Korean Job Discussion Forums

davidemore · Joined: 07 Oct 2010

Lol! Fair enough, and thank you. I am glad to be here (I hope).

digiboy · Joined: 20 Nov 2009

maybe�try�turning�off�caps�lock....

fugitive chicken · Joined: 20 Apr 2010 Location: Bucheon

1. Come in with an open mind, and be suuuper flexible, your principal or director (depending on if your in a hogwan or public school) can change anything on you at any given moment.

2. Classroom management is key. DONT try to be your students' friends. In the states there is a saying that is said by teachers in the states: Don't crack a smile till November. This holds true. Make clear and concise classroom rules and stick to them no matter what. Only when they have shown they can follow these rules can you start to relax a little.

3. Don't be nervous, kids see that immediately and jump on it and take advantage of you. Don't show nervousness and don't give in, whatever you do.

jrock · Joined: 16 Jun 2010

Fugitive Chicken gave some good advice.

If the lesson is 40 minutes long, plan for a 50 minute lesson. Always have more than you will need, but don't shoehorn too many activities into 1 lesson.

I have never lived in Incheon, but a friend of mine has. He said there is a bar called the Goose Goose where a lot of foreigners hang out. Go there and meet some people. He lived there a few years ago, so that info might be outdated.

Try not to spend too much time with your co-workers outside of work.

Good luck

wylies99 · Joined: 13 May 2006 Location: I'm one cool cat!

OP, dealing with Korean teachers at some schools can be more difficult than dealing with the students. My advice? Do a lot of listening and observing until you see which teachers are friendly. There are some Korean English teachers who are not friendly and other teachers (art, whatever) who are friendly. Keep an open mind about it. Plus, the music teacher may speak better English than the English teachers. You never know. Every school is different.

Also, don't complain or pour your heart out to any Korean teachers at your school. Make some friends outside of work and talk to them about your problems. You'd be surprised how many Korean teachers view even simple observations as "complaints.'

How are you with chopsticks? Work on it. Also, eat the Korean food they serve at lunch. Yeah, we all get sick of the same old plain Korean school lunches, but if you complain about the food some will take it the wrong way. You will be invited to school dinners. Go. Eat. Enjoy, but don't get drunk. Stay under control at school dinners. Everyone will be watching you at every dinner.

Finally, be prepared for complete disorganization and a lack of communication from the information loop. That's not caused by translation difficulties. Many Koreans are so disorganized that you'll be shocked that they retain their jobs. It can be very frustrating. Unfortunately, it's part of all jobs in Korea. Everyone has to deal with it and everyone hates it. Just understand that it's nothing personal and that, very often, the Korean teachers hate it, too.