Korean Job Discussion Forums

bovinerebel · Joined: 27 Feb 2008

I just gave it a think . I'm an extremely smart , creative guy with an excellent understanding of behaviourism. It takes all my imagination and skills to ensure my students are always stimulated , motivated and learning anything. It's also taken years of living in Asia to get a grasp of human nature in the big picture. Most people don't even have the slightest interest in what makes people tick even in their own culture and if that's the case I'd suggest you're scr#wed. To be a good English teacher here you need to be more of a social scientist than a language expert.

NQP · Joined: 16 Jan 2003

I don't know how people think that little ones should be taught, but they don't whip out their digital recorders and start taking notes. I think that there is a personality that is better suited to teaching kids and it can't be to serious. If you are worried about being taken seriously, you're in the wrong business.

Having said that, just because your clients don't take you seriously, doesn't mean you shouldn't take your job seriously. If it calls for you to be a clown, do it the best you can.

trish91198 · Joined: 21 Dec 2008 Location: Jukjeon

nomad-ish · Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2009 8:32 pm Post subject:

yawarakaijin · Joined: 08 Aug 2006

vampirepirate01 · Joined: 14 Oct 2008 Location: Incheon, Korea

hey id rather be a clown that makes a mad salary , then being a sandwhich artist making 5,00 won an hour. Plus there is a negative term for any job out there. i.e.: if your working for some fortune 500 company then your probably a major brown nose.

NQP · Joined: 16 Jan 2003

I was wondering, with the new jobs in the public schools, which weren't around when I was in Korea, is there more of a "professionalism" attached to being an ESL teacher. In their own eyes and from the Korean point of view?

TheUrbanMyth · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Location: Retired

NilesQ · Joined: 27 Nov 2006

Always enjoyed this argument. Do people in Korea still struggle with this one?

Fallacy · Joined: 29 Jun 2015 Location: ex-ROK

Thread revitalization! My next career will be in stand-up comedy in order to capitalize on this experience.

talentedcrayon · Joined: 27 Aug 2013 Location: Why do you even care?

These formulas sum up the situation:

Clown + Great Teacher = Success
Clown + Terrible Teacher = Success
Serious + Great Teacher = Unlikely to be renewed
Serious + Terrible Teacher = Likely to be fired

If you are a clown there is a "halo effect" when it comes to their opinion of your teaching ability. If you are serious there is "devil's horns effect."

Obviously, this is a generalization. There are definitely some schools in Korea that actually care about your teaching ability. Some parents are smart enough to realize that a serious teacher who teaches well is better than a teacher who clowns around and just plays games.

I am a clown in class. I would rate my own teaching ability as average. I am decent in the classroom, but I am terrible at preparing for my lessons. In spite of this, I have been well-liked by 4/5 schools I've worked for. No one has ever said anything about my preparation. In fact, the feedback is all positive. The one school that didn't like me, only started to hate me after I quit.

I know that there are many areas I need to improve. But, because the students love me, it really doesn't matter.

If you are serious, I recommend teaching adults.

Brooks · Joined: 08 Apr 2003

Interesting.
Serious and good teacher = not renewed.

Do you think clowns are liked at the high school level too, or
is that the grey zone?

PRagic · Joined: 24 Feb 2006

To be successful, you need to be more of a ham than a clown. Just my 2 cents, though...