Korean Job Discussion Forums

ChopChaeJoe · Joined: 05 Mar 2006 Location: Seoul

I don't really have insurmountable problems getting them to sit still for 40 minutes, be quiet when others are talking, read, write, having standards of behavior and performance, etc. It's a long process, difficult at times, but it can definitely be done with a bit of empathy, creativity, and reenforcement. The biggest problems are howons changing rules all the time, messing up the curriculum, dropping new students into classes with (relativel) salty students, ... It's not for everyone.

ssuprnova · Joined: 17 Dec 2010 Location: Saigon

Yes.

/thread

northway · Joined: 05 Jul 2010

happiness · Joined: 04 Sep 2010

Ive done it for 6+ years! Why? (I ask myself that too!)

I have a great boss who appreciates my chill attitude and my repore with the kids. I also speak Korean. Ive taught in a high school (which was great, but the funding ran out), business English in Gangnam for 2 years (didnt like it, the people were just too depressed), and I taught a hagwon in Haeundae (when there werent many hagwons in Haeundae). I liked that, but the difference is a good boss (who Im rather close with, known her for years) and a decent support system, not a GREAT support system, but at least something.) I start at 10 (i arrive 9:45-50 ish) and finish 4:40 but I usually hang around a bit helping the teachers look after the afterschool kids (basically starting the computer and firing up tom and jerry reruns). Ive gone and been asked back 3 times. Im not the only one, one of my married buddies is also like me (he just left his school again becuase he got a big corporation job he wanted it). They also pay me a rather decent wage (more than most in this position)

id say its the boss, your personality, your expectations, and your attitude.
but Ill say its your boss and your attitude the most.

i have bad moments (i yell at the kids alot, but I also pay alot of attention to them and i know all of their Korean names), but its strange, its a big part of me now. Maybe Ill quit again next year, but you never know.

Gorf · Joined: 25 Jun 2011

I would never take a job that's more than 8 hours of working time per day. Anything more is just selling yourself too cheap.

marsavalanche · Joined: 27 Aug 2010 Location: where pretty lies perish

Poly teachers have to wear a suit to work--teaching kindergarten.

I still crack up at that when I'm going to work at 1230, and leaving before their "FML" facebook status at 6.

DorkothyParker · Joined: 11 Apr 2009 Location: Jeju

I love my kindy kids about a billion times more than my 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade kids.
They are much sweeter. Generally when they misbehave it's because they are kids and not out of intentional disrespect.

It's frickin' exhausting though.
Protip: Never pick one up or you will find yourself picking up 20 more just to go to the bathroom. And then you will feel really sad about that one fat 7-year-old that you can't hang upside-down like the others. Sad

ChopChaeJoe · Joined: 05 Mar 2006 Location: Seoul

I yelled at students my first 3 years or so, but I don't any more. It doesn't really work, just leads to more yelling and more noise pollution. They can tell you mean it by your tone and body language. Besides that, I think it's unprofessional.

Weigookin74 · Joined: 26 Oct 2009

I taught in a public school kindergarden for one semester in a small city a year ago. It was an experiement by the local education office. I taught at 5 kindys 5 days a week. I mostly enjoyed the experience. The Korean Co-teachers had terrible English, though. In the morning, I follwed the recommended curriculum with the Co-Teachers. I basically let them plan everything for the mornings. They had a national curriculum they had to follow anyways. They spoke poor and improper English to the kids and I simply stepped in to speak it correctly. In the afternoons, I taught my own material. I bought some funky picture cards, used a compter and big screen TV and played songs, cartoon, and sesame street videos from Youtube. I also spoke basic level Korean which helped. I showed up at 9:30 and left at 3:30.

Don't think I'd like the long hours of a private Kindy though. If it were a little shorter and they gave me a TV Screen and computer to use for teaching, then I wouldn't mind. I speak basic level Korean. I couldn't imagine doing it without some Korean ability. It would probably be hell to control the kids.