Korean Job Discussion Forums

egrog1717 · Joined: 12 Mar 2008

Most of the results are up on the school websites, with TEAS to be updated tomorrow or Sunday...

Just wondering if anyone was headed back Canada (Ontario) side for T.C in the Fall?

(Headed up to Nipissing myself Very Happy

)

Aoisagi · Joined: 21 Jul 2009

If I may ask, what's your education background (degree, experience etc)?

Edit: Did you apply while you were overseas?

Mr. BlackCat · Joined: 30 Nov 2005 Location: Insert witty remark HERE

I was accepted to Nipissing as well, but I haven't decided yet if I'll go. Tyring to figure it all out over the weekend.

Mr. Pink · Joined: 21 Oct 2003 Location: China

My advice:

Don't take the self-righteous PC garbage they spew at you too seriously.

The practicums are where you do most of your learning. Korea is NOT anything like Canada in regards to what you will experience for lesson planning or classroom management.

Pray you get good associate teachers. They can make or break your success in the program. (Or at least how much enjoyment you get.)

egrog1717 · Joined: 12 Mar 2008

I completed my undergrad at the University of Toronto in '08
(Double specalist in History and Poli. Sci.)
Came to Korea in August of '08, and have been teaching for SMOE since.
Also had around 200 hours of volunteer/student teaching during my last two years of university (I talked to some of my old high school teachers who let me come into the class and co-teach with them... Was a great learning experience on the whole, not just for applying to teachers' college but also for coming to Korea, lol)...

I was accepted last year as well, but stuck around in Korea to make some more money first.

For the schools that I applied to, everything was done online... There are some schools in Ontario, however, that want you to drop off signed reference letters, have an interview, etc etc... So depending on where you apply determines if you've got to be there or not.

Mr. Pink · Joined: 21 Oct 2003 Location: China

sarahsiobhan · Posted: Fri Apr 02, 2010 7:53 pm Post subject:

I went to Lakehead, and everything Mr. Pink says is dead-on accurate. The time you spend in class, 'learning how to teach' is a total waste of time, and often it's mind-numbingly dull. If it's a big class, bring a book and sit at the the back; that's what I did, and I graduated with First Class Standing. In all my 7 years of University (I did my Undergrad and MA at Lakehead as well) the year I spent doing my B.Ed was the absolute worst. I also, I am slightly ashamed to admit, put about as much effort into my classes as I do putting on socks every day. It got done, but it hardly required conscious thought.

HOWEVER, the classes you take that are specific to your teachable subjects are another matter. Mine were History and English, and if you have good profs for those classes they can be a genuine good time. My English teacher was my old English teacher from HS, if you can believe it. The whole class called him Paul, except me. He will always be Mr. Joy to me. "Sarah, you can call me Paul. You're not 15 anymore. We're both adults." "No, Mr. Joy. I really can't. I just....can't."

Those classes are good. I put in solid effort for them. The rest? Crap. Utter time wasters. When you are doing your practice teaching is when the real learning begins!

outkast_3000 · Joined: 20 Nov 2009

I second all that Mr.Pink has said...particularly the PC rhetoric that'll be spewed incessantly.

The lectures/seminars will have value, but it'll do little to prep you for life in your teaching practicum. My advice, get very familiar with the curriculum documents and the manner in which teaching/learning areas are broken down - it'll make your life easier when it comes to actually doing the lesson plans.

Also, as Mr.Pink has already said, pray you end up with a great associate teacher, otherwise life could be miserable. If you do get paired up with someone that you don't have a good feel for after the first month or so - REQUEST A TRANSFER. That was my biggest mistake in my last teaching placement - I kept thinking the pairing could work out eventually, that my AT would warm up to my style and method...never happened. She passed me begrudgingly while writing a pretty scathing evaluation of me. Without exaggeration, that school year with that AT was the worst 6 months of my life.

Once again, it's already been mentioned, but reference letters are everything when it's all said and done. Make sure you get a good one from your ATs and APs.

ddeubel · Joined: 20 Jul 2005

Enjoy living in "the Bay" . One of Ontario's most liveable towns 4sure.

I graduated there when it first started up - years back. Lived there about 5 years, little house on the lake, good memories. (but don't expect to get a teaching job there - it is probably the most competitive town for teaching jobs - I was a steelworker then went to teacher's college).

Just enjoy it for what it is, especially your classmates/colleagues. Jack Jones is probably the best education teacher that has walked the planet. My sis who teaches in the Bay tells me he is still there. Doug Bolger too.

If you need a good associate teacher , PM me and I'll hook you up with my sis. She followed my footsteps and she'd be great to work with.

DD
http://eflclassroom.com

egrog1717 · Joined: 12 Mar 2008

Thanks for the great advice everyone... Mirrors what I've heard from others in terms of ATs and lectures/placements...

Just accepted my offer of admission Very Happy

... Gotta say I'm pretty excited to be going home after 2 years in the RoK!

Mr. Pink · Joined: 21 Oct 2003 Location: China

egrog1717 · Joined: 12 Mar 2008

LOL! Thanks Mr. Pink Very Happy

Ya, I've gotta go and buy myself a MacBook (yeck... lol)... As well as 400 bucks worth of university software for it... Though part of the package lets you run windows on it so that's a plus LOL...

Gonna be jet lagged to high hell though... Contract finishes on August 25th, leave on the 26th, mandatory orientation starts on August 30th...