Korean Job Discussion Forums

[mick]

I'm heading out to Korea next week to start a teaching job and was wondering if anyone could recommend any good websites with information/suggestions on lesson plans, materials. I don't have any previous teaching experience and wanted to try and get a rough idea of what is expected in a standard lesson in a hagwon. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

[Yu_Bum_suk]

Hogwans are a crapshoot. There's little point in planning ahead if you don't know what awaits. They might have their own material for you to do; it might be great, it might not. You might have no material and you're stuck making it all up yourself with no computer and a photocopier that's always breaking. I'd bring along some standard grammar guides and the best-looking ESL material you can find at your local bookshop. If you're not out in the sticks you can get these at any large bookshop here in any case.

The chances of you winding up at a hogwan that:

- pays on time in full
- gives you a decent amount of days off
- has a good working atmosphere
- has an effective disciplinary policy that doesn't include hitting
- has honest communication with parents about kids' progress and behaviour
- has co-workers who are fluent in English and easy to work with
- has adequate materials and supplies
- lets FTs take initiative re: teaching material

is not exactly the greatest. Best of luck!

[Ya-ta Boy]

Without knowing the age you are going to be teaching it's impossible to tell you what kind of materials to bring.

Some general information:

* books of activities for teaching grammar points

* a good grammar book (Michael Swann is good. There are others.)

* the internet is your friend. You can find loads of decent materials, especially for kids, on the internet. Try searching for things under 'ESL reading'; 'ESL vocabulary'; 'Present Continuous'...search words like that. (In case you don't know, computer access here is easy and cheap. If you or your school does not have a computer, you can go to a PC bahng--they are everywhere--there will be several in your neighborhood, no matter where you live.) Cost is about W1,000 an hour.)

One good one for kids is EnchantedLearning.com. It has print-outs, among other things.

* the big bookstores, like Kyobo and Youngpoong (in downtown Seoul)have some teaching materials. Also, Kim & Johnson.

Good luck

[Grotto]

for bookstores I reccomend Bendi and Lunis at Coex mall...better selection than Kyobo and much much cheaper prices.

Bring along a couple of Dr Seuss books with you. I have found that they are a hit amongst students of all ages.

Bernstien bears are good too.

[stumptown]

Sorry Dave, but I have to plug another site. www.eslcity.com is a great site for free downloads from beginner to advanced. It's free and if ESL teachers don't take advantage of it I think the guy's going to shut it down for financial reasons. Great stuff there, folks

[Yu_Bum_suk]

[Hanson]

How can you even see what's on those handouts in the small window provided? Like Bum suk, why is it so small?