Korean Job Discussion Forums

karl · Joined: 19 Jun 2004

The big question is:How did everyone fresh from college ,without TESOL, arrive in Korea and immediately start teaching?I mean most English teachers in Korea have never designed lesson plans or taught 5 different classes per day in anything. Although,completing university is nice,unless your degree is in teaching English,I imagine you wouldn't have a clue what to do.I'm curious how many people here suddenly started teaching without ever having had any experience at all.I was fortunate to have a friend who already was working here but had he not been here,I would have been up the proverbial creek. A friend is arriving in a different city next month and is scared because his degree is in the visual arts and his English isn't that spectacular and his computer skills are almost nil,never designed lesson plans etc.Any comments from anyone?

Wrench · Joined: 07 Apr 2005

I worked in the IT industry, not only did I have to fix IT problems but I had to train Adults how to use computers. It was basicaly teaching, I had couple problems when I arrived but they took less then a month to correct them.

sheba · Joined: 16 May 2005 Location: Here there and everywhere!

Yep I was pretty clueless when I arrived and I didn't get a lot of help from the staff either. That being said it's not exactly rocket science. It took about 2 or 3 weeks to sort everything out.

the_beaver · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

I was the world's worst teacher for a good six months. After that I could at least make the students happy, but I'd say I wasn't worth my money until after 5 years. Now, at around 10 years, I think I got something.

captain kirk · Joined: 29 Jan 2003

Just add water. Instant teacher. ESL teacher eggs hatch instantly!

bosintang · Posted: Sat Jul 16, 2005 11:46 am Post subject: Re: Instant teacher?

I_Am_Wrong · Joined: 14 Sep 2004 Location: whatever

Grew up with ESL students constantly around me as homestay students and did some tutoring in University. I took a public school job and ended up with an amazing co-teacher for the first 4 months. I was her assistant and she did the lesson planning so I actually learned about lesson planning from her. I learned an incredible amount about teaching from her because she was an amazing teacher. My new co-teacher, on the other hand, doesn't prepare and doesn't care.

hari seldon · Joined: 05 Dec 2004 Location: Incheon

just because · Joined: 01 Aug 2003 Location: Changwon - 4964

To be honest how hard is it....it isn't a difficult job that really not much training is required to be your typical hagwon monkey....

Pulgasori · Joined: 14 Sep 2004 Location: En Route to Daejeon

I fit the profile described above. 22 years old, fresh out of Uni without TESOL or anything crazy like that...and thrown in the deep end.

I have several advantages that other teachers may not immediately enjoy, however.

I have a shakey grip on the Korean language. About 50% of what my students say in the classroom (when speaking to each other or me in Korean) I understand. It can help.
When I introduce something and the immediatete reaction is a handful of ��'s....it's a good time to slow down and try again.

I won't speak Korean in the class, of course (that's just opening the floodgates), but it helps to listen sometimes.

Also, I teach 4 adult conversation classes and only 2 'juniors'. Adults is BUTTER compared to the hooligan youth.

Finally, I live with my Korean Fiance (we were together for a year in Canada prior to my arrival in Korea). Her parents buy us EVERYTHING. Our fridge is always stocked with food, new appliances every week and the start of a really good relationship with my future in-laws.

Anyways, first 2 weeks are done. Things are good so far, no reason to expect anything less than a steady incline!

plokiju · Joined: 15 Mar 2005

I got off the bus in Daegu on a Tuesday night. Spent Wednesday and Thursday observing classes. By Friday, the kids were all mine. Saturday, I went in for teacher training where they basically just showed me the textbooks. I was jetlagged and exhausted the whole time.

That was my only 'training.' Never taught before. Instant teacher indeed.

Hyeon Een · Joined: 24 Jun 2005

shortskirt_longjacket · Posted: Sun Jul 17, 2005 4:59 pm Post subject: Re: Instant teacher?

VanIslander · Posted: Sun Jul 17, 2005 5:04 pm Post subject:

I was helping teach undergrad courses while in grad school.

But anyone with a bachelor's degree has enough organizational and literacy skills to help Koreans improve their pronunciation and conversational skills.

The typical hagwon has the Korean teachers doing most of the grammar teaching anyways, doesn't it?

That said, to go from being adequate enough to being great takes at least self-directed study and development of one's skills.

bignate · Joined: 30 Apr 2003 Location: Hell's Ditch

In the greatest stroke of luck ever, I entered into a class where I had the greatest Korean partner/teacher ever.

She taught me so much about classroom management and lesson design, and particularly how to remain calm and make those necessary decisions that affect the direction of lessons (since attending teacher's college, I have realised how important this is - learning that teachers in the classroom make a lesson altering decision like every 20 seconds) and how to maintain your composure. I had done some volunteer work in schools before arriving, but this was the first time I had ever actually taught...

And do you know something - she had just turned 19 (Korean age) and was teaching at the Hagwon before she went to University. I think it is true what is often said that there are natural born teachers out there - I am still thankful for her help in that very exciting, yet confusing time....