Korean Job Discussion Forums

[edmiller2b]

Hi all!

I've been offered a position to teach to middle school
students in the public school system of Bundang/Seongnam.

I am completely new to this, so I'm asking, is this a good
experience for a first time teacher? Is the area nice?

I have a Master's Degree in Business and experience in
corporate training, but this is my first TESOL position.

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated!!!

[gajackson1]

Seong-nam / Bun-dang is actually a fairly large, and mostly modern, suburb area of Seoul, south of the han river, but not too far away from things, IMHO.

A lot of it would depend on where your school & housing will be located; I am (now) somewhat familiar with the Mi-geum subway station area of Bun-dang, but not much else.

Do you know wherebouts you'll be living?

Regards,

G.

[Captain Corea]

In my opinion, a first time teacher should be very wary of teaching 30-40 kids in a classroom without training.

I'm sure one of the people who do teach in a public school here will be posting this soon...

[Zyzyfer]

Send Derrek a private message and link to this thread. He'll probably post some information for you, and he's got a good chunk of experience with public schools in Bundang.

As for the area, it's suburbia for Koreans. Big avenues, nice parks and trails, not much excitement. I don't think it's a good first city for someone to live in when they come to Korea, but it's good for folks who have been here for a year or three and want to lead a quiet life.

[Grotto]

I dont know about 30-40 kids being more difficult to teach. You have a Korean teacher with you to handle discipline. If they arent there all you need to do is be fair but firm. If any students get too out of hand march em down to the VP and watch the fur fly.

The way it worked at my school is I walk in, teach the lesson, leave and repeat an average of 4 times a day. Each week a different lesson.

I would still recommend a public school over a hogwan any day of the week!

[crazylemongirl]

[edmiller2b]

thanks so much everyone for the feedback!!!

not sure exactly were I'd be staying in Bundang. Once
I find that out, I'll let you know.

[Derrek]

Ed, I got your PM.

You're a year or two older than me (you'll be befuddled to learn that Koreans will count your age differently and you'll be something like 37 or 38 when you get here, depending on your birthday).

I teach for an all-girls' high school here in Bundang. I love it, but the city is boring -- it's a family town. Darned clean compared to most everywhere else, though, and wider streets. People are mostly upper-class. Seongnam is the area between Seoul and Bundang. It's more lower-middle and middle-class. I have several students from Seongnam. Your housing will be way different if you live near Moran, for example, compared to much of the rest of Bundang from Yatap on down past Migeum. Most of everything in that area was built within the past 10 years or even 3 years.

I came to Korea 3 1/2 years ago (gosh, I'm old now) and taught in two hagwons before getting this job. I was a Journalism/Mass Comm. major with an English minor, and was a TV Writer/Producer for a CBS affiliate for 8 years before getting into this.

I'm on summer vacation now, but took up a camp at an elementary school. Three days of 3 hours straight (no break between, really) teaching 1st graders is enough to tell me I really miss my high school girls/pseudo daughters!

Personally, I find it's best for newbees to make mistakes in hagwons if they have no other experience. If you have a Korean co-teacher, however, and you get along well with them, it can be done. Some jobs have a co-teacher, and others don't. Mine mostly doesn't, except for a few select reading classes.

Try to find out more about if you will have a co-teacher or not. I have a feeling you're in this for a year for the experience, right? I hate to put words in your mouth, though. What are your plans? A large percentage of hagwons are hell, anyway.

If it helps any, I was AWFUL my first 3 to 5 months of teaching. My director had to pull me aside on my 2nd day and teach a sample class for me to watch. Wish he'd done it sooner, but it was nice he did that willingly, and didn't chew me up and down. I really need to go visit Mr. Lee at Bahro again. I miss him.

[ddeubel]

Hi Ed

I cant give you any advice - just writing to say I am in the same boat as you regarding teaching and teaching in Seoul suburbs and the public school system. I'll be arriving/starting Aug. 24th.

