Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Sleepy in Seoul]

My last day at my current hakwon is next Friday. My students are already lining up to give me farewell gifts, the little wee buggers. The more practice I get at leaving work after a year, the harder it seems to become. I'm heading home permanently this time, but by God I'm going to miss my students.

[regicide]

[ajuma]

OP, regicide must have never had the kind of experience that you had with your students. I remember well my last hagwon. EVERY class gave me a "farewell" party with cake (one class could only afford a "choco-pie" cake!), snacks and gifts. At the party with my favorite class (and they knew that they were my favorite!) we ALL cried...boys included!!

While I love teaching uni, there's something about seeing your students every day for a year and knowing that YOU brought their English level up to where it is now.

[yingwenlaoshi]

They'll forget about you pretty quick, so don't be so selfish!

[ChinaBoy]

I wish I could forget reading this

[mrd]

Ignore yingwen, he spends more time on this board than anyone and feels the need to add useless comments in order to give his life some kind of pathetic meaning.

Seriously though, I anticipate that when I leave after my year the kids (after the food of course) are what I'm going to miss the most in Korea.

[Milwaukiedave]

I remember what it was like leaving my first hagwon in Daegu. I taught mainly kindergarten (some preschool and older kids) On my last day, the K class had a test so I didn't tell them before then because I didn't want them to be upset. After lunch I broke it to them and they were all very sad. Two of the girls cried which made me feel aweful.

Several of the kids asked for my phone number, which I didn't want to give out (I was actually going home for a visit and then coming back so I was gone 7 weeks) so instead I gave them an email address. One of the girls that cried sent me an email the next month asking when I'd be coming back. That made me feel like I was appreciated.

It is true though, they'll probably forget you after a few weeks or a month.

[Sleepy in Seoul]

[ajuma]

Bet you still remember YOUR second grade teacher!!

[Sleepy in Seoul]

Not really. . I vaguely remember a couple of my primary school teachers, but not their names. From the ages of 10 to 12 and a half I only met my teachers once a year, so that wouldn't have helped. I don't really remember any of my teachers until high school, and for those five years I mostly remember the bad ones. My teachers probably don't remember me either, so we're all square