Korean Job Discussion Forums

[take a rest]

Do you really think you are good at your job?
Give yourself a grade and explain why!

[bobbybigfoot]

I gave myself a B (70%+). I think to be in the top category you need to be teaching with effective materials and you need to have goals. This is not my case. I teach completely random (useless) tidbits that have little to no connection from week to week, and I see my kids once a week, not nearly sufficient enough to have any meaningful impact.

This isn't by choice. I do what I am told to do, and paid to do.

I also have zero training, zero mentoring, zero support from management. Basically I just go through the motions and do the best I can with what I have and I try not to care too much.

I think I have caring demeanor in class but I'm not going to delude myself into thinking I am a great teacher.

3.5 years in Korea with virtually no supervision, no guidance, no goals, no meaningful curriculum. How effective can you become?

Sure I could go get a CELTA, an MA, but really, I've lost that spark for teaching. I'm tired of fighting this system in Korea. I could become the best teacher in the world, but if I have to teach BS books, then what's the point? The school peddles this sh*t to the parents and I'm expected to teach it.

I've learned to be an edutainer but as far as being a teacher, meh.

edit: as for leaving my job and finding another one -- I make a good wage where I am and I'm not foolish enough to think that any other hagwon will be better.

[Mr. Pink]

I gave myself an A. I guess there are a few reasons: I've been teaching for over 10 years. If one has taught that long and hasn't gotten good at what they are doing, WTF? Second, I am always trying to improve myself and thus I am constantly doing various professional development initiatives. I believe teachers area always learning. I am open to new things, you would be surprised how many teachers are close minded. I am good at what I do. It isn't always being an expert at what you teach, but knowing how to teach effectively that which you do have a working knowledge of. How to engage students, care for student success and do it because you care, not because you are trying to pay off student loans or save up enough for whatever.

[winterfall]

I gave myself a B. I haven't been teaching long. So I'm not thoroughly seasoned yet. It still takes a few lessons before I work all the kinks out of a plan. And some lessons just don't work mostly cause I didn't think them all the way through to the nuts and bolts like I should have. But on the bright side I still have a decent amount of passion left, always looking for something that works or something I can bring to pique the kid's interests. Whether the school approves of it or not (As long as it's in good taste, Appropriate for them. Not the smoke screen excuse for anything that they're not comfortable with) And even though we all know Korean education has DEEP problems. I'm still not willing to throw in the towel and write off everything as unfixable. Neither will I roll over and play dead whenever the 'System' tells me to do something that causes harm to the students. Like teaching the University Test to kids who can barely read.

I agree with Pink. The standard should be what's your purpose in teaching. It can't be about the money. Cause you REALLY don't get paid enough for this.

[kimdeal54]

I gave myself a B (80%) because that was the average score of the feedback I got from my coteachers and students recently.

I agree with what the posters above me have said. Especially with winterfall. It also takes me a few classes before everything begins to run smoothly with a new lesson. I can't yet predict what will interest the students. Sometimes I make a lesson, and I think it's going to be great, but it falls a bit flat. Other times, an activity will surprise me because the students really get into it. I try to keep it varied and interesting, and not fall into a routine, but I definitely need to think things through more thoroughly.

On a positive note, I love my job, and I do my best to show an interest in each student individually. I also have a plan to go back to college and get certified as a teacher. Until then, I'm viewing my time in Korea as good classroom experience.

[Kwangjuchicken]

A+. At my university part of the student evaluations of the teachers is to give them a grade 0-100. Last semester my overall average was 97.05%. My highest grade for one class was 100% and my lowest was 95.5% and the rest were in between.

[schwa]

I'll give myself an A (90 not 100). Like Mr Pink a vet of 10+ years & still working on my methods. I try out new stuff every week.

[Otherside]

B. I try hard and make an effort in the classroom. On the other hand, I'm not one of those teachers who spends his evenings and weekends planning lessons. Teaching isn't my dream. I'd describe myself as competent rather than excellent.

[drcrazy]

[Kwangjuchicken]

[BoholDiver]

I think I am worth about 85-88, so I guess a B+.

If my career was in ESL, I would focus more on self-improvement, but I am currently saving to take my family back to Canada, so my focus at this time is money.

I am working as a freelancer to such an extent that I sometimes neglect one or more of my classes because it is so difficult to juggle. If I had peak organization skills, I could be an A teacher. Also, if I was more self-sacrificing, or if I slashed my hours.

I have 7 years of experience and I think of myself as a 'house of ideas.' I have so many creative ideas and some of my lessons are quite good.

[Radius]

I gave myself a C. As a poster on here once said, "The day i become a real teacher, is the day I get real students." Couldn't say it any better myself.

[Leon]

Gave myself a b. I think that I could potentially be A material, but its just my second month so I'm still learning. One month ago it would have been a C.

[Xylox]

F. I've come into work hung over a bunch of times. Days like that are just printing shit out and making the kids color.

[bobbybigfoot]