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Have CELTA, but haven't taught kids before. Problem?

 
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Jonikiro



Joined: 03 Sep 2011

PostPosted: Fri Oct 14, 2011 3:51 pm    Post subject: Have CELTA, but haven't taught kids before. Problem? Reply with quote

I'm currently applying for a position through EPIK, though I noticed most of their positions involve teaching children. I have a CELTA, so I only have experience teaching adults. Should I go through with this, or would I be better off trying to find a job in Korea teaching adults (and if so, which organizations in Korea teach adults while still reimbursing airfare/housing?)?
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Setaro



Joined: 08 Aug 2010

PostPosted: Fri Oct 14, 2011 4:48 pm    Post subject: Re: Have CELTA, but haven't taught kids before. Problem? Reply with quote

Jonikiro wrote:
I'm currently applying for a position through EPIK, though I noticed most of their positions involve teaching children. I have a CELTA, so I only have experience teaching adults. Should I go through with this, or would I be better off trying to find a job in Korea teaching adults (and if so, which organizations in Korea teach adults while still reimbursing airfare/housing?)?


I my case, I found that most of the methodology that the CELTA course espouses simply doesn't work well in large classes of kids, especially Korean kids. Student-centred learning in which the Teacher says as little as possible (which I never agreed with anyway, for the most part) simply will not work in a Korean classroom.

That said, teaching is 100% common sense anyway. Range of activities? Good. Appropriate materials? Good. etc etc.
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Jonikiro



Joined: 03 Sep 2011

PostPosted: Fri Oct 14, 2011 6:07 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks for the reply. It kind of makes it more exciting to be handling teaching by the cuffs, as long as it doesn't interfere with the requirements put forth by Korean teaching organizations.
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schwa



Joined: 18 Jan 2003
Location: Yap

PostPosted: Fri Oct 14, 2011 6:28 pm    Post subject: Re: Have CELTA, but haven't taught kids before. Problem? Reply with quote

Setaro wrote:

That said, teaching is 100% common sense anyway. Range of activities? Good. Appropriate materials? Good. etc etc.

I agree. Courses can set you to thinking about what teaching is & add tools to your toolkit, but the ability to think on your feet & be sensitive to your students trumps any theory. Kids can be a lot of fun to teach.
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ironclad80



Joined: 13 Sep 2009

PostPosted: Mon Oct 17, 2011 12:46 am    Post subject: Re: Have CELTA, but haven't taught kids before. Problem? Reply with quote

I came here under the same circumstances. If anything, it will give you confidence, I mean you won't just be thrown in front of students for the first time (even if they are just kids).
At hagwon I found it to be useless because you're just given a book and told to teach (or more accurately, make sure every page is completed by the end of the semester so the parents see writing on every page).

I work at a public school now (like you're applying to) and I have found what I learned at CELTA to be more useful such as things like motivation and reinforcing the lesson's goal through a fun activity at the end. At my hagwon any sort of games were BANNED.

So yea, CELTA is generally for adult teaching, but you will find some use from it.

Jonikiro wrote:
I'm currently applying for a position through EPIK, though I noticed most of their positions involve teaching children. I have a CELTA, so I only have experience teaching adults. Should I go through with this, or would I be better off trying to find a job in Korea teaching adults (and if so, which organizations in Korea teach adults while still reimbursing airfare/housing?)?
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