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Korean Job Discussion Forums
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Nolos
Joined: 23 Oct 2011
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 Posted: Sat Jun 08, 2013 7:54 pm Post subject: |
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It's rather easy to hit a wall teaching ABCs to kids who constantly ignore you and do what they want in class. And multiplied by the fact they can never understand you, it has a way of biting down into your soul as the years go by. It gets incredibly frustrating, and if you allow it, can really damage your health.
When I went home a while it was such a breath of fresh air to have people understand me and understand others. |
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Privateer
Joined: 31 Aug 2005
Location: Easy Street.
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| Posted: Sat Jun 08, 2013 11:06 pm Post subject: Re: I feel like I have hit a wall with teaching. |
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| sundance89 wrote: |
Ok. My background. I have been in Korea for exactly six months now. I got fired from my first job after two weeks for not being perfect enough. Yes, that is what I was told. I could go into more detail, but it seems irrelevant. I'm sure most people are familiar with typical hagwon nonsense. I didn't fit whatever they think a teacher should be. I managed to get into another school which is 100% better. The only problem is I had to sign another one year contract over again. I'm going to be here longer than I originally planned. However, this is not my prelude into asking advice on how to do a runner. I need advice on how to enjoy my time here. Sometimes I get feeling really panicked and depressed because I'm so far from leaving.
The flip side of this is that I know that I am in the best possible position I could be in for the time being. Being in Korea with this job has solved so many problems. I'm finally earning a steady paycheck after getting laid off back home and bouncing around part time gigs. I had no money back home. I got kicked out of the house with no money. Living with a friend and his girlfriend made me realize that living overseas might not be so bad. And it isn't. But I feel like I am stuck between a rock and a hard place for sure. I feel like it would make more sense for me to stay in Korea even for another contract than go back home! My friend was telling me the job market has not gotten that much better. My degree makes more sense over seas, but I am having some serious doubts about what the heck I even envisioned when I pursued said degree. It has not helped me at all except for landing a nice gig back home (the one I got laid off from).
Back home I would have to be working way more hours for less money which blows my mind. I just don't have any skills. I'm trying to find my passion in life and I wonder who I ended up hear. Bad degree most likely. Again, I know the answers for the most part, I just don't know what to pursue. I will almost have enough money to pay off my debts in another month or so. So I am trying to save as much as possible. I'm very paranoid after getting fired from my first hagwon so I have been saving. I live every day like its my last day in Korea.
Overall, I am just frustrated with the teaching itself. I think I do not like it. It may just not be for me. Another coworker makes similar complaints, but he wants to continue teaching in a different country after his contract ends. I don't want to be the person who stays just for "free" housing even though its not a bad deal. I don't really know what I am asking. Hopefully, this post isn't too long. How did you guys get over these midway point ruts? |
Go back home and re-skill. Use your time here to save the money you need for retraining. The hard question will be what to retrain in, but that question won't go away no matter how long you stay here.
Reskilling is only one possible goal - you could also save money for a house deposit or a small business - but the important thing is to have a goal. Being an ESL teacher is a goal too, but it's one that few people aspire to as an end in itself. |
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tom65
Joined: 21 May 2013
Location: Zagreb
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| Posted: Sun Jun 09, 2013 2:03 am Post subject: hi :) |
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I am willing to offer a nice fee, to anyone who could find me a good school in Seoul or somewhere close to Seoul.
I would do it myself, but I will be in a hospital for some time, and doctors won't allow me to be on a computer for hours or to use a phone too much.
Please, no recruitment agencies, I had very bad experiences with them, so I don't wanna even hear about ANY recruitment agency. That is why I am offering this to you, my colleagues.
All of you who might be interested, contact me on my email for details : <edit> |
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sundance89
Joined: 03 Dec 2012
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| Posted: Sun Jun 09, 2013 9:01 am Post subject: Re: I feel like I have hit a wall with teaching. |
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yes
Last edited by sundance89 on Mon Mar 24, 2014 9:14 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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mumblebee
Joined: 26 Jun 2004
Location: Andong
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| Posted: Sun Jun 09, 2013 4:19 pm Post subject: |
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Something else to consider...you said your job was relatively good, 4-5 hours per day etc...being underchallenged is a real problem. I find that if I don't have work that fully engages me, it can be hard to motivate myself to do a great job on the tasks that I do have.
One suggestion: if you haven't already, join KOTESOL and get involved attending or even presenting at their various regional and national events. I have that found relatively few hagwon teachers get involved, but it can really give you some juice and interest in your teaching.
If you want, PM me, I have been here a while (staying to clean up a huge amount of debt...almost there!) and have been constantly facing these issues too. |
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