best year so far, but still room for improvement. I taught half the class (17-18 students) in the English Zone while my co-teachers taught the other half in their classrooms. I was left alone to do what I wanted and we had a lot of fun, played a lot of games, and even spoke some English. I see each class only once every two weeks and had no real discipline problems. Unlike previous years, there were no classes that I dreaded going to. My co-teachers were distant but fairly helpful when I had any questions or problems. It's a real blessing to be older than they are. It was a low-stress year that passed very quickly. Next year I'm getting a new English classroom with heat, air con and a computer with a large touch screen, so I'm looking forward to it.

[Yu_Bum_suk]

[jkelly80]

It all depends on your principal, and mine is a piece of crap.

[crusher_of_heads]

Great first half of the year, but from Marcheee until September I had to deal with a human garbage principal once a week; the rest of the week was great.

In September I took a job in the city; bigger classes, a bit of a brick coteacher, but all in all above average, and I cannot handle living in the sticks, so pretty good.

[cruisemonkey]

Good year... the odd bump (to be expected), but nothing that saying "No" and a shovel didn't fix.