Korean Job Discussion Forums

[EverGreen212]

Hello!

I'm looking into going to Korea to teach in an elementary school. I'm really curious about the specifics of teaching in this kind of position~ can someone share with me your daily school life schedule?
Also, I was wondering what kind of lesson/classroom environment the school generally expects from their foreign teachers. Do they want fun, vibrant, exciting, game-like lessons everyday? Or do they prefer the old school "let's read chapter 1, page 1, and answer questions 1-5"? Maybe a mixture of both?
I'm also really curious about lunch...do you eat with the kids in the cafeteria, or do you pack or own lunch and eat in the corner somewhere? LoL

Thanks for your help!

[jurassic82]

I have been working at a public elementary school in Seoul for three years now and will try and do my best to answer your questions and about my experience.

I usually start work at 9am but I have to be at the school at 8:40. I usually finish teaching around 1:40 but can't leave work until 4:40. I usually spend this time preparing my next lesson. I do an afterschool program M/W/F so it gives me a lot to do with my extra time. Not all schools have this but many do.

As for preparing, that is my favorite part. You are given the national textbook. Usually you have 2 pages to work with each week. Of course that is not enough for a 40 minute class with 35 to 40 students. My coteacher and I work together to come up with a variety of different resources to supplement the chapter likes educational videos, games, ppt and songs. I have really enjoyed the freedom working at a public school has given me. All the classrooms have large LCD TV's and a computer with high speed internet. If you are a teacher that enjoys being creative and coming up with new activities for your classes then I think you will like a public school gig.

The downside is that the book gets really boring and there are some things that are a little less than politically correct. Also, you will be teaching the same lesson like 10 times so it could get boring if you don't come up with some good activities for your students. Also, it is the luck of the draw with co teachers. Some will be very open to new ideas and others will be very stubborn about how they teach.

Anyways, I hope this helps. If you have any more questions feel free to ask.

[Squire]

When I get to school I have to say hello to the principle and VP, and the same when I leave

We teach entirely from the book. I take half of the classes (40 minutes each) and my coteacher the other half, although mine are the longer classes. There is no planning, I just familiarise myself with the scripts and games in the book before I teach them. Now and then when the school has events (sports day, trips and such) all English classes are cancelled and I spend the day sitting at my desk

Dinners are at the canteen with the kids. They aren't bad most of the time, but middle school food is better.

The best thing about elementary is volleyball every week. On Thursday afternoon all of the teachers and other staff get together in the gym and play for about an hour. It's such a fun game and a great way to bond with people you can't speak to because of the language barrier. Lots of foreign teachers refuse to join in and, understandably, are viewed as unsociable outcasts by their schools for their primadonna attitudes

[minos]

entirely depends on your staff and school;

For example, my first PS boss viewed me as a pork barrel project and let me do whatever I wanted with plenty of cash. I tried to desk warm(becuase I wanted to study korean hardcore) they told me to go home and travel....My first 2 years were super awesome and wealthy.

Later my staff changed into some hardcore military types who pretty much ran a tight ship by the books. I was viewed as expendable from week 2.

Another girl down the street didn't even have a co-teacher and had to make the entire curriculum.....herself....same pay 3x as much work.

[jamesd]

[Squire]

[Skill]

[cincynate]

One thing about Korea is you have to be careful when asking those questions. The educational systems in the US, Canada, and UK are pretty standardized across the country. Nothing is standardized in Korea. One school will be totally different from the next in their culture, teaching, and expectations from the native teacher. The only thing uniform is the horrible and politically incorrect national textbooks.. (One of them had a vocab word for Cotton, and the sentence they gave was "The negro is picking COTTON". It's really the luck of the draw. I had some friends with wonderful ps jobs, and ones with terrible experiences. Mine was bad. My coteacher hated me from day one, and she went out of her way to make my life miserable. I left the PS system and have worked at two hakwons now, both of which I love and have nothing but good things to say about.
As for the lunch question.. you eat in the cafeteria with the kids. The food is awesome and its really fun to eat with them. They love talking to you.

Good luck!

[young_clinton]

[Ribena]

[Squire]