Korean Job Discussion Forums

been_that_done_there · Joined: 19 Jun 2009

I have been teaching at a technical school this year. My idiot Evil or Very Mad

recruiter sent me here as he has a deal with technical schools but he didn't warn me. I didn't even know such schools existed until I arrived in Korea. As a teacher of many years who loves teaching, my Korean technical school has just about broken my spirit.

I'm tired of being laughed at, mimicked, disrespected, mocked and general treated like I am invading the sleeping time of the students. It's very tiring having to discipine and stand up to 16-19 year olds continuously. I get no support from the principal, vice principal and my co-teacher is a little old lady who said the following:

DWAEJIMORIGUKBAP · Joined: 28 May 2009 Location: Electron cloud

ha ha.

A friend of mine works at a boy's technical High school and it's so bad all he does is play episodes of the simpsons all day in his classes.

I've heard stories of his students crapping in corridors and on floors... swearing at him in class... Students openly jerking off in the corridors / classroom / bathrooms... a student repeatedly bashing his own head against a wall.... Students with serious mental ticks etc....

Sod that for a game of soldiers

Easter Clark · Joined: 18 Nov 2007 Location: Hiding from Yie Eun-woong

On the plus side, most of the male teachers at those places are big drinkers and you'll get treated a lot if you play your cards right. But other than that, there aren't many positives to working at a tech or vocational HS...at least in my experience.

Captain Obvious · Joined: 23 Oct 2009

Oh do tell us some of your stories.

cdninkorea · Joined: 27 Jan 2006 Location: Seoul

zipper · Posted: Mon Nov 02, 2009 2:08 am Post subject:

espoir · Joined: 09 Oct 2008 Location: Incheon, South Korea

Technical schools are hell on earth. I survived them last year and am thankful for my paradise of school this year! (at its a paradise for now)

winterfall · Joined: 21 May 2009

Sounds like my school. I won't lie its definitely hard. Here its more important to really believe in what you do or you won't make it. Had to throw the rule book out the window and drop the standards to the floor.

And I don't have any fancy technology just chalk and paper. When it comes down to it if you can make lessons that are self contained and insanely fun they're run themselves.

Then you won't have to worry about discipline. Just need to pull the plug on the activity and everyone will fall in line.

Kikomom · Posted: Mon Nov 02, 2009 6:23 am Post subject:

IMH(humble)O, these kids need to be taught to their interests. If they're automotive students, draw a car on your chalkboard and start from there. C A R -- car. If they're computer techs, teach them the geek terms from their textbooks. If they are food service students, well, you get the picture--DOWNLOAD pictures--menu items, recipes, measurements, ingredients, kitchen utensils, bla bla bla... Visit their regular classrooms and borrow visual aids, books, charts, hot rod magazines, haute cuisine. etc. Teach them the English words to what they're learning already.

If you have a co-teacher, get him/her to help you translate the nomenclature that corresponds to what they're learning in their techie classes.

Summer Wine · Joined: 20 Mar 2005 Location: Next to a River

Quote:

If they're automotive students, draw a car on your chalkboard and start from there. C A R -- car. If they're computer techs, teach them the geek terms from their textbooks. If they are food service students, well, you get the picture--DOWNLOAD pictures--menu items, recipes, measurements, ingredients, kitchen utensils, bla bla bla... Visit their regular classrooms and borrow visual aids, books, charts, hot rod magazines, haute cuisine. etc. Teach them the English words to what they're learning already.

That doesn't always work. Most of the students in the classes didn't want to study that course, but thats what they were put into.

Plus, I tried teaching words relevant to thier studies. Construction students, words with pictures such as hammer, etc.

They weren't interested and teachers didn't seem to like them learning it either. "Just play games with them, you are here to make english fun for them".

They were really proud though that they were replacing me with an American History Teacher when I left. I always wonder how he found the classes.

Easter Clark · Joined: 18 Nov 2007 Location: Hiding from Yie Eun-woong

nobbyken · Joined: 07 Jun 2006 Location: Yongin ^^

I work at an Information HS. Doesn't sound as bad as some mentioned, but some classes do look and act like a bit odd. Our classes are graded, and some I don't see.
Some kids will actually go to lower level colleges, and they are quite bright. Many come from broken homes or have troubled lives.
It is good to see them transformed from 1st graders who bare a passing resemblence to chimpanzees, into the young adults of 3rd grade, who less resemble the chimpanzee.

winterfall · Joined: 21 May 2009

oskinny1 · Joined: 10 Nov 2006 Location: Right behind you!

I work at a technical high school and think it's great. I only have one class (out of the eight) that is somewhat annoying, but other than them, life is good. Class size is 30 students at the moment but next year it will only be 20 per class.

Zulethe · Joined: 04 Jul 2008

Who was that one dude that posted about his experiences? I think it was Dean Burrito or something like that. His story was hilarious.

I really want to teach at a technical high school just so I can sit around and watch tv all day.

You guys stressing over this need to go with the flow. If no one else cares, why do you?