Korean Job Discussion Forums

minnesota · Joined: 21 Dec 2008

Hi everyone!

Ok, so I'm flying at the end of July, arriving at 4pm. It's a 20+ hour flight and I'll be expected to teach the next morning. So basically, I'll walk into my school for the first time and have to teach that morning.

Do you have any suggestions?? I'm not worried about how exhausted I'm gonna be, I'm prepared for the worst. I just don't know what I'm going to teach. I was thinking of some get to know you games and what not. Maybe brainstorm rules they think are important, why, and the consequences of infractions. (things that I would ideally like to do the first week).

ANY SUGGESTIONS???

Thanks in advance!

afsjesse · Joined: 23 Sep 2007 Location: Kickin' it in 'Kato town.

um... I'd highly suggest that you look your contract and recontact the foreign teachers that are/were there. It's a big red flag when a school wants you to teach right away when you first arrive. It says that they already have no respect for your needs, time or space.

Take it from me, I learned the hard way. Evil or Very Mad

PamPhi · Joined: 28 Jun 2009

I-am-me · Joined: 21 Feb 2006 Location: Hermit Kingdom

Its the end of the term...you might not be teaching too much. Dont believe everything a recruiter tells you. Just wait to see what school tells you.

minnesota · Joined: 21 Dec 2008

afsjesse · Joined: 23 Sep 2007 Location: Kickin' it in 'Kato town.

Pretty easy answer:

Teach introduction (names, age, location, hobby) and your class rules like you said. Try to gauge their speaking skills and see what they are/aren't capable of. Most of all, try to gain their "respect" or admiration, but don't be to funny or else they'll push you over like the clown they thinkj you are.

Suerte.

Ya-ta Boy · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Established in 1994

You will be fried, excited, exhausted and psyched all at the same time. If they do stick you in front of a class, the easiest activity is "Ask the Teacher". Put the students in small groups/pairs and tell them to write 3 questions to ask you.

3 pts if you answer 'yes'.
1 pt if you answer 'no'
-1 pt if the question repeats another group's question
-2 pts if the answer to the question is obvious (Are you a man? Are you wearing a shirt?)

minnesota · Joined: 21 Dec 2008

Thanks ya-ta boy, that is a great idea I'll use. All great advice, I really appreciate it everyone!

Straphanger · Joined: 09 Oct 2008 Location: Chilgok, Korea

Yu_Bum_suk · Joined: 25 Dec 2004

In every class pick out one to freak out somehow. It will buy you at least a month of 'Oh God, we'd better not piss off the waegook - we don't know what he might do' and by then you'll have a better idea what you're doing. In your elementary classes pick the boy with a coloured streak in his hair and in middle school classes the girl with curled hair.

Katchafire · Posted: Sat Jul 11, 2009 2:02 am Post subject:

Depending on what type of school you are going to .. whether you can show photos on a screen, or have to have photos developed before you come ... bring LOTS of photos. Kids adore looking at them.
Photos of your house from the outside, rooms on the inside (again, depending on their ages/levels) .. you can use vocabulary of things in your room, kitchen, etc.
Photos of family - one photo of each is better (who is she, she's my mother - her name is .. etc)
Photos of locations nearby ... do you have anything amusing nearby? Eg - Playgrounds with funny looking equipment, odd painted Pizza stores (both of these I used with my kids - I had a local Hamburger store that was built in the shape, and painted in the color of a hamburger).
Baby and school photos of you (always a BIG hit).
Finally, if you can get hold of some sort of treat item, a type of candy or something that is popular in your country - small and cheap.

Best of luck,

G

(I also agree with afsjesse - to be expected to teach the very next day without at LEAST observing is a bit rediculous - but not uncommon).

phoneboothface · Joined: 26 Apr 2009 Location: Korea

Be a model teacher, do what they want within reason and... look for a new job.

thoreau · Joined: 21 Jun 2009

Talk about the wedding you were just in. Depending on the student's ability tell them to compare it with the traditional Korean wedding.

Focus on vocabulary words like: wedding, bride, groom, cake, etc.

Hopefully you have some pics of the wedding. I'm sure this will get the wow factor going.

hang10 · Posted: Sun Jul 12, 2009 8:57 am Post subject:

okayden223 · Joined: 05 Jun 2009 Location: Incheon

The first day is definitely for introductions. I am a bit surprised that they want you to teach right away. I think you'll find that this was a miscommunication because the jetlag stays with you for a week and it's pretty intense while it lasts. Basically my school gave me 2 days to adjust (public school, great people) and after that I still came to my apartment and passed out at 5 PM and awoke at 3 AM for a few days after that. It was actually a good chance to watch Korean t.v. and just think "What the F---?" After all of that was past it was cake. Remember...you will have ups and downs...it is completely what you make of it...there will be cultural misunderstandings, there will be things that just plain make no sense, there will be people you meet who are just negative about all of it. Your attitude has a huge effect. You'll make friends, even if it takes a little longer than back home and soon you'll be in a groove and life will be beautiful.