Korean Job Discussion Forums

[thegadfly]

Sluggo,

After teaching in the US, 99% of the problems in Korea you encounter will seem like a cakewalk -- the only problem I have really had is that you can not talk directly to the parents. Even if they speak English, most of the time their grasp of the language is not sufficient to handle a phone conversation about little Jimmy. Going through an intermediary doesn't have the same effect.

Everything else -- the hours, the workload, the administrative BS, the student behavior, the office in-fighting, the stupid expectations of administrators trying to please parents, the lack of support, the lack of textbooks, whatever -- was worse in the US.

Folks that think teaching in Korea is horrible should NOT teach in the US -- most of the problem is that the JOB of teaching is tough, regardless of where you are. If you could handle it back in your home country, Sluggo, I am sure you will have no trouble here. Good luck to you!

[Ramen]

[oldfatfarang]

[MalFSU1]

I would suggest to anyone coming in to Korea....stay away from public elementary schools. I certainly did not expect the kids to be perfect angels(kids are kids afterall), but the behavior I have seen in my classrooms and out in the halls is absolutely ridiculous. I sadly do not control the classroom, as my coteacher handles the discipline(quite rarely). I have broken up several fights this year, had chairs thrown during class, had kids scream bloody murder into my ears when I try to help them, and had kids sneeze into my face. The classes are too big, and the kids have such little respect for subject teachers.

As a coteacher you have such little power to discipline, half the ideas I have given to try to get the kids to calm down....writing sentences, staying after class to clean up have all been turned down because parents or homeroom teacher might be upset. Also, god forbid the kids bring their supplies to class(what's a pencil?!?) or ask to go to the bathroom instead of just running off during classtime. Just something to think about for newbies coming in.

[southernman]

Damn ...You must be at a bad Elementary school.

It sounds like the whole school sucks

Not all of them are like that, thankfully

And the vast majority are way better than schools back home for behavior and the students attitude etc

[thegadfly]

[Epik_Teacher]

[Vagabundo]

[northway]

[TheresaTheresa]

[PastorYoon]

[PastorYoon]

OP, happy for you! Really! I went on a three weeks vacation to Europe this summer! Boy, did that feel great to be out of here!

[PastorYoon]

[daveweave2]

[quote="oldfatfarang"][quote="RMNC"]Ah, so you're old fat guys. That's probably why you're treated so poorly. Maybe if you were handsome aged gentlemen you would get better treatment.[/quote]

I wasn't (that) old when I first came to Korea. I wasn't fat, either. Things have changeee.[/quote]
I did three and a half years am 55, my first year was passable head teacher in a private school, next five months in Daegu YBM I quit horrible people and stole from me also. Last two years in EPIK three schools great rural kids really nice for the most part. Lots of silly stuff two good co teachers one bad, I made some Korean friends whom I still talk to, met the love of my life Philippine College Prof am with her now. There are some Koreans that I really like, just hate their culture and feel bad because they are its worst victims. Its a lot the luck of the draw where you land, the emphasis on appearance is just stupid and a downfall to their system. I am however glad to be gone, wow ten years my hats off to you, good luck.

[Sleepy in Seoul]