Korean Job Discussion Forums

[lazymaisey]

Hi Everyone,
I was wondering if some of you could post what you experienced when you taught for the first time in Korea without having any teaching experience at all. Was it hard, easy etc... Did you have help from other teachers, many resources? My boyfriend and I want to teach in Korea and I have teaching experience but my boyfriend does not and he's a bit worried about how things will go for him.
Any info would be very much appreciated. Thanks!

[Dalton]

I had no experience with kids or teaching. In my first class two 5 year old boys started beating the crap out of each other.

I just kept asking questions and read some teacher's books for the text I was using. Now I read a lot on the net about teaching, mostly classroom management stuff. I'd been told by an experienced, qualified teacher that classroom management is 40% of the job. I believe that's the most difficult aspect for the inexperienced, untrained foreign teacher. Read the books that you're using for your classes. All that and accumulating classroom experience make it easier as you go along.

The kids are experienced with foreign teachers. That makes it easier too.
Having a GF with teaching experience will make it way easier. There often aren't any great expectations of you from the kids or the school and that makes it easier too. If you actually try to teach, have fun with the kids and maintain a pleasant demeanor then the school will probably be satisfied (overjoyed more than likely ). They know they're hiring someone with no experience. They'll expect the Korean teachers to actually do the teaching. Some schools are different but they may not be appropriate for you if your future plans don't include a teaching career.

I have met people who really don't like teaching, kids or ather aspects of living in a foreign country. It's a challenge. If you don't like challenges and exploring then you might not like it here. I hope this helps.

Bring a thesaurus and an English grammar reference book with you.

[Gollum]

My boss gave me a book and said, "TEACH!"

He "trained" me with one class a few days later after he realized his mistake (hahaah).

I was moving waaay too fast, and the kids were like, "WHAT?"

[the_beaver]

[Lizara]

I had almost no teaching experience when I came here. My first day went pretty well, cause all my school's curriculum is pretty clearly laid out and I'd made sure to be way overprepared for all my classes, but my second day I had to teach kindergarten, including a class of four-year-olds who speak almost no English... and one of them is notorious at the school for being terrified of anything new. So I walked in the class and he started crying and screaming loudly enough that I felt like probably the entire school was hearing it. I'm not too good with crying children, either, so I didn't know what to do at all until, after maybe fifteen minutes of this, one of the kindergarten helpers came in and took him out of the class. Meanwhile, I'd assumed the worksheet I was supposed to be doing would last the whole class, but it lasted about five minutes and then I had no idea what to do for 35 minutes with children who couldn't understand anything I was saying. My next class after that were also very young, and one of THEM started crying too, although not nearly to the same extent. That day was a pretty traumatizing experience all around.

Thankfully, things have gone much better with both classes since then...

[crazylemongirl]

I have an education degree and still found teaching in korea a massive learning curb. Part of it was I that I was fresh out of university so I was full of all these theories that were based on teaching in a western enviroment to people who spoke the same language and played by the same rules. Some places will give you training. Most places will throw you in the deep end and it's either sink or swim from there.

However there's a ton of resources both and books and out on the net about teaching ESL. I would try and find one about korean/asian kids as well. Also if you're teaching kids you might want to bone up on some korean classroom commands. My life was made so much easier once I learned sit down, be quiet, get out, like this, don't do that in Korean.

[lazymaisey]

Thanks guys for such great input! It's really appreciated, it makes us feel a bit more confident in knowing what to expect and look for before we go over.

[Eazy_E]

There's a book specifically about teaching English to children in Asia, and it's called....... Teaching English to Children in Asia by David Paul. It's published by Pearson Longman and has an orange and yellow cover.

As crazylemongirl pointed out, the teaching experience that you get in your own country is not always relevant to the Korean EFL classroom, the language barrier being the most obvious example.

This book tells you how to teach using games and activities that give the kids intrinsic motivation. I've found that it's really the only way I can teach.... if they find English boring then it's next to impossible to keep them under control.

[Alyallen]

[Eazy_E]

[butter808fly]

My first day was a couple of days ago. I was VERY nervous and was kind of shaky like a leaf (I love throwing these phrases out when teaching as well ) the first day and when the bell rang I bolted for the door. The day became smoother as it went along. I have experience working with children so I know to set boundaries and rules right off.. a must if you want your class under control! and even then, kids will be kids and sometimes you just need to take it easy. Kids teach me tons about life Also, Im not sure for everyone else but teaching seems a natural trait for some people. For me, I just told myself that I konw I can be a good teacher because I know that natural trait is in me (has your bf taught ppl one on one or given presentation in college.. did he enjoy the experience?) And, as Im doing now.. read and read up. I think it pays to be open to new ideas and creative.

good luck!

[osangrl]

My first job was hell. It was one of those 10-7 deals.... kindy then elementary.

I arrived in Korea on the friday evening...and they dropped me home and said.. come at 10 am on monday morning. Ok.

I arrive... they say "u must hurry, u must teach"... the other (5) foreign teachers giggled and said they had the same experience. She handed me a tiny talk book and a set of flash cards, ushered me into a class of 20, 6 year olds. Alone. And left.

No training, no advice, nothing. And i went from there. The first 2 months were hell.

[sublimeshawn]

similar to Osan girl, got here sunday night, then of course was at work the next morning at 10 am to 6 pm. Heres the books work your magic! No rabbits here unfortunately

[captain kirk]

My first time teaching was gruesome, pathetic, and absurd for all. I wince when I look back. I wasn't prepared for the bluntness of kids, either, which heightened my uneasiness the way things were going. It was like some kind of bizarre charade where I was the central fool, and the worst kind of fool is an uptight fool. The good thing about it, though, was the Korean female teachers all liked me. Maybe because they could see that I was a deer in the headlights and having an experience -new country, an Asian experience which was completely alien, not Western. Maybe women respond to need and I was flailing all over the place, but enjoying the life outside of work. Like the temples, mountains, weird signs and funny looking, funny acting natives in 'the strange land'. They were just 'sitting there' in their hometown understanding everything to the point of being in a rut, in comparison.
I would suggest concentrate on being sincerely appreciative of the students as people, realizing that 'class' is a sort of 'symbiosis' or partner relationship where the bliss/joy is dependent on being in sych with them. Look at them appreciatively and enjoy them as people and not to be afraid and stand off in some 'teacherish' manner which creates a gulf and tension. More of a relaxed reparte with lots of joking within the framework of developing their ability to make full sentences. Big voice which moderates from demanding and challenging to a voice full of humour and praise. You can get irate with them and then consolling and patient the next moment, as long as they know you care. Kind of like a boot camp drill instructor shouts and cajoles, but is the same time a 'mother' to the guys, enjoying his charges and all their facets, because he knows them -their weaknesses and their strengths. Teacher is eager to please the kids and the kids are eager to please the teacher. Sounds dutiful but, in between and at all times, humour and genuine interest making it 'an experience' or 'real'. After all teacher is practically living with them, day after day, class after class. Might as well 'make it real'. In other words, relaxed.

[Grotto]

My first day at the school I arrived at 10 am for my 2-8 shift...was given a pile of books and told

'This is your classroom...these are your books...go teach'

I had no idea where in the books they were....how fast to go...so the first month was a pain in the ass.