Korean Job Discussion Forums

rothkowitz · Joined: 27 Apr 2006

Quite honestly,I don't consider middle school to be a genuine EFL setting.

Rather,its a non-Korean teacher teaching something.Not quite the same.Its just a one class a week thing.It stands on the same level as their usual classes,only there's no test.When the korean teachers use English should that be considered an EFL setting?

There's very little participation by the students.Very little opportunity for follow up.Little opportunity to inculcate the students into why a particular thing is said and not another.

But the main point is there is little or no student realization that it is an EFL class.Thats the crux of the matter.
After 10 months,only now has one class cottoned on to the fact that the point of the class is to speak.Speak.Yes.Thank you.....

I move on to high school in September.Perhaps that might be more of an EFL setting.

teachingld2004 · Joined: 29 Mar 2004

Yes I make lesson plans.

I have been teaching here in Korea since 2001. I have also taught in the U.S.A.

I think 2.0 is quite a low salary. Only 2 weeks vacation.

Yes ESL is not the same as teaching basket weaving. But then ESL is hands on, just as basket weaving is.

THere are some wonderful teachers here who have no prior teaching experience, and some lousey ones who have taught for 20 years.

I just do not think a person who has a TESOL with no experience should get more money then a teacher who has a license and has been teaching here for 5 years, and has a great resume.

rothkowitz · Joined: 27 Apr 2006

You could do kindergarten and have perhaps better pay...

As it is......I have a masters,Celta,4 and a half years teaching "EFL" in Korea and Australia....I'm in a public middle school on 2.0.

In 2003,I was on 2.2 in a hagwon.

I would say that qualifications are really yet to be recognised.

Will move onto 2.3 from Sept in a High School.But the good thing is I'll be on a F-2 visa by then.

tzechuk · Joined: 20 Dec 2004

OiGirl · Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Location: Hoke-y-gun

I'm not saying this is the OP, but have you ever SEEN 75+% of certified teachers back home when they get an English language learner in their classroom?? Having a teaching license does not necessarily prepare someone to teach English to non-native speakers (although maybe it should, these days.)

Son Deureo! · Joined: 30 Apr 2003

captain kirk · Joined: 29 Jan 2003

The OP refers to it as 'a very strange interview'. I think he means, his intuition is telling him (yeah, I'm psychic, look out Very Happy

) it felt like a gypsy scam. Something like watch the marble, it's under one of these three cups. They say they want a certificate, then you get 2.2. (which, from what I hear is the bottom one should accept if experienced). If you don't have the magic certificate, you get 2. Which is a rip off. So they are hoping you'll be a CHUMP (excuse me if I sound jaded and over-excited Very Happy

) and start the ball rolling with an apologetic limp and take the two million. Because you deserve a demotion from the start, and could you please have some more porridge to go with the downcast look (apologies for the downcast look...). Whoopee, nice to know ya. If I wanted to sell myself short at the door I wouldn't have worn pants to stand up in I'da crawled everywhere thank you very much.

ajuma · Joined: 18 Feb 2003 Location: Anywere but Seoul!!

While the CELTA (and I assume TEFL) courses are good as far as they go, they certainly don't prepare you to deal with kids...no matter what the class size. All of my "practice teaching" in CELTA was with adults. It's not often that you have to tell one of them to "sit down and shut up"!! Laughing

I would think that a combination of a teaching degree (crowd control) and CELTA/TEFL (teaching non-native speakers) would be ideal.

jacl · Joined: 31 Oct 2005

jacl · Joined: 31 Oct 2005

Qinella · Joined: 25 Feb 2005 Location: the crib

ontheway · Posted: Fri Jul 07, 2006 9:25 am Post subject:

"beget them" it gets past the swear filter ... clever

jacl · Joined: 31 Oct 2005

You know you're a redneck when...

joyfulgirl · Joined: 05 Jan 2006

i've had a couple interviews here lately. the first one was 5 mins, and the main question was "do you have any diseases?" when i said no, i had the job.

the other one was 2 bloody hours long, but a good hour er so of that was them asking me to fill in every blank on my resume about my work experience. i haven't included every job i've had since uni...they wanted to know my movements, month to month...year to year....since uni. i was struggling a bit.."uh, yea...i guess, yea, 1997, 1998, that's when i'd just finished uni, and had been working in montreal, but decided to go across canada on the train...what? yea...was working...here and there...where? uh, ya know...bookstores, coffee shops...um, what does this have to do with anything?" then they ended the interview with.."are you a social drinker?" "when were you last drunk?" "when was the last time before that?"

maybe they've had alcoholics with shady pasts working for them before.

bizarre times. interviews are no fun.