Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Totti]

Whose had this experience and how did you find it?

[christeacher]

My first job in Korea was at an all boy's high school in Anyang. It was a nice job. Students are great. The only thing that I didn't like was the housing. It was on campus.

[jvalmer]

Is it a technical or academic high school?

If it's a technical high school, then good luck.

[Totti]

It's a private high school in Anyang. Might be the same one Chris is talking about if it's close to Anyang station!

[Slowmotion]

Are you male or female?

[schlotzy]

I just finished a year at an academic one...and I'm female by the way. I enjoyed it quite a bit. The guys were generally as well behaved as classes of 30 guys together could be. Of course they talked a lot, and not necessarily in English, but it wasn't anywhere near as bad as I thought it would be. If you're picturing something like North America in your mind, don't. They are angels comparatively.

The one downside I felt was that their English wasn't so great and that they didn't want to look like bff with the teacher of course. It wasn't as easy to have a close relationship with students due to those and a few other factors.

Also, it's not like elementary level where all of the kids love you and want to talk to you all of the time and hug you and practice English. They're studying for the KSAT and have bigger things to worry about than your conversation classes.

[Totti]

I'm male as well.

I taught at a mixed high school last year. It was pretty decent overall, though the majority of the better students were girls.

That's encouraging to hear Scholtzy. I'm guessing one benefit might be that the boys might participate a bit more compared to mixed school as they're not thinking about impressing the girls in class!

[happiness]

i worked for a year and a half in an all-boys hs. loved it. I do say: be a little tough. Call the kids by their names (on their uniform tags), and hang out at the snack shop with them now and then. i was a hit, and 3 months later, kids still text and call me. great job. miss it alot

[Chris.Quigley]

I worked for a boys high school for 1 year. It was a great experience. Like the other posters have said, take some time to hang out with the kids during their breaks. Play soccer/basketball with them. Watch their baseball games. Be a mentor. Leave your office door open so kids can stop by and say hi. Buy them icecream when you see them on the streets outside your school.

Do similar stuff with the teachers.

If you do all that stuff everyone but the most hardcore racist teachers/students will like you (and its unlikely you can change them anyway).

And... Don't crap/piss where you eat... If you are going to get drunk or hit on girls... don't do it anywhere near your school.

Follow this advice and they will offer you a second contract.

[waynehead]

Good advice above. I'm starting my second year at one next week (I'm renewing). I really like it, though I would prefer to teach mixed classes or all girls. Still, boys aren't THAT bad at the high school level.

[christeacher]

My school was closer to Myeonghak Station. It was a great job. All the advice that was posted above is stop on.

[winterfall]

[BankOfRC]

Hey totti, if you arrive this monday shoot me a pm or message with your email or facebook and I can fill you in.

Regards!

[Totti]

Hey BankofRC,

I can't pm yet, but I can receive them for some reason! So you could you pm your fb or email?

Cheers!

[Slowmotion]

I've been at an all boys HS the last few years. The students are pretty fun and boys will be boys. Funny yesterday on the first day of the semester how they cheered really hard for all the new good looking female teachers when they were introduced.

Girl teachers are a lot more popular at boys HS because they have nothing else to look at.