Korean Job Discussion Forums

[lifeinkorea]

I have taught adults and elementary school students. I am curious what middle schools are looking for when hiring. Did you specifically look for a middle school to work at, or were you applying in general and assigned a middle school?

Also what did you do to help prepare yourself for middle school teaching?

Where there qualifications the school was looking for that locked in the job for you, or were they just filling in slots?

So far, I have had high schools interested and SMOE emails have been coming in, but I don't see anyone from GEPIK looking for middle school English teachers.

[Xuanzang]

You actually want middle schoolers? May I ask how come?

[lifeinkorea]

The kids are all fun and games, singing and dancing (with the occasional pencil stabber) and adults would be more of the same since I have already worked with them in Japan. I had one Korean adult student at my first hagwon and he was great, but I don't want more of the same.

I haven't really considered high schoolers yet, but I assume if I haven't done middle school then that would be the next thing to get under my belt. It seems like (at least in Japan) teachers move up to middle school. One school offered me a position, and during the interview I found out from another teacher she would be moving up to middle school if accepted the job offer. At the time, I didn't have any experience with teaching children so I balked. As a result of doing this, the wife of one of my private students in Japan who introduced me to the school got upset with me and made her husband quit taking lessons with me.

Kids play games, adults play games. I want something in between I guess.

[Xuanzang]

They can be fatigued, apathetic or rebellious especially in the 2nd grade of middle school. I had hagwon 2nd grade MSers and they were probably the worst of the bunch, attitude wise. You have 6th graders in elementary school? I`m sure some of them are slacking, participating less and thinking they`re too cool for games or pop songs.

[afsjesse]

I work in 3 middle schools and 1 high school...

The high school is pretty bad.

My main middle school is a circus is 37 students per class or there abouts.

My 2nd middle school is so so, they listen pretty well but don't really care to go above what the minimum requirement is. Behavior is not a problem.

My 3rd middle school, located in the sticks (not joking) is absolutely divine! I wish I could just work there. I have about 40 students divided into 3 classes. The students pay attention and actually do more work than I require them to do. They participate in class and rarely, however on occassion, do I ever need to tell them to be quiet. Not once have they monkeyed around to the point that I intervene and they are usually respectful.

Not sure what it is about this small school in the sticks of Gyeongbuk, but it's most definitely a keeper!

Good Luck