Teaching in Asia: Disorganized Schools

[2edmunds]

I really want to teach in SK but I'm going to go through EPIK or GEPIK because I've heard good things about it and they are recommended by the SK Education Board. I've also heard that it is better to work at a public school-do you find this to be true??

[panbora]

Oh my goodness! "at your apartment" just keeps reverberating in my head. I guess there are different understandings of "your".

[belanina2005]

I would have told that guy off...but then again he is giving the paycheck.....

[spicykimchi1]

Your first job sounded like a complete nightmare. I've been teaching in South Korea for four years; I haven't had a school that was THAT bad. By the way . . . how is xenophobia in Japan compared with Korea? Just wondering.

[blondexnaruto]

When you said that they made you have cooking class at your HOUSE, my mouth literally dropped. Wowzerz.

[Goranoful]

Clustermuck :D just an alternative my dear friend :D

[ILikeToShred]

You always have interesting stories! Not complaining, It's why I am subscribed! >.<



[PattMyCat]

How you can stay in a country for so long without being able to speak the language properly, I have no idea. I'd go insane :P.

[MrKoize]

what kinda license do you need? and were can you get one?

[terracearts]

Also, you may have answered this before - but is the pay really that decent? my biggest fear would be not really being able to afford to live. Where I live in united states, cost of living is so high you have to live with 2-3 people just to get by, there is no living alone even with a relative high paying job. Some give you places to live, I believe what you said - but if not, do they pay well enough to live on your own?

[terracearts]

Yeah I would feel bad not actually teaching them anything, yeah it would be easy - but in my mind my students would be able to perform well if tested on their skills they learned. also WOW you had a class at your apartment? that must... have been weird.

[renerdrgz08]

sounds like a terrible experience... I feel kinda bad for laughing at it, lol.

[BusanKevin]

@KikyoChanXD thanks :)

[Relatharr]

That was a really surreal school...

[MANNY100123]

Wow, That must've really sucked! was that school really that bad? :o? I feel sorry for those kids that went to that place...

BUT! I loved the story, thanks much! ^^

[abdullahazaz]

I love these randomly rediculous stories

[jxz107]

Dang... just listening to that school sucks... and I'm a student in Korea... isn't it a private school though?(학원)

Anyway, the school I'm currently in is pretty organized, it has a bit of troublemakers in terms of students, but nothing serious.

[BusanKevin]

@jxz107 yup...a hagwon

[chrismecking]

omg, that really sounds strange and weird! But I have often heard, getting a good Hagwon is some kind of gambling!

[frosta]

wow lol. interesting

[syke54]

Your story made me cringe and you did that for a year while getting your pay decreased. #patience

[BusanKevin]

@syke54 the pay decrease happened during my last 3 months. I'm amazed I stayed too!

[anticliche321]

thats so crazy if the same thing happened in america that principal would be arrested. Forcing kids to go to a teachers apartment? o.o That would have been all over the news. You always have the craziest stories Kevin lol

[BusanKevin]

@anticliche321 I know....absolutely crazy!Now..older, wiser and a licensed teacher, I wouldn't let students within 100 yards of my place!

[connor6677]

Was this the same guy who stripped in your house?

[BusanKevin]

@connor6677 BINGo!!!!!!!! Good memory!

[LifesVideos]

BusanKevin, I was just in Kobe two days ago. It was really nice there. We liked it. I was staying at Rokko Island at Sheraton. It's nice to bike ride there!

[BusanKevin]

@LifesVideos I just read your email today! Kickn myself for not checking it earlier. Hope you had a nice time here with your family.

[waterfall6782001]

I was just wondering, when you found your teaching jobs (particularly in Korea) did you go through a recruiter or just look up job postings? Thanks!

[kwill81]

I'm currently working on getting my teaching degree with a minor in TESOL. I'm wanting to travel and teach when I'm done.

[perdomot]

Good video for aspiring teacher Kev. Hope you continue the series.

[BusanKevin]

@perdomot I wilL! I have lots to say on the topic!

[PlatypusGuitar]

thats really uncool to have your personnal space invaded by people from work, even if its to cook snacks for some nice kids. We all need our privacy.

[somecupcake]

Did you feel the other earthquake?!?! D:

[onceatraveler]

Sadly, not the most disorganized school I've ever heard of in Korea. I take it you got your severance pay after all that?

[bkeller1976]

Glad you share these kinds of stories. People need to hear about the bad as that rarely gets shared.  Either that or people choose to ignore it and think everything is going to be smooth sailing.

[chateauromani93]

informative as always~ :D

didn't even know disorganized was a word... lol. thought it was unorganized. i learn everyday x:

[darkdrake13]

i wanted to know about japanese schools.

[BusanKevin]

@darkdrake13 I will talk about them in future videos.

[soad19152003]

LOL that's so awkward about the cooking in your apartment :) But glad you got good experience and now at a good job

[phampants]

Same happened to me here in the States.  One school was so disorganized, I jumped shipped the first chance I could.

[BusanKevin]

@phampants I learned a lot from that experience. i would jump ship right away as well if anything like that ever happened again!

[chezzmix]

Oh I thought you taught in grade schools...I would have quit esp after that apartment thing

[BusanKevin]

@chezzmix that was right at the end of my year thee. Only happened a couple of times and then that was it. Luckily there were other staff there!

[NinkaPanda]

Wow.. Is the education system not regulated in Korea...?

[BusanKevin]

@NinkaPanda the private industry is pretty much like the Wild West!

[lacalaw2009]

LOL! I'm sorry that your pay was decreased three times. I nominate this for Best ESL Video!

[BusanKevin]

@lacalaw2009 haha! Is there an award for that??

[lacalaw2009]

@BusanKevin There should be an award for that. :/

[AlotaMaple]

have you ever taught high school? o:

[BusanKevin]

@AlotaMaple High school aged kids in Korea, but back in Canada I'm an elementary school teacher.

[doirsify]

hahaha wow, what grade lvl did you teach at the disorganized school you were at? It would be extremely weird if it was a high school XD

[BusanKevin]

@doirsify they were elementary school Grades 3-6.

[drhikarisan]

that would be one extremely weird expierience kev

[BusanKevin]

@drhikarisan it was a year long weird experience!

[smurashige]

A really interesting story; you're a great story teller, but also very sad--what a waste! The U.S. has recently seen the rise of for-profit colleges and I wonder how those schools are.

[BusanKevin]

@smurashige thanks for the compliment. I love telling stories. Wish I could do it as a job....maybe someday!

[Akleptose]

Wow LOL so how is the school that you are teaching right now?

[BusanKevin]

@Akleptose good....going on my 4th year at the same place!

[RAWRimaCATx33]

@BusanKevin So you have some seniority established eh?

[BusanKevin]

@RAWRimaCATx33 yup.

[RAWRimaCATx33]

@BusanKevin Nice! If you don't mind me asking, where on the chart are you? In seniority status that is.