Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Good Will Riker]

Hey guys,

I am a BA degree holder in English Education from an American university who has been teaching English in Korea for over a year now.

For the past 8 months, I have been working at a preschool where I teach English to Korean students aged 4-7. Unlike older elementary school aged students, these young students require more display of emotions and fun time activities to teach them in the classroom.

As my college major didn't specifically emphasize early childhood education, there are times when I do have difficulty in getting through to my preschool aged students.

For an English teacher who has no formal training in teaching preschool aged children, what resources can he or she use to learn how to teach these young preschool aged children? Would it be advisable to take on-line TESOL courses (on-line teacher training) that can help a teacher be certified to teach young preschool aged children, or are there websites that can give novice English teachers (like myself) with lesson plans and game activities in teaching young preschool aged children?

If you know of good on-line TESOL-type courses or websites that can help a novice teacher like myself teach preschool-aged children, I would really appreciate it.

As my English is fluent and my Korean speaking/writing is terrible, it would probably be best if I received training from an on-line TESOL-type course rather than from an on-site Korean university teacher training program. I do believe an actual live course where I sit in front of a classroom to receive teacher training would be more effective than an on-line TESOL course, but I am not currently familiar with any local (South Korean) ESL teacher training programs geared towards native English teachers like myself.

Any advice and suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[teachingld2004]

This may not be the advice you are looking for, but accept it.

No classes you take in another country can really prepare you for Korean kids. I have a degree in Early Child hood Education. In school you learn "children will....they should understand.... they will follow...
Remember, these children have no prior knowledge. Usually Korean kids are allowed to do what ever they please, when and where ever they are. They barely understand rules in Korea, so how can they in English? But, if you try and train them the word "NO!" There is a chance they will listen. If you try and have rules, they MAY follow 9some of them).

I have taught here students ages 3 - almost dead. Usually the little ones learn quick.


Others will argue, but here is my advice:
Go with your gut. love them or hate them, just do the best you can. Does your school dictate how you teach? Some schools do. Do you have a co-teacher? Some are good, some are garbage, and some are not there.

You will do some things right and some things wrong. Some kids will love you and some will hate you.

Remember, these are little kids. You are "teaching" them English.
99.9% of them speak no English at home. You will always have kids of mixed levels in every class.

What works for me, may not work for you. What works for one group will not work for another.

You are young. Work here, save money, and get your MA while you are here.

Some people here have great jobs, some have jobs that suck. Some people are good teachers/workers, while others can't stay hired in any country they are in.

You seem to have a good attitude. Congratulations. One good piece of advice is to stay strong, and do not have fear on your face.

Get a group of positive friends. help each other out. Play learning games. Sing. Korean kids LOVE to sing.

Have them teach you how to write a word in Korean. Let them give you a "test". You will all be laughing. Go around the room and write the name of items. Ask them to tell you what they are in Korean.

Try and not get angry at you. There are tons of web sites for good ideas.' Life is short. Do not let worry make you sick.