Korean Job Discussion Forums

[rickpidero]

[balzor]

emphasis how much you love working with children, how much you enjoy working as a team and say that you look forward to learning new teaching techniques from your co-workers.

[Yaya]

And no South Africans, then?

[jen_blue]

I know this is a very old thread but I haven't had much on mine on the same topic so thought I would try again here. How did it go for you Fly Kiwi Guy?

This is my application, any thoughts appreciated.


Why do I wish to teach English as a second Language?

I've spent a lot of time considering what I would like ultimately to achieve in my life and came across teaching English abroad as it addressed a number of my objectives; to come to really know and live an alternative culture and to pass something positive onto others. Furthermore, I hope to experience the world from another perspective and broaden my horizons in terms of developing confidence. Whilst at university I met people from all over the world and was inspired by their tales of their country and discussing similarities and differences in terms of culture and perspective.

As part of my research into job opportunities I discovered Dave's ESL Cafe and became interested in applying to South Korea after reading a great deal about others experiences of teaching in the country. I was further inspired to pursue the interest having watched a programme on the exciting changes taking place in this part of the world and the many opportunities to explore.

Educational philosophy

What are my beliefs regarding teaching?

I believe that the acquisition of knowledge is key to getting to where you want to be in life. A good teacher utilises students natural curiosity to develop skills in applying their learning to encourage their sense of independence and instil confidence; developing the individual both academically and individually, beyond the classroom.

As a teacher I aim to develop students English language skills by encouraging students to work towards completing a series of learning tasks which ultimately lead them to achieve long term targets. In setting out to do this I would begin firstly by telling the students what I hope they will achieve during this session, displaying it in language they are likely to understand. I will arrange a series of activities which in doing will act as steps towards reaching the end goal, offering praise and encouragement when they make positive attempts towards completing each aspect.. Finally instigating a reward chart for the student to clearly see how well they are achieving will maintain their level of motivation.

Furthermore, I believe a positive relationship with the teacher is an essential element in effective teaching, made up of mutual respect and a shared aspiration of meeting high expectations.

What do you believe about learning?

My degree in Psychology informs me that we are as humans innately compelled to learn. Learning is an active process of creating connections with prior learning, patterns and experiences with new information, relationships and contexts. Once I know my students current level of knowledge and application I can develop my lessons to bridge the gaps between their current stance and their learning objective in developing their language ability.

How is this played out in your classroom?

I strive to provide a collaborative learning environment focused on accomplishment. I believe that a large aspect of this is that I myself must aim for excellence; I am passionate about my subject matter and am confident in presenting the material.

In my teaching practise while completing my CELTA qualification I found that young learners preferred a quick pace with a form of current application or learning activities which garnered their competitive spirit. I aspire to design each lesson holistically; with an element of receptive and productive skills in each to encourage development in each area. I found that group work and in particular role play were effective tools in learning; encouraging them to speak and demonstrate their abilities in a manner they found enjoyed.

In order to gain additional experience of teaching English I undertook volunteer work at my local Asylum and Refugee Council as a Language Assistant. My role was to
support students to complete tasks set by the class teacher, offer additional support or clarification when required and on occasion I also also ran a smaller group lesson alongside the class to deal with common issues the students encountered. Classes were large, numbering 30-40 people with a mix of first languages making individual attention difficult. I found that offering a range of learning activities was the most effective way to maintain their interest and allow them to learn in a enjoyable way. I noticed that tasks were often not completed due to the class ending before we had covered all the material and so I instigated putting together an additional document detailing the learning that had taken place that week and offering a drop-in / coffee morning to assist students outside of the classroom. This was positively received by the management and students alike.

Each students contribution is valuable in my classroom and am always wiling to offer assistance to students who require additional support beyond the session. I am approachable and happy to go over any material where the student requires additional clarification.

As part of researching what my own role is likely to be within the education system I feel I have gained a good understanding of the challenges I am likely to face. Firstly, in managing discipline in my class I feel that positive reinforcement of good behaviour is the best way forward, with a public display for those who have achieved their aims in that lesson, possibly with a momentary reward at the end of the week.

I expect that older students are likely to be diligent in wanting to achieve, but shy in demonstrating their skills. I would aim to encourage them to become as comfortable as possible by reassuring them that mistakes are part of the learning process, by ignoring their minor mistakes and encouraging them to do their best. In my teaching I would also hope that I would be able to offer them a slice of my culture through authentic British items of interest.

Thoughts on encountering cultural difference

My research on Korea has led me to understand that there are many differences between my own and Korean culture; the importance of etiquette being the biggest one. This facet of Korean culture strikes me as a challenge, I hope through embracing these issues along with anticipating the pitfalls and techniques to manage situations I can come to be accepted by colleagues.

I have moved onto researching the different aspects of the day to day life of living in Korea, particularly in relation to food. Saturday Kitchen, a cookery programme recently featured Korean cuisine inspiring me to conduct research into this in particular. I love the sharing and welcoming ethos of Korean cuisine and have tried out some recipes at home with some success. I've also visited a Korean restaurant in Manchester which was an immensely positive experience.

I have found the blogs of English teachers currently working in Korea to be fascinating reading, chronicling their experiences and issues they faced in their early days of arriving in Korea. I particularly enjoyed The Red Dragon Diaries and have taken note of the issues raised and the best way in which to deal with them. I am a huge fan of YouTube and follow a number of channels relating to all aspects of Korea and teaching in Korea.

Overall I guess I would describe my approach to managing the differences as a combination of curiosity and acceptance. I consider myself to be very resourceful and proactive in managing my environment which I hope will enable me to enjoy the experience of being a foreigner. There is no correct way in terms of culture and hope that my willingness to learn and adapt shows through allowing me to take full advantage of the opportunity to work in such an amazing country.

[Okie from Muskogee]

My photoshopped picture alone caught the eyes of 4 or 5 recruiters who were dying to offer me jobs. I don't think it matters how well you write. How you look is more important here.