Korean Job Discussion Forums

[MollyBloom]

I am going to teach high school English when I get back to the states, and I seriously hope I don't have to deal with the BS that I am putting up with here.

For those of you that have taught public school in both countries, what can you say are the differences in education and professionalism?

[poet13]

I've had very little problem here. I had to tell a uni student in the US to put his gun away. He was a cop, but showing his buddy his piece during class.

[pkang0202]

It really depends. I think your question is too broad.

Urban PS environment versus a Suburban environment in the US is like night and day.

[MollyBloom]

[Tobias]

One big problem here is the fact there are no standards teachers adhere to, really. Sure, there is a loose "guide" we all use, but nothing serious, at least when it comes to English. We are simply entrusted by our hosts to provide the best education possible. What a joke. The quality among TESOL teachers is wildly variable. When I've stepped into new jobs in this grand "industry", I've had to play the role of janitor. I've had to go back and clean up the mess somebody else left for me because he, quite frankly, didn't give a shit. He was interested only in getting paid. He wasn't interested in properly educating anyone. This is especially true regarding those I followed who were entrusted to teach grammar.

I once worked a college gig in Thailand, and when I started the job, the students I inherited from an TESOL-MA whitey didn't even know their pronouns or 'to be' verbs. And those students had been attending English classes regularly for several years. Within a month I had 'em on the correct path, but I shouldn't have had to do that.

This problem is one of the main reasons sensible people with REAL creds don't do TESOL. They don't want to play janitor.

[aka Dave]

I teach at a university here, not a PS, so I can't speak for Korea. I have taught at the university level in the U.S. (UC Santa Barbara) and three high schools (including a private Catholic school). (I've also taught in France at a Univ. but I won't mention that.)

Teaching at univ. in the States was a wonderful experience. I taught various levels of French (1-6) and my students were the best. Hours were less stressful than at a Korean Univ. (4 hours a week plus office hours) but that's because you only teach one class and are a T.A. (howevere you're not a T.A. like a biology T.A., you are the *only*one teaching the students). Isla Vista in S.B. is unique place but let's just say it was a lot of fun. I taught there four years, 3 years of summer school, and it was as good a job as you can imagine.

Teaching at a Korean Univ. is very nearly as good, at least for me. The only difference being there is a lot of work. Another thing is, if they like you, you get MORE work. At least that's been the case with me. That means money, but more work. I have to grade a *lot* of essays. I have to teach an intensive workshop in November preparing students for the English Teacher exam (the kids who'll be your future co-teachers in PS). But I love my job.

American public high school. This is utterly dependent on the neighborhood and school in which you teach. A good friend of mine teaches art at Santa Monica High School, and she absolutely loves her job, with good reason. She has tons of support, some great kids, and gets to do a lot of cool things (LACMA trips, etc.).

I, however, taught at two wretched public schools. At one, the kids were decent (though one of my students was busted for robbing a mini-mart with a pellet gun, then making his getaway on a skateboard! This kid wasn't too bright). Both the schools I taught at, meth was an issue with some students. However, although the kids weren't awful, the parents were. One women was hell bent on getting her kid into Special Ed simply because he was lazy. She was also a screamer.

The other public school I taught at just sucked . Fifty kids in a French one class! That's insane. I had a great senior class, but the freshmen/sophomore classes were dismal.

The prinicipal, v.p., and other teachers were all very professional, although many weren't super bright. They work hard, though, and do their best, and many invest a lot of time in their students.

In American h.s., you have to enforce discipline. Once you lose control of the class, game over.

I also taught at a Catholic h.s., and though I'm totally agnostic, I loved it. Small classes, devoted students, an AP French class. And yeah, the year I taught there my students ACED the AP. Five out of eight got the highest score. That was *so* rewarding. I would have stayed there but I was a long term sub for a native French speaker who freaked out and nearly killed herself.

American kids are louder and more agressive. It's likely your job there will be more stressful. However, if you have any grad school (I have a ton) you'll make a *lot* more money. I didn't like the stress, so I'll take less money in Korea.

[Mr. Pink]

[Genevieve]

A lot of your job satisfaction will depend on your principal and the atmosphere established in your building. You can enjoy job satisfaction teaching in the US if you take care to choose the right school. I am fortunate to work in a school that has given me so many opportunities for professional development and has established a school-wide environment that promotes respect for people and property. We are a Title I school with 65% free and reduced lunch. Another school in the same district with the same demographics has more serious discipline problems and lower staff morale.