Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Blue28]

Hello,

I am writing to seek advice about teacher burnout and how others deal with the issue of teacher burnout.

To put this issue in context, I am currently in my third year of teaching ESL in Korea. I am working with EPIK at a language center. I teach 18-22 hours per week, have generally high levels of support from my manager, and small classes compared to others. I take good care of myself outside of work including eating well, sleeping enough, and getting at least some exercise each day.

The main issues I am dealing with now are declining energy levels and interest in teaching. While my students are generally well-behaved in class due to my efforts at classroom management, I find I am investing less and less energy in preparing classes and am starting to become rundown emotionally and indifferent to many of my students.

There seem to be several factors influencing my feelings of burnout.

The first issue is the high turnover rates and difficulty in establishing meaningful relationships with my students. At my center, we are constantly getting new students we teach for only a few months. During the past several years, I have experienced many of my favorite students suddenly disappear without warning or saying goodbye. It sometimes feels as though my effort to develop relationships is not appreciated by my students.

Secondly, the amount of desk-warming and related feelings of boredom make up the majority of my time spent at work. The energy I am investing at my place of employment seems like a waste of my time and energy.

Third, I don�t want to teach ESL for the long term and am finding the basic nature of teaching young children unchallenging and unrewarding. It seems like every day is basically the same and there is nothing to inspire or excite my interest.

Lastly, I have been questioning the purpose of my position and the necessity of teaching English in Korea. It seems that many of my students are being forced to learn something they have no desire to learn. I find it painful to work with students who are exhibiting clear signs of burnout themselves. In some ways, I am starting to feel as though I am doing more harm than good.

So to sum up, I am just finding that my initial enthusiasm for teaching has been slowly drained out of me these past 3 years. I am now in the position to either renew my contract for another year or head home and take my chances. I would prefer to stay in Korea one more year to put myself in a better financial position before going home (I am one of many teachers with massive student debt and a degree in the social sciences that doesn�t seem as valuable as I thought it was when I received it).

If anyone with similar experiences has any advice on this issue, I would greatly appreciate it. Mostly I am interesting in finding a way to develop more energy and renewed enthusiasm for teaching so that I can complete one more year and walk away from Korea feeling strong and not totally burned out and demoralized.

Thanks in advance for any advice or thoughts.

[Lucas]

[missty]

Sounds like you need a break. Take a holiday in between contracts to recharge. Even if you can't afford an extended vacation a week in Thailand by the ocean should do wonders.

A vacation with no work obligations to think about and no job that you are tethered to should help you make it through a final year here.

[modernseoul]

There are a few different things you can do IMO:
* Find more things to do outside of work that interest you; sports, travel, writing etc.
* Plan for the future, set some goals and work towards them.
* Take a break, personally I took 3months off after 2 years of teaching just to focus and it worked (for 6 months at least)

[Unposter]

First of all, anyone who teaches for a certain amount of time, experiences burnout. There is nothing unique or problematic in of itself.

It sounds like you are doing most of the right things - eating well, exercising and enriching yourself with outside interests. Though, you may want to double check and make sure you really are doing these things and not just saying it.

If you really are doing these things, taking a break may be the next step.

Try a weekend away and forget about work. If that does not work then you need a fuller vacation. If you still feel down, you may want to take a longer break.

You also seem to be talking a lot about doing something different. Maybe, you should explore this. Many people find that there interests and ambitions change. If you are thinking about changing jobs/careers, maybe you should do some more research and putting together a plan.

Lastly, and maybe most importantly, you are starting to feel that what you are doing is purposeless and the kids aren't interested.

A few things:

1. What you are doing is critical. Many kids don't want to learn math either but they still need it. The same is true about learning English in Korea. You may not see it clearly but the kids who learn English are going to have a lot more opportunities both in Korea and outside of it. And, they need YOU to turn themselves on to their potential and the possibilities of their future.

2. So, your job is extremely important.

3. These feelings of unimportance and futility are a strong sign of burnout.

4. You need to try to change your feelings about your job.

5. Remind yourself that you can and are making a difference in your students' lives.

6. Next, try to have fun in the classroom. This does not mean suddenly become a comediene or a dancing monkey - it means that if you are not having fun and enjoy being there, your students certainly won't.

7. Change up your classroom routine. Bring in lesson plans that you think will bring more energy and excitement to the class for both you and your students.

8. Try to remember what it was like when you were a kid. What did you like/dislike about school? What could you communicate to your teachers (in your native tounge no less)? It is not easy being a kid and kids find it hard to understand their feelings about school. Yet, for the most part, they are positively affected by their schooling, though they may not realize it until they have matured a lot. So, you don't have to find solace in their appreciation but find satisfaction in doing the job well. You do not always see an imediate impact of your work in education, unfortunately, but the impact is there. Try to imagine your students fully-grown, successful and full of the wisdom and positive experiences that you provided for them.

Doubt is a common by-product of a critical mind. We all have it. So, just relax, take some deep breaths, and think critically about what you are doing. If you need a break, take one. And, always try to find ways to bring energy to the classrom and look for ways that you are making a difference in your students' lives.

You are.

Now, go back in there and work your magic!

[No_hite_pls]

Unposter that is awesome motivational post! Thanks.

[Who's Your Daddy?]

[Unposter]

Thanks No Hite!

And, for what it is worth, been here doing this for 15 years now, and while I still have moments of homesickness, I find I like my job more and more as the years have gone by.

This is not to say that this job is for everyone. Personally, I think it requires a certain personality. But, I don't think burnout is inevitable either - its no "Chasing Amy."

I find taking a regular vacation outside of Korea very helpful and refreshing. It can make a difference.

Also, if you are a highly sensitive type, stay away from negative people - they can bring you down.

Personally, I can ignore them. Sometimes I find grouchy, cynical people interesting (I frequent Daves, don't I?) and fun to be around but when it is class time, it is always Mr. Energy!

Having a good support group makes a really big difference, too! Surrounding yourself with the right people is important.

[jvalmer]

[T-dot]

lots of coffee and computer games.

[Rteacher]

I used a lot of music, art, film, and internet resources to make classes more fun and interesting both for students and for me. I especially liked making online karaoke videos, which could be saved for future reference (e.g., http://www.singsnap.com/karaoke/r/bdd1a186 )

Here's more on using song in the classroom (from the creator of EFL 2.0): http://ddeubel.edublogs.org/2011/09/16/using-songs-in-the-efl-classroom/ http://vimeo.com/1765133

I also wish I knew about this guy's lists of internet resources when I was teaching in Korea: http://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/about/my-best-of-series/

[mzeno]

I feel your pain. Teaching ESL in Korea is glorified babysitting. You'll never be anything but a waygoogin here. Easy money for some, but at what cost.

[Stan Rogers]

Try soju! Koreans swear by it.

[transmogrifier]

You have to love what you teach, not who you teach.

Students come and go, but it's the excitement of going through something interesting and useful and seeing their reaction in that moment that's the juice.

Burnout for me would simply be a sign that I no longer enjoy what I am teaching.

[mzeno]