Korean Job Discussion Forums

[rhinofinn]

Hey,

I'm conducting a survey of EFL teachers' perceptions about the schools that they work for. The survey is for a research paper I am writing for one of my classes. If anyone has anything to say on the topic, it would not only help me with my paper, but I'm also applying with EPIK and hope to make it to Korea in August...so I'm personally interested in the topic.

So yeah, the basic question is how do you feel in general about the school you work for? Have they been helpful/supportive? How have you been received as a foreign teacher? Do you have the freedom to do your own thing in class, or are you bound by the textbook?

Anything you have to say on the topic would be really appreciated.

Thanks for your time.

[Zackback]

My school is great. I work at a hogwan and it is better organized than the several universities I used to work for. My boss is really cool.
Helpful and supportive? Yes very much so. Short on money my first month and they forwarded 1/2 my check halfway through the first month. They also let me decide when I want my two vacations. I get a free dinner every night which I would say 95% of the time is good.
I can use the textbook and teach outside of it as well.

[winterfall]

I think the OP meant Public schools, not hagwons.

Feeling towards school: Don't like them. They have unrealistic expectations that I will "Wave" a wand and magically fix all of the problems in the world no matter what I say to them. Not to mention, English teachers are constantly asking the meaning of obscure terms without ever providing context. There's one teacher here that memorized 16th Century English, LOVES Shakespeare. No problem with that except he gets mad when you obviously don't know what the hell he's saying.

Have they been helpful / supportive: No. The only thing they were helpful with was the constant belittling, grammar pot shots, undermining your authority and complaining. Not to mention all of them think your psychic, that they explained everything they wanted when all they did was stare at you with blank eyes

How have you been received as a foreign teacher? I have been received as a foreign teacher. Emphasis on foreign.

Freedom. Yes and no, it depends on the school and more broadly the co-teacher. Generally older co-teachers over 40 or 50 are the least qualified, hard core grammar nazis and they're usually not fluent either. To them the textbook is everything. No deviation whatsoever and because they're old and on their way out the door. Schools are reluctant to reign them in even if they're outright hostile to the FT

[Fishead soup]

Your experience at a public schools is dependant on several factors.

Are you teaching in the Englis Zone this is an important factor. Students in the English zone are more motivated. The classes are more streamlined. You tend to get students of a similar ability. This makes teaching much easier. You can also put more theory into practice and do genuinly Communicative activities.

Are you teaching regular classrooms These can vary between being OK to being downright hellish.

How well do you understand your Korean co-teacher. There are some
who just don't get it.
Are you considered a real teacher or a dancing monkey
Being a dancing monkey is ok sometimes but all the time will lead to burn out.

[itistime]

So yeah, the basic question is how do you feel in general about the school you work for?
I love it.
Have they been helpful/supportive?
Yes.
How have you been received as a foreign teacher?
With open arms. But everyone, everywhere generally likes me.

Do you have the freedom to do your own thing in class, or are you bound by the textbook?
Absolute freedom. Why? See the previous questions.

[Squire]

I'll start by saying I've only just hit the two month mark, so I may change my mind completely. I do work at two elementaries and one middle school though

How do you feel in general about the school you work for?

I'm satisfied with all three. I follow their rules as best I can so I haven't ran into any major problems yet. I consider myself to be in a good situation

Have they been helpful/supportive?

Yes, but that hasn't really been put to the test yet.

How have you been received as a foreign teacher?

Generally pretty well. Sometimes it's a bit patronising to STILL laugh when I use basic Korean, but I can live with that

Do you have the freedom to do your own thing in class, or are you bound by the textbook?

No, I work from the textbook. But I have after school classes once a week with my middle school students and no one has meddled in those so far

[B of NC]

how do you feel in general about the school you work for?
My feelings go up and down but generally speaking I love my school, kids, coteachers and situation overall and wouldn't trade it for all the tea in...Korea

Have they been helpful/supportive?
Yes always there to answer questions help fix things or even find me a Korean tutor

How have you been received as a foreign teacher?
Really really well. I was very nervous and shy at first so they were maybe more hesitant. Since I've gotten more comfortable they have also opened up. You'd be suprised how much English some of the teachers can speak when they are comfy with you.

Do you have the freedom to do your own thing in class, or are you bound by the textbook?

I don't really have freedom this year. I had all the freedom I could handle last year when I had 13 hours of afterschool classes. Plus the teachers explained to me that the Education Office has decided to budget to the smaller schools in my town so other teachers are having more afterschool stuff.

But I still get to make up games so it's pretty sweet

[sallymonster]

[tomato]

[PatrickGHBusan]

[Fishead soup]

[Ramen]

heaven.

[MoneyMike]

I'm pretty happy with my school, teach in a high school in the southern part of Korea.

Teachers have been pretty helpful, but I've been in this city for over a year now and speak a bit of Korean so I don't really have to ask for help with anything these days.

I've been received pretty well at this school. I'm mostly segregated from the non English teachers, as I have an office with a few other English teachers in an English only building. I don't really mind this though, I occasionally chat with some of the other teachers at lunch, but I'm not going out of my way to make friends or anything.

12 of my weekly classes are text book based, and 6 of them are totally open for me to do anything I want. I like this setup. Even for the text book based classes, I usually use supplemental activities or materials, so there is some freedom.

All the teachers I co-teach with are pretty relaxed, which is nice, and have varying degrees of helpfulness, right from 'rarely shows up' to 'jumps in to help whenever she thinks I'm having difficulty explaining something'.

This is the third school I've taught in here in Korea, and by far my favorite position so far.

[PatrickGHBusan]

[winterfall]