Korean Job Discussion Forums

VanIslander

Let's make a list.

1) Don't bring your work home with you. This means first and foremost leaving prep for the office, refusing to indulge the impulse to even think about lesson plans on days off. Outside interests must be cultivated to avoid having the job consume one 24/7 otherwise one is on the sure road to burnout, regardless of actual workload in terms of teaching hours.

GreenlightmeansGO · Joined: 11 Dec 2006 Location: Daegu

2. Don't spend the whole class speaking to the students in a lecture fashion. Give them tasks and give them time to do the tasks.

3. Don't speak too loudly (or shout). Speaking super-loud doesn't magically drive a grammar point home.

red_devil · Joined: 30 Jun 2008 Location: Korea

4. Have a well written contract.

5. Establish good relations with your boss/director/manager/co-teacher.

6. Don't get too frustrated with your students, too personally invested in every student that you meet, or their lack of motivation. Shrug it off.

7. Don't go chasing high salaries, keep in mind other things like work hours, benefits, accommodations, prep time, and other perks.

8. Patience, understanding, and an open mind.

reimund · Joined: 01 Oct 2007

9. Unless they're warning you/trying to protect you of certain dangers (a la "don't work for CDI"), don't let other people's opinions influence your choice of employment. You know what's best for you.

reimund · Joined: 01 Oct 2007

10. With that said, don't work for CDI.

cruisemonkey · Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2009 11:47 am Post subject:

11. Buy an oven so you can roast and bake real food.

caniff · Joined: 03 Feb 2004 Location: All over the map

12. Have or get an F visa and work for yourself. This will obviate the need for #5 as well as some other entries on the preceding list.

Ya-ta Boy · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Established in 1994

13. Accept that the most important part of teaching comes before you step into the classroom. That means you have to plan and plan well, which takes time.

14. Keep your eyes and ears open for 'teaching opportunities' that arise and can be inserted into the lesson. This can't be planned for.

some waygug-in · Joined: 25 Jan 2003

I'm surprised this one hasn't been mentioned yet.....or has it? Shocked

15. Learn when to say "No". Don't let them force you into unreasonable tasks.

16. Choose your battles wisely. Learn to differentiate between things that are worth fighting over and things that are best handled with a shrug.

17. Learn ways of getting your way without arguing or being confrontational.

I have a friend who's really good at this last one. He's so smiley and happy with them all the time that they can't get him cornered on anything.

lawyertood · Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2009 2:11 pm Post subject:

18. Don't make drinking your sole outside activity.

fruitcake · Joined: 18 Apr 2004 Location: shinchon

I'd omit the "long" from the title of this thread.

teaching EFL is good for the short term IMO. Seven years and I've grown to hate it.

don't fool yourselves, this isn't skilled labor. eventually, (let's hope) you'll want to do something that requires a bit more from you.

FMPJ · Joined: 03 Jun 2008

5) Except for important information (visa, laws, tax rates, etc.), stay off Dave's.

cruisemonkey · Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2009 3:50 pm Post subject:

HapKi · Joined: 10 Dec 2004 Location: TALL BUILDING-SEOUL

19. Enjoy the teaching. If you don't like the materials you're using, find one's you do like. If you can't find ones you like, create your own. If you are forced to use a text, adapt it your way as best you can.

Bondrock · Joined: 08 Oct 2006 Location: ^_^

20. Study teaching materials, read books related to your field, and attend workshops.

(there is a need for more high-level workshops in Korea, methinks)