Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Grantasmagoria]

It's the reason I got into teaching, to challenge myself and do something I didn't think I could. It has gotten much easier the more lessons I've taught and in many ways, I grew up during my time in Korea, matured more as an adult. Luckily, I had the sense to try a TEFL course before I committed to a year long contract. It was brutal at first but I stuck with it and did well in the course. And as others have said, I'm almost always well prepared....except for those surprise! lessons.

[liveinkorea316]

I think as people have pointed out, talking infront of young students is much easier than talking to your peers.

Secondly, very few extremely introverted people will become teachers at all.

Finally, most people who claim to be intorverted in Korea are only mildly introverted because people are axtually a mixture of intro- and extro- vertedness.

I am mildly introverted but it has no effect on my teaching at all. My students are really surprised when I fill out the same personality survey as them and my result says I am introverted. Because it is different to my classroom persona.

At a bar, with coworkers, in the office...I am slightly introverted. Also with friends.....but only slightly. Most people don't notice it but I have trouble and am uncomfortable in many social settings. i just try to adapt.

So in summary I think the OP's question is a non-starter. Mildly introverted people teach as well and with as fewer problems as anyone else. It is in social settings that there is an issue.

[Trip]

Need experience speaking in front of people, leading others, and networking? There are 33 Toastmasters clubs in Korea all full of professional and helpful people. The after parties are usually good, too.

www.toastmasters.org

[OneWayTraffic]

Remember that in any class a significant proportion of your students will also be introverted. Introvert teachers are sometimes better at reaching these people.

Introversion/Extraversion are to do with energy. Introverts tend to get their energy from the inside world, why extraverts get it from interacting with people. That doesn't mean that extraverts can't sit in a room and plan, and it doesn't mean that introverts can't deliver material to a class. Both the inside world of ideas and reflection on lessons, and the outside world of people are important to teaching.


I enjoy being in front of a class. So much so that I've now qualified as a teacher back home in NZ. But it gets draining after 5 hours so I need some time to myself at the end of it.

[koreatimes]

This whole question is based on introverts as if they were inferior to extroverts. I guess introverts also have a hard time ordering meals at restaurants then?

That's ridiculous. Back in school, if you didn't know a math problem but were called to the board to solve it, it didn't matter if you were introverted or extroverted. You were terrified of being embarrassed among your peers.

Low blood sugar accounts more for cases of introverted behavior, nervousness, and lack of confidence.

I teach high school students now. If students don't want to talk, I pick one and then have them pick another student in class. 90% of the time they will pick someone of the same gender. So, after a while I'll ask usually a guy to pick a girl. However, he is shy to do this. He picks another guy, and I jokingly ask, "That's a girl?". As a class, we have a laugh, and the idea of an introvert or extrovert never enters the picture.

There is more to the classroom than the teacher.

[joelove]

I have found one is sort of expected to be outgoing and others can be disappointed if you're not. It's like being expected to be a sitcom character.

[some waygug-in]

Yes, that's an attitude that is prevalent in Asia (not just Korea).

Many students want to just sit back and be entertained rather than participate.

You need to find the right balance to keep the students involved.

[Draz]

[jeremysums]

There was an extrovert thread too.

[OneWayTraffic]

That was me poking a bit of gentle fun at the OP.

[Estelio_]

Wow- There are a lot of misconceptions about introverts here.

I am not in Korea yet so I cannot account for my personal experience teaching as an introvert. Like most introverts, I have thought heavily about this and I am certain I will be a confident teacher.

Introverts lack social stamina, but this does not mean we can't order food, be leaders, or teach a class. Our energy is re-charged by having alone time to ponder and process our day. Personally, I love people and I am a great communicator - I just need time alone afterwards. In fact, I would go so far as to say introverts have an easier time adjusting to foreign cultures as they tend to be more self-sufficient.

I think introverts do better at hagwons. The class size is smaller, allowing you a more personal relationship with the students. You don't have a hovering co-teacher watching your every move. You have more flexibility and resources to explore teaching tactics, and hopefully your hours are shorter.

If you are earnestly wondering how introvert teach - I suggest reading up of Carl Jung and the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator personality test.

[joelove]

It's not like introverts are rare. They're everywhere. I have no idea of the numbers but would guess maybe 1/3 (?) of people show some pretty clear signs of introversion, which aren't hard to notice after knowing someone a little bit. This is why any expectation to be regularly outgoing is surprising to me. It just doesn't work for a lot of people.

[Weigookin74]

By not being an introvert. You can be one all you want in your own time, but you need to be fun and outgoing at school and when you teach.

[ironclad80]

"enthusiastic" "motivated" etc don't define a good teacher. teacher is a very inappropriate stereotype that does definitely NOT instantly make a good teacher.

i see those types, they act like they just had 10 coffees and snorted two lines but that doesn't mean they can build trust and rapport with students (something which i think is far more important than anything else).

at one point i never once imagined i could stand in front of a large group and speak/teach but now i feel i proved it's something i do quite well. i'm well received by the students, i'm told i have a great sense of humor, and i'm not nervous in the least.

there is no cookie-cutter requirement of what makes a good teacher. when employers look for stereotypes, that's when they can end up with a bad teacher. i've seen it happen quite often.

[alwaysgood]