Korean Job Discussion Forums

kangnamdragon · Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Location: Kangnam, Seoul, Korea

Genrally school which teach K also teach elementary kids and have longer working hours.

Kwangjuchicken · Posted: Sun May 09, 2004 7:51 pm Post subject: Re: Why no kindergarden?

Saxiif · Joined: 15 May 2003 Location: Seongnam

The problem with kindy is that the classes are often in the morning, which gives you a split shift and then even if you do elementary your boss can throw extra kindy classes at you if he doesn't think you're teaching enough.

My old school had everything from kindy to adult and my new school is only elementary and because of this change I've gone from having as many as 8 classes before to as little as 4 now, because my boss has a lot less flexibility when it comes to throwing classes at me. Which is why I'm not signing on for a school with a morning kindy program ever again, I love my new schedule far far too much.

OiGirl · Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Location: Hoke-y-gun

ryleeys · Joined: 22 Dec 2003 Location: Columbia, MD

Here's what my schedule was:

1) 5 kindies
2) 6 kindies
3) 4 first graders
4) 3 second graders
5) 1 6th grader, 1 middle schooler

Now:

1) 9 kindies (teach one book)
2) 11 kindies (teach two books at the same time)
3) 9 first and second graders (teach three books at the same time)
4) 8 3rd and 4th gradners (teach three books at the same time)
5) same as before (teach two books at the same time)
6) 7 5th graders (wasn't given a book)

The combination of my classes doubling in size, me becoming the only English teacher (Korean or foreigner), and having to teach as many as 3 books in one class period... all that stuff in happening simultaneously is pushing me over the edge.

UncleAlex · Joined: 04 Apr 2003

It seems that female foreign teachers have a less stressful and traumatic
time with Korean pre-schoolers because of their gender. Korean children
fear their mothers far more than they do their fathers, for it's mom who
normally exacts punishment at home, the fathers hardly ever there with
their 12 hour work days and late night drinking sessions with their pals at
a hof or soju bang. The size of the classroom chairs make no difference
in the children's behaviour with male foreign teachers. And what good is
putting a crayon in the child's hand in affecting his behaviour if he keeps
throwing it away everytime the teacher tries to get him to colour. I guess
in order to succeed as a kindergarten teacher in a Korean hogwan, I've
got to enter the classroom as a convincing Cool

drag queen.

Bunnymonster · Joined: 16 Mar 2004 Location: Tokyo

I think you might have hit the nail on the head. Mine throw away crayons, or break them into small pieces. They also tear up any flashcards I take into the room, steal any colured paper I try to take into them and refuse to mimic the sounds or actions I perform. They also swcratch kick, bite and are generally aggressive towards me and each other. I honestly have no idea what I am supposed to do with them (my supervisor has suggested that my 'special talents' should allow me to teach them wonderfully). Apparently I am not teaching them well enough and that this is one of the reasons why my position is at risk..... Any suggestions anyone (I don't see wearing a dress as an ideal play). Adding to the gender problem is the fact that I have to 'teach' them for an hour when they have laready been at school for almost 2 hours which is way too long for 3-4 yr olds to have to be anywhere let alone in a classroom......
P

Eazy_E · Joined: 30 Oct 2003 Location: British Columbia, Canada

Kwangjuchicken · Posted: Fri May 14, 2004 5:23 am Post subject: Re: Kindies

Derrek · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

I taught at a pretty good Kindy school last year in Hannam-Dong. They had the Kindermusik and the whole bit, too. I enjoyed working there, because I had 3 Korean teachers in the room with me at all times. Kindy was fun, but got boring. I'm glad something better came along after the 6 month contract was finished.

Given their level of English, if I had to teach the kids by myself, it would have been hell.

Zyzyfer · Posted: Fri May 14, 2004 7:26 am Post subject:

Some people are better with young kids, and some are better with older kids. I personally love the elementary age students, because they still like learning, know how to have fun, and also have a basic grasp of behaving. All of the students that I remember from my first contract were elementary kids. Cute little girls and Power Ranger boys all over the place.

However, I can also walk into a middle school class and actually manage to get them talking. It takes a little time, but it does happen. This drives most foreigners clean up the wall.

When it comes to kindergarten, however, I stink. I'm awful. If I'm around kids that age, all that I want to do is play with them. If I make any effort to study, everybody's sad, myself included. That doesn't mean that kindergarten is awful; it just means that I'm not very good at it.

Different strokes for different folks.

Bunnymonster · Joined: 16 Mar 2004 Location: Tokyo

What how lucky, no its just me and three or four little 'treasures' who I try to stop killing each other, or from destroying anything valuable, or from crying because one of them has something they want and the person with said item is taunting the one who doesn't. I also am expected to create a syllabus for these kids from one page from a book which is in effect a large picture each and every day. It would be not so unreasonable if I had loads of time to go out and buy props and an extensiive library of flashcards etc o work from, unfortunately I have another 8 classes each day to think about, I really feel like someone is taking the piss. This amongst other things is making me look long and hard at that working holiday visa for Australia, pulling pints for minimum wage on a beach somewhere would be sooo nice right now.......