Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Jonny Boy]

Hello people
I'm a Brit coming to korea soon, well just after January infact, and am wondering what sort teaching resources I should bring. What would my potential classes in Korea love to see from England.
I've as yet no fixed job and planning to come on tourist visa and then look for work. So, the resources could be for any level or age range.
I'm a CELTA qualified and experienced adult education/ESOL teacher but no degree so....!!! Yeah I know the score about that.
I've got a Korean girlfriend now living back in Seoul and hope to try a life with her in her own country. Lots seem to be against this (suspicious family and friends, no degree etc etc) but I love her so much so thats that!!
Also, if any of you have time, could you advise on what type of flght I should get so I can re-enter once my tourist visa expires. Is there a cheap airline any one could reccommend.
Thank you Thank you for any comments on above or other advice/comments you think might be of value.

[tommynomad]

Well jb, I can only recommend the books I think are the best resources:

_Drama Techniques in Language Learning_ from OUP or CUP, was just re-issued after many years out-of-print.

_Super Teaching_ by Eric Jensen. I've been teacher for a couple of decades and no book comes close, IMPNSHO.

_English Grammar_(?) by Betty Azar can turn anyone into a grammar wizard. And the exercises are interesting for students, too.

_Learning Teaching_ by Scrivener--which you no doubt have as a CELTA grad--gets my ass outa the fire when I hit a planning block.

Korea is awash in ESL texts. I brought the basics and scanned all my other resources onto a pair of CDs.

Dunno anything about flights. It sounds like you can talk the talk, which you'll need to do to get a job without a degree.

[Jonny Boy]

Thank you TNomad
I've got some of the books you mention. Not 'Super Teaching', which looks..er well super..I'll check it out.
I was looking more for advice on actual real material from UK like mags, dvd's etc.. but anything specific that Korean students would be really interested to touch, see, feel..
I use realia alot in my classes so any hints would be cool.
thank you again
JB

[kiwiboy_nz_99]

Students love photos of you in your normal life, and they're a great starter for free talking. Also it can be good to teach with movies, so any DVD's you have are good. Of course, they should appropriate, and more dialogue based than action/thriller types. I'm doing a unit with Shawshank Redemption right now, which in my opinion is one of the greatest movies ever made, and it's going down a treat.

[Jonny Boy]

Thanks Kiwi
A few people have mentioned about the use of photos, of oneself and of other English people so that confirms that.
But, I am more interested in your bottom quote about Korean girls being absolute cavewomen.
Mmm, please enlighten me.
JB

[kiwiboy_nz_99]

Well, as you can see in the brackets I'm quoting someone else, but I can concur. It's a bit more complicated than that. Societal pressures, predjudice and ignorance mean that a majority of K girls will not even consider the possiblity of a westerner. It's more that the ones that do, really do ... know what I mean?

[tommynomad]

Realia's realia. Anything is a good thing. I'm teaching a tesol course right now, and the textbook says that every ESL teacher should posess 100-200 large photographs, hardbacked with carton, and cross-referenced. Good idea, but labour intensive.l

I definitely recommend some mags. A really cutting edge British fashion mag would go over gangbusters with the girlies here.

As for Kiwiboy's Cheswyck quotation: my gf and I were friends for over two years before we became lovers. She had always talked about the fact that the only men in her future were Korean men--just because, no other real reason given. Now she can't imagine being with a Korean guy, because no Korean guy is me.

[Swiss James]

There are shops selling cutting edge british/european/US fashion mags over here by the way!

I recommend bringing Colman's mustard, jaffa cakes and cadbury's chocolate. Not for the kids though.

[OiGirl]

You have dollar stores, or pound stores, or whatever there? Go pick up whatever kids' games and learning materials you can find there...flashcards, BINGO games, coloring books, etc. The flashcards and many other materials would bseful for age groups a bit older than they would be used with native English-speaking students.

[whatthefunk]

Sandles, bikini briefs, inflatable dolls, and Gobstoppers should get get you through the terrible experience you are about to have.

[kiwiboy_nz_99]

[Jonny Boy]

Many many thanks for all ideas (and please keep them coming if you have the time) some of which I had in my mind and some which I didn't.....as an English man the idea of introducing Colmans mustard to an unsuspecting class of Korean children sounds inspired...quickly followed with lashings of Cadbury's hot chocolate. It would be a lesson they never forget... and yes I would keep the Jaffa cakes just for me he he!!

Back to Kiwi on the cavewoman quote: I asked my Korean gf if she knew of any significance to this... I first had to explain what we would understand as a cave person and translate to modern meaning i.e. live in cave so no real understanding of outside world, tend not to go out much, maybe (just maybe becuase there's nohting else to do) obsessed with sex, maybe of limited intelligence etc etc.
Ofcourse any self respecting anthropolgist would tell you the ignorance of such comments and how far advanced and in touch with the world they actually were.
After some discussion she became silent for quite a while and then replied.."yes I agree".. but she wouldn't say to which perspective of thought..
Personally I think we are all unique and I hate the idea of stereotyping but I've noticed a simliar theme from others on the discussion boards that categorise Korean people. I guess they do the same for us as westerners when they are at a loss for what to talk about over a pint on a dreay wet afternoon and there's no sport on TV...he he he
and yet....