Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Jellybean]

Hi

Just wondering if most/some/any hogwans give new teachers a training period or is it a matter of rocking up the first day and 'going for it?' Do new teachers get to observe another teacher before being thrown in the deep end? I guess I'm asking IF they do offer training what does it consist of?

Having never taught before, I just can't imagine teaching six sessions/day when I don't have the foggiest what I'm doing! Maybe I can just tell each class we are doing a mime session for forty minutes and nobody is allowed to move or speak.

JB

[endofthewor1d]

most hakwons will give you some kind of brief orientation. my first one didn't, but that's because it was a shady fly-by-night mom and pop organization, and i was the only foreign teacher there. they gave me a book and threw me in the classroom. my my, i've come a long way from there.

anyway... if you're going into a normal hakwon with other foreign teachers, then chances are good that you'll spend at least a day following someone around learning the ropes. really though, no matter how you psych yourself up for it or how many times you watch someone else teach a class, that first second of that first class is going to be ground zero. you will have that sink-or-swim feeling. if you stay in that room for the forty or fifty minutes you're supposed to, you will have swum. you've pretty much got to run out of the room crying after five minutes for it to count as a sink. good luck.

[VanIslander]

(1) Don't expect any training whatsover, even if promised.
(2) Do an online certificate program if you want to get some training.
(3) Surf through the HORDES of ESL teaching websites which provide, principles, procedures, tips, strategies, tons of lesson plans, suggestions, etc.
(4) Find within yourself patience, resilience, forgiveness, openness and most of all, confidence.

Good luck whatever.

[ontheway]

Some hogwans will throw you in the first minute you arrive. They think they're paying good money (too much) for you anyway, so you'd better start earning your keep.

Others will provide or require training time. Some pay for training time others do not. Shop around for what you need and want.

[Big Mac]

The one I was at offered a full week of training for new teachers.

I actually got several weeks because it was a new school and I got there before it actually opened. I had mock teaching sessions and read through all the material for several weeks. So it was great. That being said, it would have been nice to be able to observe a real class beforehand...but that's the drawback to being at a new school.

[Yu_Bum_suk]

Don't expect the 'training' to be of much use and don't expect a clear answer on anything, either.

[cruisemonkey]

I work at a public, English Immersion (Day) Camp... and after traveling for over 25 hrs. arrived at 2330 on a Monday night. The director lead me to believe he was taking me to Immigration to get my ARC on Tuesday morming. He picked me up and took me to the camp at 0850. At 0855 he told me "You teachee today at 0900... you do good job." At 0857 I was given a 'book' (I use the term very loosely) and had to ask where my classroom was. Some how, I treaded water that first day (it's all a blur now and I can't remember what I did). I've been swimming ever since.

[Ya-ta Boy]

You bit off a mouthful, didn't you?

Most hakwons/schools do not offer training. Why should they? They advertised for someone to teach X number of classes a day. They expected people who knew enough about it to do a decent job to apply. There is also a Korean attitude that 'anyone' can teach. It's an odd attitude. Apparantly, there are a lot of college graduates back home who think 'anyone' can teach. Apparantly, you are one of them.

Before you accept a job that you do not feel qualified for, start doing some homework. It isn't enough just to chat with someone who had your job before you so you know that the boss pays on time and the apartment isn't a total pit. Part of the deal is a free flight to Asia and a free apt for a year. In return, they expect you to do the job you volunteered for.

It isn't a bad trade off, but you do have an obligation to hold up your end of the stick.

I don't mean to be harsh, but you can't expect people to fly you over here, give you a free apartment and get nothing in return. I'd say it's time to wake up and get prepared. [/img]

[Ya-ta Boy]

double post

[Homer]

I am setting up a monthly workshop for new teachers here in Busan...a few of us long timers will meet with new teachers and hold discussion groups to help them with adapting and teaching.

Should be up and running by the early fall....