Korean Job Discussion Forums

[crazylemongirl]

This is another CLG whine.

I'm in the last 6 months of a four year stint in Korea. Though I've whined a lot about things during my time here, this is the first time that I find myself not happy being around the kids and not happy being in the classroom. I'm bored.

For the last 2 and a bit years I've been teaching middle schoolers from the same book. My life is just such a dull routine: teach the same 3 lessons all week, and those lessons are largely based off of what I taught for the last 2 years. I can make small improvements year after year, but in essence I have to cover the same material that I have for the last 2 years.

Part of my problem is that I made up mind during the summer that I don't want to teach anymore (I had been considering continuing in teaching). So a lot of my stay in Korea has been about getting together cash and making some connections for my next career. I find that as my mind wanders more into the future I find my passion for my current job to be negligible, which is something I'm not really used to. I used to love the teaching and my students, but these days I feel a sense of gloom about heading into the classroom.

I thought coming back from vacation would perhaps serve as motivation for that final 6 months, but to be frank I'm even more lethargic and apathetic about teaching than before I left.

I know once I get through december then I'll be fine as public schools basically going into shut down mode post-finals. I have Korean classes which I really enjoy. Plus some networking to do, which is easier to do here. Money is a factor, as I may have a few months of unemployment or possibly 1 more year of study ahead of me. Also the fact that the field I want to get into starts recuriting in March so there's nothing for me to do but wait and collect my pay cheque.

It's so weird, I really love living in Korea but I just don't want to do this job anymore but I'm kind of treadding water for the next 6 months. Kind of feel the same as I did when I was in my final stretch of varsity...

Arghhh feels good to get that off my chest!

[sheba]

Well 4 years is a decent accomplishment! Really you only have 4 months to go, not long at all! Why dont you see if you can bring in a little something different every once in a while - An activity day, puzzles, something fun to mix it up a bit. Ive been working with the same books for some of my classes for 16 months.... not the same as you, but I can kinda understand. The kids hate it as much as I do! So once a month I do something different - a games day, class party, prize day, puzzles....

Not sure of the rules in a public school and if this is possible..... you could always work really fast through the lesson and do something different at the end?

[inspector gadget]

CLG,

I hear ya, I have am working on my second contract with 5 months to go, I too work with middle schoolers.

I have also been finding it difficult to get motivated for the most part. For me I find that its more difficult in a public school to get motivation as opposed to a hagwon (my first year).

Just out of curiousity I counted how many teaching days I have left in my final contract here in Korea.

84 Baby!!!!!

Then its back to Canada to start my business, yahoooooo

[crazylemongirl]

[Hotpants]

Give a hand to the Lemon!

I also think 4 years of doing the same routine is admirable, especially in a place like Korea where teaching is not always what it seems.

I once went through a thoroughly unmotivated spell during my teaching time. Our school was reportedly going to close down and I only had 5 kids to care all day for over 3 months. Perhaps what got me through is that I thought I just have to hang on in there for the kids sake and give them the time of their lives and somehow also make it the time of my life too. Because once it's over, it's over forever. Mix the routine, through in some unexpected twists, play a video or two and try not to be fixated with following the curriculum too much.

Keep going!!!!

[Paji eh Wong]

Wh*re yourself out. Take every private you can get your hands on or get a part time job. Work 100 hours a week. Wander around in a daze. Use your bundles of cash to keep the bed upright.

What the hell. You've only got 6 months left.

[Julius]

[crazylemongirl]

I would really like to get into diplomacy or international trade.