Korean Job Discussion Forums

[tiger fancini]

I've survived mine, after sitting on my a$$ in my public school for 8 days, I've actually done my first classes! They went fairly OK, although the first one was a bit of a nightmare, in that I hadn't much of an idea of the students abilties and grasp of English. I arrived just before mid-term exams, so all the students (and teachers) have been really busy and today was my first proper interactions with them. First lesson was from a plan that I drew up myself, but for the second lesson I improvised from the coursebook with zero preparation - went pretty well too, I actually enjoyed the second one a lot more. Bit dissapointed that I had to rely on good ol hangman to finish off the first lesson, but on the whole I'm pretty happy! (Just thought I would share)

[Roch]

Hello,

I'm sure that I am not the only user of this board who wishes you lots and lots of great times in your stay in South Korea.

Cheers!

[jinju]

I could never imagine not preparing for a lesson at a public school.

[Hater Depot]

Wow, you were told when your first class would and given time to prepare for it? I showed up one day expecting to do more observation and instead got plunked down and told "Ok, teach." It first it seemed to be going well, but it turned rough when my coteachers abandoned me. I was also making lesson plans that were too difficult for the kids without realizing it.

[tiger fancini]

[King Bob]

For as long as I live I will never forget my first class. I arrived in Korea on a Sunday evening, in May 2002, not knowing what to expect. Well, come Monday morning I had a rough idea! I was woken up at 8 o'clock, to be taken to a Korean Kindergarten. Without any experience whatsoever, I was told that I would be teaching three forty-minute classes to young Korean children. Their ages varied from 4 years old to 6 years old. I was given 6 animal flash cards, and to my dismay, when I walked in to the classroom, there appeared to be around 40 young children. It really was a sink or swim situation. The class went reasonably well, but as you can imagine not perfect!! (I can say that with hindsight but at the time I was cursing the recruiter who had lied to me about the job!)

[SPINOZA]

[poet13]

My debut.....
Also arrived sunday PM, though didnt get to my city until two or three in the morning. The director picked me up at the airport and drove four hours to get me to my new place. Monday morning, perhaps 10am, in the throes of jet lag (from washington DC) I was flung into a classroom with a dozen or so little wild people (10? years old), and halfway through the lesson while crouched down (kindy chairs and tables), lost my balance and did a face plant in some kids lap. I did look in a mirror later, and I was a sight. Squinty, unfocused, bloodshot, eyes are great for scaring kids cause when you smile, you look like a madman. he he he...

[the_beaver]

My first day was terrible. My first month was rotten. My first year was, at the highest points of it, mediocre.

[vandyshannon]

On my first day of teaching, I was teaching an advanced class (supposedly). One of my students told me he was sick. I said "Oh no, what's wrong?" He then pointed to his crotch and said "It's my sausage." The kid was 12 or 13. I think maybe he'd just been snipped and he was having to sit in a hagwon. Poor kid. From that point on I knew Korea would never be boring.[/u]

[seoulshock]

My first day was also horrible. I knew how horrible it would be, so right before I walked in the building, I took out my recording device, and recorded about 70 minutes worth of hilarious material.

So far, I've only listened to it once... and for only two minutes. I can't bear listening to it any longer. I cringe... cringe...