Korean Job Discussion Forums

[sundance89]

ok

[Times30]

What specifically do you not like about teaching? I think you need to know yourself first or be more specific as to what bothers you.

As an example, I used to hate an old fund accounting job I had. On paper it was great, good pay, prestigious, etc. But I would complain to my friends about how I hated the job. I didn't know for a while though exactly what irritated, so I just stayed. Until I realized it was daily deadlines that drove me up the wall. Hence, knowing what it was that I didn't like made it so I would prevent having a job with those characteristics.

What is it you don't like about teaching? Do you feel insecure because of being fired in the first two weeks? Is it the children? Is it the workload? Or is it because you aspire to fame or fortune?

Teaching is extremely niche because it appeals to people who want to change the world but take none of the credit. It can be an extremely thankless job, and deals with a lot of abuse from both management and children.

What is appealing about teaching is that you see progressive change in your students. And you can make a life changing impact on children. This is something that's invaluable and if it moves and motivates you, teaching can really make your life worthwhile to live.

It's not everyone's cup of tea. Ask yourself what you really want... what is the thing that you're willing to sacrifice all else for. If you love children, and would take a bullet for a child, then teaching is for you. If you're into it for money, then teaching will never give you satisfaction. You're merely putting a bandaid on a severed limb and it's really a short term fix.

It sounds like you're really here for financial problems, and if that is really the case, you need to find something that suits your passion.

The worst and most miserable people are those who live for others. I know people who still work 9-5 cubicle jobs they hate, merely for their manager titles and the fact that it's in the "finance" world. Your life is your own and you need to figure out what will make you happy. How many good years do you really have left? About 20. And years go by fast. Make sure you are doing something you like.

[Who's Your Daddy?]

[nimrand]

This isn't related directly to teaching, but what you wrote reminded me of a book that's been on my reading list for a while. I've read many books in game design and phychology that reference it. I do understand the basic theory, and it fits very well with my personal experience. I was very happy for many years doing software development because it allowed me to spend a lot of time on activities that kept me "in the zone," which the author calls flow, and which the author asserts is an important part of well being. The author talks about experiments you can do to figure out what sorts of things give you this optimum balance of challenge and concentration, as its different for everyone (for some it's washing dishes because it gives them time to think about other things). If you're interested, see the link below. There's tons already written about he book, so I won't go and try to reinvent it.

http://www.amazon.com/Flow-The-Psychology-Optimal-Experience/dp/0061339202/ref=sr_1_1_ha?ie=UTF8&qid=1369614264&sr=8-1&keywords=Flow

[augustine]

Sad post, but I think some of your back home blame needs to be redirected back at yourself for not asserting yourself more. Where are you from where the market is that bad and what is your degree in? Of course teaching at a hagwon sucks balls , save up a little and go to China. Maintain a more positive attitude. You sound like a huge downer.

[ttompatz]

OP: my 20 won worth of free advice.

1) look at culture shock. You are about the right time to hit the wall.

2) look at finding some books (e-books) on the elements of good teaching and best practices. Discovering how to do a good job will often lead to getting past that wall too (even if teaching is not your gig).

.

[salutbonjour]

[nicwr2002]

A friend of mine who had been in Korea for 4 years told me the homesickness comes and goes in 3 month intervals. The first one is about 3 months in, then 6 and 9. After the 9th month you can see the end in sight. Don't worry it will get better. Like other posters said, read some books about teaching and find things on the web. Also, get involved with extra activities on the weekend to get your mind off of teaching.

On another note, in my experience, your like or dislike of teaching is greatly influenced on the type school you are at and the environment of that school. I used to teach in a kindergarten with a Hitler of a boss. After that contract I got a better job teaching elementary to middle school students with a relaxed atmosphere and more control of my classes. Now, I like teaching for the most part because I can communicate with my students and coworkers easily.

[sundance89]

[caribmon]

The key here is you said 'I have no skills'

You need skills.

When I was in Korea I had a little ghetto 2 bedroom place that my hagwon had rented (400 square feet for the whole house) and 1 bedroom I turned into a little workshop. I was building an electric bike and would conduct my research there and study new processes online.

If I was in Korea again I would move to a small town and find someone with a workshop and help them in exchange for me using some of their space for my projects. And I would study Korean more, like 2 hours per day so I could actually say more than 'I'm going to the mountain" "my father has a company" and "I like kimchi but I cannot eat it today because I'm not hungry"

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[andrewchon]

I'd suggest watching some videos of Sir Ken Robinson talking about teaching creativity in education. When you work to give freedom to others you give freedom to yourself.

[randall020105]

You should also learn that this forum isn't exactly the best place to get advice from. find less than a handful of people close to you with sense and just listen to them and see how they conduct themselves... if they do something which is good for the long-term...clone their actions and see if that won't work out for you as well...

as for your skill set which may or may not depreciate with time spent in K-land... that's up to you and not true what some poster said earlier on... I honestly don't see how anyone could be bored here(or anywhere for that matter)... there's literally millions of things to do with your time...cook, read, exercise, make stuff, study....the list goes on and on.... I don't have enough time in the week for what I need to do... I ended up cleaning my apartment with the help of Youtube videos.

Use common sense, explore and extract the most out of what you encounter... listen to music and learn how to make music... reflect write and see how you can improve on your current state!

[TheFoodie]

[Weigookin74]

[hatfiejl]