Korean Job Discussion Forums

[gkim06]

I recently graduated from a university and, for awhile now, have been considering teaching jobs abroad in Korea (i know, nothing new).
But to be completely honest here, I don't have much teaching experience (with the exception of private tutoring and KUMON) and woud like to see if it is something I can and would like to do.

It seems that most of the jobs posted on this site or discussed about in these forums are for certified or experienced teachers. Are there any jobs that are more temporary or private tutoring types for someone without a lot of experience? (I see a lot of formal classroom setting type of jobs or university jobs on this site)

Also I recently read a post about f-4 visa holders being able to find 6-month contracts? Is that true? Where can I find out about that?

[chris_J2]

[gkim06]

Thank you =) I'm glad to hear that I haven't missed the big recruitment month; that would have probably made my search even more difficult.

So, teaching a classroom is actually alright for people without much teaching experience? Actually, if you don't mind me asking, what do we do in the classroom exactly? And are we teaching by ourselves?

[American_Maverick]

[stillnotking]

[gkim06]

[American_Maverick]

[sargx]

I will let you in on my experience. I started in Dec. My first teaching job and I took it at a public high school.

My normal schedule is something like this:
12 classes a week I teach solo (there is a teacher in the back who does paperwork and sometimes hits a student on a head.)
6 classes a week I teach with a co-teacher (you basically read passages, try to explain words in English, sometimes talk about culture)

The class size is roughly 35 students. About 30% of your class will sleep through it from beginning to end, no matter how funny or ruggedly handsome you are.

There is very little in terms of guidance. Basically, they say: "Go teach." No book, no goals, no requirements. Also, students are on very different levels. Some students can't say their A,B,C's, and other students can come up with very creative insults. So with no experience I'm presented with: "go teach." I also didn't go to the workshops since I came in December.

I'm the only foreigner here, 3 English teachers, and a few speakers of Konglish (which I am fluent). So this could be a lot of pressure to some people, some crack after a few months.

You need to make the best of it. The last teacher here was absolutely miserable and ran away. I took over the same position with the same variables and love it.

I'd recommend to make a few Korean friends before you come over. You might need a safety net.

[gkim06]

THanks for the info. I think I'm going to try to find a job that allows for a smaller teacher-student ratio...are hagwon classes like that?

Thanks for your help

[pugwall]

A good hagwon is great for first timers as you have a better idea of what you are doing and the books are clearer and mostly idiot proof. You are more likely to get feeback at a hagwon to help you improve as well. Public school could be lonely if you had no idea what you are doing and no friends already in Korea.

[gkim06]

[ardis]

[gkim06]

[chris_J2]

"...what do we do in the classroom exactly? And are we teaching by ourselves?"

By law, you are not supposed to teach alone in a Korean Public School, although it does happen. In both my Elementary School & Middle Schools, I had/ have Korean Co-Teachers present, who are fluent in English.

The first couple of weeks, my coteacher just asked me to introduce myself, & tell the kids where I came from, a little about my country, & the animals there. There were set textbooks in English, that were easy to follow. If they've been lost, ask the school to replace them. Hagwons have smaller class sizes but it's more hit & miss if you get placed in a good hagwon. There are many bad hagwons out there. There are also some bad public schools which is why its a good idea to ask to speak to the native speaker English teacher if possible. Even then you could take what they say with a grain of salt. Some English teachers whine about the most trivial things.

Try to 'dumb down' big words like 'immediately" to "now", as just one example. And bear in mind, that there are usually 3 levels of student ability, in every class: high, medium, & low grade. I've made the mistake in the past, of just teaching for the high or A grade students, & allowing the 'c' or low grade students to fall behind.

I've attended both Gepik & Epik induction courses, & they do hand out lots of written material to assist teaching.

[gkim06]