Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Demophobe]

[livinginkorea]

Before I came to Korea all I had was my degree in Commerical Software Development and my only teaching experience was teaching martial arts to kids back home every Sunday. Of course I had no experience at teaching English, like most of us but I am learning every day. Using little things like books and the Internet help!! Also I ask some of my adult students what kind of things are they interested in, what do they want to learn and write up sheets on grammer mistakes that they make in class to help them. It's important for me that I do what they want and not what I want!!

I would never say that I'm a good teacher, ever though I have heard it a few times but I want to be one and sometimes that is the diffference I guess between people who are good at teaching and people who are bad at teaching. When you care about something it really helps you to perform better. I care about my students and so I think that is the major advantage for me as it drives me to teach. I just try hard!!!

Of course having said all that I still like to drink and party!!! Just after the teaching for the week is finished!!!

[Skarp]

Still plenty of bad teahers in Korea. You need more than a vague notion of caring about your students to actually make a difference.


But I don't blame the teachers - everybody has to start somewhere and Korea has got to be the all time easiest place to start in EFL.

I blame the industry for not training, motivating and managing the staff...


.....but it's just a business to them. Cynically, you could say that if the teachers are useless the students keep having to come back for another go.

Like the mythical rat catchers who always leave a pregnant female behind. ....

[eamo]

My current school don't want to renew my contract because I'm asking for 2.3mill.

I have 3 years experience. BA English and a TEFL certificate. And they don't want to pay 2.3mill.

They more or less confessed to me that they can hire a young North-American for 2.1mill, so why hire me?

The vast majority of hagwons don't give a damn how good or bad their teachers are so it's no surprise many bad teachers can be found in Korea. I think most foreigners, professional teachers or not, do a good job but there are a few train wrecks teaching here (see freaky waygook thread!!!).

It's partially the fault of don't-give-a-damn-hagwons.

[Homer]

[some waygug-in]

HA HA. You are just starting to realize the muck that you will be getting yourself into. I don't deny that there are bad teachers here, there are. There are also great teachers here. The problem, as I see it, is that most hagwans don't care diddly squat about qualifications or teaching ability. What they care about is keeping kids and parents happy, as in making them laugh and be entertained. This doesn't have much to do with actual teaching, but more to do with being a "dancing monkey boy in a clown suit".

Good Luck

[The Man known as The Man]

[SweetBear]

I've noticed that TROLL-Omarr hasn't responded yet. Having second thoughts?

[fusionbarnone]

Sad but true about Hogwans not giving diddly squat about real teaching outcomes. They just expect them knowing popularity and image is more important than real educational results. Situation becomes impossible if little jim isn't getting enough fun times(bingo,etc), tells ma and pa who reel in the kid and go elsewhere. It's a business reliant on keeping kids entertained. However, to do so educationally, would be even better.

[Homer]

[Alias]

[thegadfly]

Oh, not to burst anyone's bubble or anything, but in the good ol' USA, they do not especially want the best teachers they can get. either -- they want good employees that do not rock the boat. I think exceptional learning (and thus, exceptional teaching) is tied to the risks one will take. If one isn't willing to fail spectacularly, one will seldom experience amazing success...not every class meeting needs to be a high-wire act without a net, but sticking to the safety of the beaten path doesn't produce genius, art, philosophy, or even a decent meal...McD's tastes the same everywhere, for a reason....

I am a career teacher -- undergrad and grad degrees, (in English...and here TEACHING English -- imagine!), and I have found that my efforts and experience are recognized and rewarded more in Korea than in my home country. So...from my own limited, first-hand experience I would say...a dedicated, enthusiastic teacher that does some research prior to acceptting a postion should do very well, possibly better than could be expected in the US.

Of course, there are bad English teachers in Korea -- but then, I have known more bad English teachers in the US than I have met here...though the bad teachers I have met in Korea have certainly been randier....

I would be interested to hear the opinions of folks that have held full-time teaching jobs in the US or Canada in the public school systems give their take on hakwans...honestly, the "average" horror story about a Korean academy is nothing compared to teaching in inner-city Houston, TX or Detroit...heck, hakwan "problems" are a cakewalk compared to the crap I dealt with even in rural schools in the US....

Hakwans aren't really that bad, folks -- TEACHING is a tough career to follow...a lot of the stuff folks complain about here isn't really about KOREAN schools, it is about the conflict of teaching fantasy vs. teaching reality...new teachers in the US suffer similar disillusionment about their chosen career, and they have the benefit of extensive training (well...in theory at least) to prepare them for it...to jump in to a classroom without such training must be even more disconcerting and frustrating. Add the cultural and language barriers/adjustments, and it becomes surprising that there ARE so many decent teachers out here.

So, to make a short story long-ish...yes, there are some crappy teachers and some great teachers and some in-between teachers in Korean ESL...just as there are those same categories of teachers elsewhere. A great teacher has a better than even chance of doing well in Korea, though said teacher needs to be choosy about the school. Hard work isn't always appreciated, but an above average teacher can mean an above average draw for the school, which can result in an above average salary, if one has found one's niche.....

[Homer]

thegadfly,

As someone who was a teacher in Canada before coming over I have to say you hit the nail right on the head with your post.

I could not have said it better myself.

Well done!