Korean Job Discussion Forums

vexed · Joined: 25 Aug 2006 Location: Daegu

I'm due to start teaching in Korea sometime in January. I've been working hard to try and sort out various things before I go e.g. Visa stuff; sorting out my tax and student loans; doing research into the area I'm living; and a load of other things.

However, it's just occurred to me that I've been spending so much time thinking about and planning for living in Korea, that I've not really considered the fact that I've got to actually teach English! It'll be my first time teaching and my first time living in another country. I've only recently finished university, so I'm still relatively young. I've had no proper training at all.

I'm getting scared about the actual teaching aspect. I get the impression that a lot people have had some sort of training or previous experience. I'm getting so nervous about the first time I have to step in front of a class of people and teach them. I mean, how do I know if I have the skills to do the job? What if I'm terrible? What if they can't understand me, or don't respect me?

Has anyone else been in this situation before? How did you deal with it? Any tips/advice?

Crying or Very sad

jlb · Joined: 18 Sep 2003

Try not to worry too much. The first couple weeks are going to be hell while you figure out what's going on. Have a list of games you can play (simple is better) from the internet or ask your co-workers so you have something to do to fill the time when you finish the book crazy fast, as you inevitably will.

It's a steep learning curve!

frankly speaking · Joined: 23 Oct 2005

One thing that you might do if you have some time this week. Call up/visit your local elementary school and tell them what you are doing and ask them if you can shadow one of the teachers. I suggest grade 4-5 would be a good level. Another place to go visit would be a local neighborhood center like CYO or YMCA. Sometimes they have refugee programs or even some kindergarten classes. You can sit in on a few days. Watch how the teacher conducts the class and help out where you can.

I always suggest teachers to take a few months and substitute teach at local school systems if they have no experience teaching. In the US, you make between 60-80 dollars a day (depending on the area) they only require a bachelors and you really get to learn how to manage a classroom. You also learn how to deal with students not listening to you or respecting you that much. Substitute teachers are treated very similar to how foreign teachers are treated in Korea. That is until you build a relationship with your students.

I do think that teaching and knowing how to teach should be the priority before worrying about getting a job or visas but too late this time.

Good luck.

Hotpants · Joined: 27 Jan 2006

A few nerves are expected in what's going to be a big transition for you. But, a lot of teachers come here with no experience, and although they will all admit it's hard at first, it does get better in the long run. If you can make it through 1 yr, you'll be sailing.

If you don't follow the advice of going to sit in on real classes, you can find some teachers' videos posted on sites such as YouTube - a couple of Korean teachers who teach kids have been posting, for example. Not a substitute for real teacher training, but you can get a preview of what some of the classrooms and kids may look like.

I would also browse around your bookstore for a resource book that gives you ideas on classroom games for kids. Much of your job will not be about teaching, but about classroom management and entertainment. You have to keep the kids edutained.

Also think in advance what you would like to teach in your first couple of days before you have a chance to get familiar with the school's textbooks.

rothkowitz · Joined: 27 Apr 2006

Tricky.You may well get no advice from your school so you need to develop something for the first couple of weeks.

I don't know what level,school,age group or experience you have but perhaps have a simple philosophy and approach in mind as a starting point.

1,Have a simple language function in mind for the lesson
2,Know how you're going to explain it
3,keep your language appropiate to the students-don't lose them in the explanation
4,Have them practice it each step of the way
5,Give them a chance to practice it together
6,Give them a chance to present it (encourage them to come to the front to present a short dialogue-give a candy or whatever for each pair that's prepared to participate
7,During the above,go around checking and modelling.

8,Be flexible.Give them time to get to know you.Bring some props from home.Pics,whatever you like.Pique their interest.

9,Be mindful of their attention span.Activities are good for this as it kind of distracts them from formal learning...they're still learning/producing!

This is rough and ready.It can be stressful when you don't know what's expected of you,nor what outcomes you can have in mind.

Have something planned and have clear transition points.It makes life easier and you can repeat the stuff with similar classes or adapt it.

Keep it simple Wink

Work from there.Good luck

mnhnhyouh · Joined: 21 Nov 2006 Location: The Middle Kingdom

Be confident, even if you are not. Walk into the classroom as if you live there, it is your classroom.

If you get the chance beforehand, stand up the front of the class when it is empty and project to the corners. Not difficult in a small empty room, but harder in a big one with noisy students.

Not advice I always follow, but the old teachers saying of not smiling until Easter has something to recommend it.

All this advice is based on teaching in Australia, so grains of salt are recommended.

h

wire · Joined: 01 Aug 2006

Set rules. Take down the first kid who breaks them...try not to yell or become unglued. Just enforce the rules.

Also, practice speaking in declarative sentences. Never ASK your students to do anything. Tell them.

Be quiet.
Open your books.
Sit down.
Get a pencil.
Do it now.

That will buy you time to adjust.

ChopChaeJoe · Joined: 05 Mar 2006 Location: Seoul

Don't take anything seriously at first. Have a good sense of humor. Figure out what is expected of you over the next month or two and exceed expectations. It doesn't take much.

vexed · Joined: 25 Aug 2006 Location: Daegu

A big thank you to everyone who responded.

Some of the advice here is invaluable, and will help to settle my pre-departure worries.

Cheers again everyone.

PRagic · Joined: 24 Feb 2006

Try not to worry too much. You won't be teaching English. You'll be guiding some students, experienced ones if they are adults, through a mindless text with built in exercises.

The biggest problem new teachers at hakwons have is buying into the hogwash that now they are 'professional teachers', and that now the students of Korea demand their profesionalism. Yeah, like people magically turn into teachers on the plane ride over. Whatever. Hakwons are a business, and the boss is just trying to psych you up to maximize his investment (you). Try to do a good job, but don't take it too seriously. You'll be better off in the long run.

Drew345 · Joined: 24 May 2005

Any way you can step in front of a class in your home country before coming here? Probably the second time you step in front of a class will be 100 % better than the first time, for you and the students. So get that first time out of the way back home. Do it for free. I had a friend in an institute in Bangkok who let me step in as a volunteer. Make your friends sit through it if you can't find a school. First time I taught way to easy (but Seoul English is not as good as Thai). A good book is "How to teach English", Jeffery Harmer. It covers everything that an ESL class would.
1. Get an ESL "how to" book, such as Harmer's
2. Practice at least once.
3. Check the level of your lesson with another teacher at the school.

i_teach_esl · Joined: 07 Sep 2006 Location: baebang, asan/cheonan

westonw · Joined: 25 Oct 2006 Location: Omungwelume, Namibia

i felt the same way before i came to south korea a couple months ago. i had never taught before in my life and was a bit nervous about getting up there in front of the kids. it took a couple weeks for me to get comfortable since it is somewhat of a baptism by fire. but the learning curve is in fact steep and though i still haven't been here very long i can now deliver a smooth lesson plan and take disciplinary action when necessary. good luck!

Dan The Chainsawman · Joined: 05 May 2005

PRagic · Joined: 24 Feb 2006

I'll only chime in here once more, then i'm out of it. look, don't waste your time trying to get trained up before coming over. think about it. they are not hiring professional teachers! they are hiring anyone with a pulse and a B.A. they SHOULD get what they are paying for - trainable people with no experience. why take it upon yourself to get up to snuff BEFORE you get here? stupid, if you ask me, especially when they aren't expecting a decent teacher right off the boat. they know what they are hiring.

again. don't buy into the 'profesional teacher' spiel. take your time. they get what they pay for. you'll develop decent enough skills on your own, and on their dime, then be able to move on to much better teaching opportunities should you decide to go that route.