Korean Job Discussion Forums

[trubadour]

I've not much experience of teaching this age group. I've taught in a hagwon for the past year or so and simply haven't encountered much of em. In fact my high school class, though initially keen proved to be one of the hardest to get any results from. Still, I'm interested to try again, gain more experience, etc.

All one hears is how difficult they are to motivate or even keep awake, how limited their interests, etc. But what does it take - what kind of teacher can be successful with them?

[pkang0202]

Its like prison. The very first day you gotta beat someone up to get respect. Make sure you make the "alpha male student" your <female dog>. After that everything should fall in line. Keep a shiv on your person at all times.

[trubadour]

Lol...
No joke?

[Jizzo T. Clown]

Be firm, but above all, treat them like REAL PEOPLE, with real feelings, valuable opinions, etc. Nothing will lose them like talking down to them or treating them like children. But don't go the other way and try to be cool. "There's nothing more pathetic than an aging hipster."

Just know that you can't reach them all, all the time and don't stress it. I'd much rather teach teens than grubby kids.

[kingtout]

The same any other teaching job in Korea. A pulse.

[Yu_Bum_suk]

So much depends on the school and programme. Make sure you go to a school that has moongwa and / or eagwa students, and not sungwa students. Moon and sun - night and day but in reverse metaphorically - quite easy to remember.

[JD1982]

Be prepared to put on your monkey and clown suit on.

And learn to do some funny dances.

[shantaram]

Balls and a sense of irony.

[ilovebdt]

[cdninkorea]

[bobbybigfoot]

It requires:

(1) a minimum 3 yr BA or higher

(2) citizenship from an eligible English speaking country

(3) a pulse

[dogshed]

I have three high school classes right next to each other and all three are different.

Read all the Harry Wong articles on teachers.net.

(A teacher named Harry Wong. Giggle giggle.)

[Sash]

My classes vary. Some are very well behaved, some play around too much. It takes a LOT of patience at times, but in my opinion, I would rather take high school than elementary or junior high any day.

If you can't come up with fun and creative lessons, you better brush off that clown suit to keep them awake!

[Mark7]

4-year degree: check
Speak English: check
A Pulse: check

Yup, teaching high school is one different ball game than I expected, but I love the challenge.

The hardest part at times is that they don't care, and its hard on yourself to teach when you see that kind of attitude.

However, I try my best to give it my all even if they don't care: just be enthusiastic (but not a clown), use ALOT OF VISUALS, and get them to group work to the point where they don't talk in Korean, but they feel comfortable to try. See, I teach at an all-boys high school, and since my classes DON'T count, why bother trying? So, I am starting to catch on trying to do activities that will gauge their interest (soccer, sports, videogames) and do games where everyone is involved.

My biggest mistake in teaching HS so far was making games that only involved a few people, it makes for one bored class.

My biggest advice on what it takes to teach in high school?

1. Love and patience - treat them like real people, especially the ones who make nothing but trouble
2. Firmness yet fairness - its hard to keep the noise control down, but I do not take any guff from a student who "mocks" my voice (my pet peeve), so lay the punishment down where it is necessary
3. If a class goes wrong, be cool under pressure and change your lesson plan - some of my lesson plans went to the ground, so I quickly made up a new game to try
4. Smile - sometimes these kids will push your buttons, but don't let them push that anger button
5. Interests and visuals - "ooohh the colors!"

[trubadour]

Some really informative, constructive and insightful comments, cheers guys. Keep 'em commin'!

I really appreciate ideas on how you get your students to work together in groups, on task and while comming up with good stuff! Seems essential for large HS classes.