Korean Job Discussion Forums

createasaurus21 · Joined: 22 Feb 2009 Location: Seoul

... but don't know if I'm cut out for it. I don't know if I can stand in front of a class full of people for that long.

What is an average day/week like? Do you make your own lesson plans? Do you follow a curriculum? I'm sure it varies from place to place, but in general.

I'm already here in Korea to learn Korean, but have been playing with the ESL idea in my head the past few months...

Any insight, advice, input greatly appreciated Smile

agoodmouse · Joined: 20 Dec 2007 Location: Anyang

I follow my own curriculum, which I set with Interchange and two workbooks I made for my academic high school students.

Go ahead and do it. Get your feet wet. If you don't like it, quit. It's a free county, isn't it?

Korussian · Joined: 15 Sep 2007

createasaurus21 · Joined: 22 Feb 2009 Location: Seoul

hey!

i meant:

1. not cut out for it because public speaking is not what i'm good at.

2. it seems most esl teachers are not qualified in education necessarily, since the requirements are just having a 4 year degree in any field + native speaker.

3. i meant i'm here in korea already (learning korean was irrelevant to this post), but just saying it's not a question of making a huge decision and "leaving home" or anything like that at this point.

Korussian · Joined: 15 Sep 2007

ChinaBoy · Joined: 17 Feb 2007

yeah, since you're already here, there's no problem giving it a try.. don't know what visa you're on now, and how changing it will affect things, though..

I wouldn't suggest it for anyone with a real job back home, but you've already done the hard part

Demophobe · Joined: 17 May 2004

Yu_Bum_suk · Joined: 25 Dec 2004

PRagic · Joined: 24 Feb 2006

So you're thinking of teaching English? Excellent, because almost 20% of your students will be thinking of learning it!

Get your feet wet at an adult hakwon. They know they're not hiring professional teachers, and the students know that you're just there to provide experience with native speakers. They don't expect much, and adults at hakwons are usually pretty good about showing new teachers the ropes.

You won't have to worry about serious public speaking jitters unless you stick with the job and work up to larger classes in a university, where there is a bit more pressure to look like you know what you're doing. Hakwon classes are usually small, and a number or the students drop out before the month is up ('Head of a dragon, tail of a snake,' goes the old Korean saying).