Korean Job Discussion Forums

[aussie col]

I really should know the answer to this one because I taught in Korea before but I don't. My time there was mostly with middle school students but now i need to know about elementary students.

I said that the youngest I would teach is elementary. Now I've been offered a position with kids starting at age 5. To me this sounds very kindy. The youngest I��ve ever taught is upper elementary so I have no idea about what 5 year olds are like. I guess my question is at what age do the students usually start ��normal�� classroom classes ie. desks and chairs and not finger painting.

My suspicions worsened when I found out that classes start at 10am. Hmmm�� elementary school students having classes at 10am, I don��t think so. The recruiter describes it as elementary and middle school students but�� hmm, don��t know.

Yes, I really should know this but my old hagwon only had older students so I��ve never been near a classroom of 5 year olds.

[vdowd]

You're right to wonder. If you are talking Korean age 5, you are talking about 3 or 4 year olds - preschool. It sounds like the age and start time raised some flags and you are right. This age means that you are probably the first person that will have to teach children how to become students - how to paste, cut, glue, sit in chairs, open a book, clean up, etc.

And in addtion the parents want their children to be fluent in English in a few months - even though they cannot read or write in Korean.

If you are more comfortable with older children - watch for 7-8 years old as the youngest child and a start time of at least 1:30/3:00 is better. Even then you will probably have very young children who fall asleep because they are babies.

[phaedrus]

Yeah, five year olds are a nightmare. They are actually 4, and complete beginners. Their parents will expect you to teach them to be reading and writing English within a year, and expect them to be able to speak well enough to show off to family friends. Total bullpucky.