Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Ilsanman]

Just be honest and rate yourself.

[Bulsajo]

There's always room for improvement no matter how good you are (or how good you think you are).

[the_beaver]

[d503]

I'll be honest I'm average, but I haven't taught in a long time. I like it though and I am improving I think. At least I don't get parent complaints anymore.

[eamo]

I'm at a level where I can wing almost any class but that's because my preparation skills are so scant.

I actually took a job recently which promised me longer than usual hours each day.

Why? Because the job entails a lot of preparation as there are no textbooks. Just a theme (last month was ecology) so each teacher has to prepare their own material on that theme.

I was promised fairly few teaching hours in order to do all this preparation. So I signed thinking this kind of job could really enable me to improve my teaching and preparation skills. No more typical hagwon lessons which mainly consist of, "Next page please guys!".

Bad move Eamo.

Turns out they're just like any other hagwon. Laying on classes like there's no tomorrow and expecting me to prepare for them all to a professional standard.

My point is...

It's not so valid a question to ask, "how good a teacher are you?"....More like, "How good a teacher does your institute allow you to be?".

[Wisco Kid]

At my current job I've been forced to be able to teach a classs with zero prep time and just make up lessons out of thin air.
It's annoying, but I think it's pushed me to become a better teacher by keeping me on my toes.

[captain kirk]

Well, I figure you're the boss. And once that's established then you can teach well, they respect strength. I think Rapier once said that it's rather brutal here, strength, power, money, status is respected. But if you show weakness, well prepare to get mobbed on the spot.
Teaching in a wishy washy 'do they like me?' way, with all kinds of abusive shennanigans going on is just madness. So I figure if you've got it clear, stop time, and spell out what's going to happen if you have to say a third time not to fool around, then you can be friendly, and see them as kids, and appreciate each one of them. It feels like doing a 360 degree turn. So and so WILL be holding up a chair, and does everybody understand, time stopped, they hear it. Then let's begin.
Please, for your sanity

[jaganath69]

[kiwiboy_nz_99]

I thought I was better than I am. Students have been asking me some pretty intense grammar questions lately, and of course I'll make an answer, but often I go home and think about it, and I'm not satisfied with how I explained it. For me it's not ok to say "just because that's how it is in English". So, I think I'd like to know grammar on a deeper level, and have instant recall of really precise and complete answers to all the tough grammar questions. That's why I like this job, there's is infinite room to challenge yourself and improve ...

[Zyzyfer]

I agree with the sentiment that how much your hakwon lets you teach is largely relevant to how well you teach. After my first two contracts here, I felt pretty worthless as a teacher. Yea, sure, I made the kiddies at ECC happy on my first contract, but there weren't any breakthroughs made...just me getting through each day. And my middle school run was a joke of a teaching position. I still respect and like a lot of the staff there, but I'd never teach there again unless some major changes were made to the system.

My current boss seems pleased with me (unlike previous ones), and I found that this fueled me to try to find ways to improve my class and meet the needs that they want. While the job is pretty high-prep (but not as bad as eamo's got it) and I've got some brutal intensive sessions, I haven't once found myself thinking, "Damn, I've gotta work today? Screw that noise."

I did find that I had to tell my boss that I'm less effective when I teach more classes, though. Once I get beyond 6 classes a day, I think less about being effective in class and more about getting through the day.

[trevorcollins]

[Cthulhu]

[mithridates]

I rated myself quite high but I know that there is no limit to the number of things you can know and skills you can use as a teacher. If I am asked a question I don't know the answer to I will look it up and try to find out, especially with etymology and grammar. Like Kiwiboy I hate when the only answer I have is 'because that's the way English is'.
I am quite strict with my adult classes too, especially with pronunciation. The most satisfying classes sometimes are the ajosshis that have studied English for a long time but can't pronounce it right - I become quite strict and usually will devote a whole class to just rhythm and pronunciation. I can't stand when a student thinks that
PC and
fish
sound the same. No! When they try to pronounce an f like a p I show them how it's done - I put my index (??) finger in my mouth sideways so that the lips can't close and show them how it's done. See, the lips don't close when pronouncing an f. Never. Never. Closing your lips = no f! I write in big letters on the board.
Those classes are satisfying because I can see them starting to strain and think about the basics once again, and I can tell that they're trying. Then they say, pronunciation is so hard!
But...
after the class is over they have a good sleep, their brain ruminates on the class they had and usually by the next class they have learned it. That's what I like.

[peppermint]

I think as far as teaching kids goes- the best measure of a teacher is how much they care about what they're doing, and their students. I've got mountains to learn, but I try.

[desultude]

Ah yes- we are all like the children of Lake Wobegone- good looking and above average.