Korean Job Discussion Forums

thebektionary · Joined: 11 May 2011

Here I am, my first day.

Currently sitting at my desk in my classroom completely alone, on Dave's and Facebook, with no one around. When I go to my co-teacher to ask if I should do something, she looks at me like I'm crazy and then tells me to just stay in my classroom on the computer unless I get lonely and want company. I have my own desk and my own classroom. I don't have to be in a teacher's room. No one seems to care what I do. The vice principal said that I won't be teaching for another two weeks.

Am I seriously getting paid for this? Is this seriously what public school is like?

And did I seriously suffer through a hagwon when I could've been doing this all along?

Hilarious...

Ballerina2012 · Joined: 17 Jan 2012

AWESOME! good for you!! Share your area, and recruiter! I need a gig like that too!

Who's Your Daddy? · Joined: 30 May 2010 Location: Victoria, Canada.

Count the number of desks in your classroom. Welcome to PS.

andrewchon · Posted: Thu Mar 01, 2012 8:13 pm Post subject:

Yes, it is like that. But if I were you, I'd be writing the lesson plans for the whole year for all your classes that will be due in two weeks time. Secondly, discuss with your co-teacher about the open-class that'll be happenning any time soon. Thirdly, check out all the resources: books, color pens, cissors, glue, white board markers, printer, photocopier, photocopy papers etc. Your co teach will ask what you want, soon. Ask for sexy new stuffs that'll delight your students.

Otherside · Joined: 06 Sep 2007

ttompatz · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea

Weigookin74 · Joined: 26 Oct 2009

Wow! Great deal. I've done public school. But, I never get an English room or class to myself. Nice to have that privacy without folks peering over your shoulder. Had some of that in some rural schools in the past. Now that I'm in a bigger city, I sit with other teachers. Both good and bad I guess. Are you in a rural area?

The Floating World · Joined: 01 Oct 2011 Location: Here

No_hite_pls · Posted: Thu Mar 01, 2012 9:49 pm Post subject:

jrwhite82 · Joined: 22 May 2010

Welcome to public school. Just be prepared for things to change at any time. So many things change at the last minute here and don't blame your coteacher for it. It might feel like you are being kept out of the loop and forgotten about, but 9 times out of 10 your coteacher is getting this news right before she told you.

Right now, you should be doing what others have said, prepare your lessons. Get on waygook and start downloading what you need. Think of some kind of motivation/management system for your class. Run it by your CTs on Monday.

thebektionary · Joined: 11 May 2011

thebektionary · Joined: 11 May 2011

jrwhite82 · Joined: 22 May 2010

In a recent survey of OECD nations, Korean employees ranked top 3 in hours worked. They also ranked towards the bottome in terms of productivity. So get used to it. Honestly, the best way to succeed here and at the same time to be well liked by your coworkers is to learn to be flexible and be able to go with the flow.

Later on in the year you will have to plan a very detailed open class. Winter and summer camps. After school classes. Make and tune your power points. Help with making exams. Be forced to play on the school volleyball team. Spend a day or three at orientation. Help with the English Play and English Speech Contest. Help plan an English Festival.

There will be many things to do at your school. Most of it will pop up last minute. So it's best to get ahead now while you have a nice chance. I'm not saying you will be overwhelmed. Not by any means. But there is always something going on.

NYC_Gal 2.0 · Joined: 10 Dec 2010

You seem to have won the public school lottery. Bring some books, plan lessons, etc...

I had an okay at best public school. It wasn't bad, but there was a lot of political BS.

I've got the opposite viewpoint. I can't believe that I wasted so much time in PS, because I have an awesome hagwon. I'm about to take a break and go get an hour massage before my last class for the day.

allan of asia · Joined: 17 Mar 2009 Location: Here, there, everywhere

now NYC gal, i promise im not trolling or being inflammatory or anything but I have noticed many of your posts mention how awesome your hagwon is all the time...is it truly awesome or do you need to keep teling yourself that, im not being mean but I honestly have never met anyone who has enjoyed working at their hagwon compared to a PS - BUT this is just MY experience, I know there are people like yourself out there...just noone i know directly. You also mentioned in another thread you have to "keep on top of your owner" to make sure she pays your health and pension - that doesnt sound like a good company to me.

That aside...I know I am very lucky to have a supportive public school who is doing everything they can to juggle the books and budgets to keep me in August if or when the funding is cut.

OP - that sorta sucks they leave you in your classroom all alone - I would hate that - I sit in the middle of the main teachers' room and it does sort of force you to do stuff cos you know people are looking - and you can get more involved with the kids who come in and the other teachers. Quite frankly if it wasn't for the cranky old adjumma math teacher who sat next to me my first year, I probably wouldnt have learned korean anywhere near as good as I did...thats not to say I am good though Wink

I agree...make some plans - and on monday ask your Co teacher exactly what is expected of you - for example I am in a Middle School and I have free reign with the 1st grade, but have to stick rigidly to the textbook material (although I can teach this material as I see fit using my own methods) in the 3rd grade as they are all about tests...it would kill me if i made loads of stuff I couldnt use. Today is a crazy busy day for PS teachers.