Korean Job Discussion Forums

[jcnga]

Have a question about the actual job of teaching English in Korea and kind of what it�s like on a daily basis, something�s to expect, etc.
A little background on me: I�m 34 male just finished my B.A. in History without teaching certificate and spent 6 years in the military before finishing my degree. I�m a quiet guy when first meeting and am not fully comfortable with public speaking but most of the classes I took in college required giving 15-1 hour long presentations and I always got through them fine. I also was a volunteer assistant with my local middle school basketball team this past season and really enjoyed working with the kids.

I didn�t think I wanted to be a teacher while in college so I never went the certification route, just straight History degree but coaching opened my eyes and I would like to pursue getting certified and teaching middle or high school Social Studies. I want to teach English overseas because I think it would be great experience and hopefully a great opportunity to learn to become an effective teacher in the classroom and work with the students to help them become better at English.

I realize that things could go great or there could be many hardships while teaching in Korea; however, the opportunity seems tremendous. Experienced teachers have any advice for what to be aware of before stepping into the classroom?

Thanks greatly,
Chris

[comm]

[some waygug-in]

The biggest shock you are likely to receive is that your job will not really

be teaching so much as it will be babysitting (in the case of hagwons)

or being a human tape recorder (in the case of public schools).


There are some jobs where you will be given some freedom to teach,

but by and large you will find yourself feeling useless.

[andrewchon]

If you expect nothing in return then you won't be disappointed. Seneca said that two thousand years ago and that still applies. You can teach them and they might even learn a thing or two, but don't expect them to show any gratitude. I've had many good teachers tried to bash some sense into my head but I've never said 'thank you' to any of them. That's what humans do, and if you let the students and yourself be human then you'll figure out what this thing called 'teaching' is about. I'm inclined towards Thomas Hobbes' idea of humanity and once compared students to sand castles on a beach that has to be rebuilt everyday. Co-teacher turned out to be a disciple of John Locke and now thinks I'm not fit to be allowed in her class. Gee, just how much disappointment can one take?