Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Kellar]

I have a really basic question, and I hope it's not one that's already been asked a million times (I checked the FAQ and didn't see anything related).

I was just wondering, as someone with no teaching experience (and no clue, really) who would like very much to teach English in Korea, if you're given a set curriculum or course book to follow from the first day. I know I'd be expected to write my own lesson plans/come up with activities, but would I at least be told what specific topic to work on each day? I hope this isn't a stupid question. I just haven't been able to get anyone I know to tell me what the actual teaching part is like and I'm way more afraid of that than the moving to Korea part (although I'm also excited to do it). Anyway, any light you could shed on this for someone who obviously has no idea would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[edwardcatflap]

Most schools/institutes will have a book based syllabus, ie a number of units of the book have to be completed within a certain amount of time. Your lesson plans will be based around a certain number of pages in the book you should complete in one lesson. If that isn't made clear just divide the number of pages in the book by lessons as a rough guide and get started

Use the teacher's book to plan the basis of the lesson and use any extra materials to either personalise it more, make the book material more interesting or add extra practice in an area where your students need it. The last three areas will become more obvious the more experience you get so at first you'll do ok sticking to the book and using the teacher's book to guide you through the material. Hope that helps

[dorian_gray]

[lifeinkorea]

You also have to deal with the fact that the students won't progress at the same pace or level. Even if you have things prepared, there will be students who finish in 10 minutes, while others are lagging behind.

[Kellar]

This has helped tremendously, so thank you, everyone.

[mmstyle]

Kellar, I have a had a very different experience than other posters in this thread. Contract 1: private (for profit) religious elementary school. Very for profit. My main teaching course was immersion (in English) science. I was given the books, but no curriculum. Nada. Camps were worse.

Current contract: private religious school (luck of the draw, as I am not) that is under the public school umbrella. They have books that the Korean teachers use. I should say that they hog. Other than occasionally being allocated a really bad dialogue in the book about once a semester, I am given no input at all. I am middle school. I create all of my lessons. And I am not saying they are good, because it gets old fast.


My husband is elementary and must prepare and work with his coteachers in class very closely. He does 95% of the talking in class, but they follow the curriculum and work together to come up with activities. He was even given a teachers book translated into English! I would kill for one of those.

So, what you get may vary widely. I have never worked at a hogwan. SOme of them, I know, have a rigid set up. All depends, I guess.