Korean Job Discussion Forums

espo · Joined: 20 Aug 2006

any advice on what to expect? I have a university interview next week and want to be as prepared as possible...

Cheers

Join Me · Joined: 14 Jan 2008

Do you like kimchi? No, I am not joking.

bassexpander · Joined: 13 Sep 2007 Location: Someplace you'd rather be.

Stuff like:

1. Our students can be shy. How will you get the students to speak?
2. What is your teaching philosophy?
3. Will you be able to work a difficult schedule if we have to add some extra hours?
4. If a student offers you sexual favors in return for a higher grade, will you wear a condom?

Oops... this isn't the same situation as the Korean professor who was outed for asking the Japanese TV show chick to sleep with him for a better grade. You're a respectable foreigner.

branchsnapper · Joined: 21 Feb 2008

Apart from the ones which are easy to answer if you lick up to Korean culture along with the bottoms of those present, I seem to get this kind of stuff these days at interview:

How do you teach reading?
How do you teach writing?
How do you teach speaking?
How do you teach listening?
What is your general philosophy of teaching?
Have you got experience using techonlogy in the classroom, with English for specific purposes etc?

I find the specific questions about listening etc a bit tough, because I tend to make my classes as much of a mixture of things as possible really. With the "general philosophy" questions, which seem pretty certain, I think the key is to sound enthusiastic and not set off any alarm bells with weird views.

They never seem to ask anything concrete about English to find out if you actually know anything, so don't worry about that.

Scotticus · Joined: 18 Mar 2007

bacasper · Joined: 26 Mar 2007

Hanson · Joined: 20 Oct 2004

bassexpander · Joined: 13 Sep 2007 Location: Someplace you'd rather be.

I'm in a hurry, so I'll just blurt out some stuff...

Actually, question 1 might also add that classes are large, so how will you get students to speak? I know that one was asked in my interview. I responded along the lines of including small-group and pair work, as well as many task-based activities. Be prepared to give an example or two if they ask.

Question 2 can vary. I tend to say that I consider myself more of a language facilitator in Korea. They've had the grammar for years, but have been too shy or had few situations to use it to build confidence. My goal is to get students to speak and start putting their knowledge into practice -- encourage them to overcome their fear of making mistakes, etc..

Question 3: This depends on your own individual feelings. I told them I won't work weekends. Basically, be as honest as you can without dashing your hopes of being hired or coming off as confrontational or a "no" person. If they did insist you work horrible hours, then you don't want the job anyway (don't tell them that directly).

Hanson · Joined: 20 Oct 2004

TECO · Joined: 20 Jan 2003

espo · Joined: 20 Aug 2006

cheers guys...!

T-dot · Joined: 16 May 2004 Location: bundang

My personal favourite:

your a young good looking guy, what would you do if a female student wanted to go to your apartment for "extra work" ?

Received nothing but sexually related questions on the last uni interview I went to.

Are you married, are you going to marry, do you have a girlfriend, do you like Korean girls, what I thought about Korean girls......

Weird ass interview.

TECO · Joined: 20 Jan 2003

lots of guys plugging their female high school and university students.

read a newspaper article in the Japan Times a few years ago where one ALT from the U.S. knocked up his high school student.

he did the right thing though and married her. i think she was like 15 though.