Korean Job Discussion Forums

Snowkr · Joined: 03 Jun 2005

Hi everyone

I'm just curious... how many of you guy teachers out there are teaching, have taught or would be willing to teach preschool? By preschool I meant very young.. 3 to 4 years and up?

I'm not trying be sexist. My boss is a little nervous about hiring a male teacher to replace me but this guy's resume is the best out of the group and I think he should go for it. His concern is for the morning preschool group in our hogwon. He's always had female teachers but I think a male would be good for our school.

I do wonder though how many men teachers there are out there working with kids and loving it or who have done it and would be willing to do it again. I'm stereotyped as the typical bright eyed, happy go lucky kindy teacher and I've worked with kids for nearly 8 years. When I leave here, I hope to never set foot in a tiny tots class again! But that's just me... I honestly don't think the gender of the teacher matters in terms of quality but does it matter to the kids?

Any thoughts???

endofthewor1d · Joined: 01 Apr 2003 Location: the end of the wor1d.

they were always my favorite classes. i'm male.

rawiri · Joined: 01 Jun 2003 Location: Lovely day for a fire drill.

Hey,
my brother worked full time in a kindy back home for two years. He really enjoyed it apart from having to clean the kids up when they spat up or went poopy in their pants. It's totally up to the individual as to how they react with the little kids ona day in day out basis. If your director is selecting people based on gender then he shouldn't be doing the hiring and firing.

sadsac · Joined: 22 Dec 2003 Location: Gwangwang

I worked with pre-schoolers for 2 years and I found the munchkins magic. Gender isn't the issue, ability to get down to the kids level and have fun with them,is so much more important. Smile

mindmetoo · Joined: 02 Feb 2004

I like little children. In a white wine sauce. *rim shot*

Yu_Bum_suk · Joined: 25 Dec 2004

I'm male and I hate little kids, especially little Korean kids. I find them utterly unbearable, horrid little monstrosities. I wouldn't teach them for 4 million won a month. My brief experience teaching one kindy class has left me with a desire never to children of my own. Grade one middle school is my bottom limit. I just finished teaching a greade one MS glass and they were lovely. I don't know what in their earlier years makes them so horrid.

cubanlord · Joined: 08 Jul 2005 Location: In Japan!

I don't mind children at all (especially Korean children). They are completely innocent. I see it in that they are excited and curious. I try to channel that into their learning English. I'd rather have them excited than just sitting there bored out of their minds.

Billy Pilgrim · Joined: 08 Sep 2004

Hated it. Would have left after my first year if I hadn't got a university job.

I have no aptitude for it at all. Which is a shame, as I could see it being quite rewarding if you were any good at it. Indications of progress and the like.

Peter Jackson · Joined: 23 Apr 2006

I used to really enjoy teaching little kids (or at least thought I did). I never wanted to teach high school. However, after landing a job in a rural high school I can't see myself going back to kindy. I taught kindy to up to 40 Thai kids and they were actually easier to handle than 6 to 12 Korean kiddies.

Now I'm teaching high school and don't see myself ever going back to a kindy hagwon. I had some rewarding times but I don't really miss it now..

ttompatz · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea

I have worked with all ages (here and at home) and I prefer kindy/preschool.
I even gave up a uni job to go back to teaching little ones.

Admittedly it takes a special person to work with little ones and those special people are NOT always female.

If you find that special person then gender doesn't matter but make sure that the person you are considering has EXPERIENCE working with little ones.

Little kids are NOT small versions of big kids, they are NOT for the feint of heart nor are they for anyone with NO experience dealing with little ones.

Good luck in your search.

.

kprrok · Joined: 06 Apr 2004 Location: KC

I love teaching the little kids. They are much more fun, if the school allows you to have fun with them. My past school was great. Stress-free, fun, and still the students did great. My current school leaves a lot to be desired as they are trying to throw way too much at them, but it's still better.

Go for the guy if he's into it and he looks good. I've seen female teachers not do as well.

Now I do have to say that female Korean teachers do better than male Korean teachers, but for foreigners, I've seen little to no difference. It's down to the individual person.

KPRROK

VanIslander · Posted: Mon Jun 26, 2006 1:34 am Post subject:

I read the thread title and came on here ready to gush about how much I enjoy teaching the little ones until I realized...

you are talking preschoolers Shocked

a man has his limits and mine is kindergarten

i teach all ages from kindy to adult, and have for years, and my fav is grades 1 to 3, my least fav are kindy and adults... largely because i try to TEACH

poet13 · Posted: Mon Jun 26, 2006 1:39 am Post subject:

Im a daddy. I have a 1and a half year old. My little ones aer great...most of the time. When i first started, I didnt think I had the patience for them (former US army contractor, serious guy and all that) , but its turned out great.

some waygug-in · Joined: 25 Jan 2003

I don't think I could do it. I have enough trouble with my level 1 kids.

It depends on the kids though. I have some kids who are great and I enjoy teaching them.........others .....well if they would stop trying to grab my schwang and or ddong chim me every 5 seconds maybe I could figure out what to do with them.

Don't ever let anyone tell you it's easy. Some of my most difficult classes are the little ones.

Good luck.

Roch · Joined: 24 Apr 2003 Location: Seoul