But I do have years of ESL experience and also experience teaching junior intermediate learners. So please get intouch and I can provide atleast more support if not ideas....

Number one (i've taught a lot of middle school Koreans - ESL grade 8 here in Toronto) -- be quite stern and unapproachable the first month. You'll get their respect and learning will happen. If possible - throw someone down to the VP - the admin will like that too

Best of luck

DD

[ilovebdt]

Yes, don't smile for at least a month

[Derrek]

Stern, yes... especially at first. Lay down the rules and follow them so they learn what can and can't be done in class. Being unnapproachable is a bit much, however. Schools are a popularity contest here, especially as far as the waygooks are concerned, which we all know isn't the best thing for education. My administration had the students write two papers this month:

1. Which class and teacher do you like the most?
2. Which class and teacher do you like the least?

Just something to keep in mind.

Get to know the kids as best you can (I know it's darned impossible with so many). If you're like me, you may not remember names for quite some time, but you'll remember faces. I like to give some of my girls "nicknames" that are fun and friendly. For example, one of my students, who has the potential to be a disruption, is also very outgoing and actually uses her English, despite low grades. She has a nose like Jennifer Anniston, so I call her Jennifer. She loves it, and thinks it's such a great thing. I now have control over she and her friends much of the time, because they love me. All because I give them some attention here and there.

I've learned that's what it's all about, as far as problem kids are concerned -- attention. Whether they are lacking it at home due to a divorce, or whatever, give a problem kid a little attention (mostly outside of the classroom in the halls and stuff) and they perk up in class. Learn their name and use it at lunch, between classes, or whatever. Ask them about their day. Tease them in a positive way. Once I have a rapport, I start asking them for help in keeping their table quiet sometimes, and that gives them some responsibility. Amazing how well that one works. I've managed to quiet that wild kid down, and maybe a few of their friends, too.

I was not a good student in high school. I didn't study unless I absolutely had to. Things improved drastically at university, but I feel I can relate VERY well to the students who aren't the top-notch "study all day" crowd. Oddly, the ones who study all day often are not the ones who talk much. They are perfect little angels with their heads down in their books, but they just don't talk. The outgoing ones who are in the lower-level classes and are a bit wild are the ones who really talk up a storm. I can relate to these kids, because I was such a kid in high school. They are too social for their own good, really (girls, anyway). I like to use that to get them to practice English. You have to gain their respect and interest first, though. And that comes by showing an interest in them.

[TJ]

[edmiller2b]

first, thanks everyone for the wonderful advice.

as far as i've been told so far, I will have a Korean teacher
with me at all times, or so they say .

derrek, yes, i am coming primarily for the experience and
to soak in the culture. that being said, i'm not viewing this
as volunteer work. (i believe the pay is 2.0 mill a month, which
sounds about right given my experience or lack thereof)

i'm also getting 7 days vacation in the summer and winter, which
i'm assuming is better than i would get in a hagwon and give
me the opportunity to do some travelling.

regarding the location, i don't mind clean and boring if it
isn't a hassle to get somewhere more exciting fairly easily.


i'm assuming Seoul is not that far away?

also, if this area feels plastic and doesn't give a sense of the culture
that could be a bit disappointing, but do authentic places even
exist?

lastly, derrek especially, thanks for sharing your difficulties when you
started, i like to think i'm going to come in there and do fine, but
who knows...i would think it would be an ideal first job given
that i will be working with a korean teacher along the way versus
being thrown directly in the water in a hagwon?

sorry, this became more questions than a simple thank you.

[PolyChronic Time Girl]

You public school teachers get a main Korean teacher with you?!! That's not fair. At my high school last year, they just threw me in a room with 40+ all boys, with no training or a korean teacher to help. It wasn't easy but easier than teaching 6 hagwon kids.

[edmiller2b]

hi everyone,


i found out the shcool is Songlim Middle School...


has anyone heard of it?