Korean Job Discussion Forums

[sistersarah]

i'm confused. i'm the only foreign teacher at my hogwan -- plenty of korean teachers (there are other subjects taught). when i walk around the school (2 floors) and do my photocopying (in the hallway) i have a good view and i can hear all the classes going on. most of the time, the kids are bent over their desks, writing or reading frantically. this, or the teacher is screaming at one or several students. i've even witnessed a couple students being smacked on the hands. the classes don't look remotely interesting and the students are very silent.

so my class. i've been trying to keep things interesting for them, with new exercises and review type games in addition to our lessons. this is the only way i can keep their attention. frankly speaking, if i tried the teaching methods the korean teachers used, i don't think i would get anywhere....the kids would ignore me.

i guess i was just thinking about how teaching methods differ from korean teachers and foreign teachers and if i'm doing the right thing. i've asked my boss if there has been any complaints, and she said, no, none at all.
it just seems like such a contrast from my class to the others. am i supposed to be the "fun" class?

[JacktheCat]

Remember, always, remember ... you are not being paid to teach, you are being paid to be a white face. Your employers could care less what you actually do in the classroom. As long as the parents are happy, they are happy.

Sad but true. You either learn to accept that fact and try to be the best teacher you can, even though that is not expected of you, or you can come here to Dave's and post inane things about how bad Korea is.

Sometimes I feel like I am actually pulling a fast one by my employers, doing a good job teaching the little muchkins. I care about my teaching. In the end, that's all that really matters.

[adventureman]

..

[sistersarah]

[prosodic]

Use the search function and look up "edutainment."

[PatrickSiheung]

At first I too was kinda insulted that I wasn't taken seriously as a teacher. I had already been teaching in Canada for about 5 years and I thought I knew my job well. But after a while, the lack of pressure made it more enjoyable. I think of it this way...

The Korean teachers are here to teach English and I am here to help the kids enjoy it.

Both jobs are equally important. If all teachers, Korean and foreign alike, were constantly drilling the English language into the kids, chances are they will stop caring and maybe even develop an aversion to English.
As a foreigner with less expectations placed upon me, I'm in a position to make English interesting for some kids.

I mean, they're kids... they're NOT going to learn the language overnight.
If you stop concentrating on getting through this or that chapter before the end of the week and start to make it interesting for them, it will ensure that they will continue with English perhaps for the rest of their lives. That, to me, is a bigger accomplishment than helping little Johnny or Janey memorize a list of vocabulary.

This is a freedom the Korean teachers do not enjoy. If you ask me, we're lucky

[JacktheCat]

At least I am used to not being taken seriously.

I look like a pasty-white, fresh-out of college 21 year old American who has never left their home town, let alone their country before. People think, noway can I be a 30 year world weary world traveller.

Being not taken seriously as a teacher is just yet another in my life.

[Eazy_E]

The language barrier helps me out big-time. My WJN doesn't speak English and can only give me the most simple of instructions. She doesn't ask any questions and never comments on my teaching, positively or negatively. I'm free to do whatever I want with no repercussions. Contrast this with the Korean teacher, who is at the beck and call of both the parents and the boss. She has certain demands, like finish this chapter by a certain date, prepare a new test, etc. etc.

Despite my lack of obligations, I try hard and I think it's important to make sure the kids have fun with English, like some previous posters said. That's probably the most positive impact that foreign teachers can have.

[PatrickSiheung]

The name's PatrickSiheung... and glad you agree lol

[Homer]

[ryleeys]

[Alias]

Homer wrote:

[Homer]

Thats the deal at your school Alias.

It is not the deal at every Hakwon in Korea.

[Alias]

Just most of them.

[Homer]

Alias...you worked at most of them?

Or at least visited most of them right?

If not you are talking through your hat.

Not saying most of them are good here either.
Saying yours seems to be bad.
Mine is quite good.
Most are probably in between that.