My First Day Teaching in Korea

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Twitter: http://twitter.com/jlandkev
Blog: http://kobekevin.blogspot.com

Here's another story. This one is about the disaster that was my first day in the classroom. I'd never want to relive the first few months I worked a s a teacher in Korea. I was never given the training and observation period promised me and was immediately fed to the wolves. Mind you, these wolves were 5 years old.....but vicious!

This is a cautionary tale for anyone planning to head overseas to teach. If you're promised training, you may not get it, so do some preparation work before you come abroad.



What can you do to prepare before you come to Korea, Japan, China, Taiwan?

1. Take a TESOL or a CELTA course.
2. Get some ESL teacher texts from a bookstore and read them.
3. Volunteer to tutor at your university's International Students Center.
4. Volunteer to tutor at a local school (you may need a criminal background check).
5. Do online research...Google is a wonderful thing.


Warning: Avoid the forums at ESL Cafe...the trolls are vicious and always hungry for new meat!

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[purphanz]

did you teach before korea?

[BusanKevin]

nope. Korea was my first time. ended up being there for more than 5 years before becoming a teacher in Canada :)

[MooseheadDrinker]

@BusanKevin lucky you, finding a teaching job in canada now is almost impossible.

[BusanKevin]

@MooseheadDrinker scary for me...in the next few years I will be trying to do just tthat! Finding a teaching job in Canada.

[angstfornothing]

I am leaving in one week to start a similar position in Seoul. Can you recommend specific ESL teacher texts I should get for that age group?

[BusanKevin]

I can tell you about some brilliant website....

my favorite kindergarten resource is:

mes-english(dot)com

[macboerTV]

CRAZY! I guess after that you'd think you can get through most teaching situations...

You are a great storyteller. Thanks!

PS. Also just wanted to apologize for laughing at your misfortune.

[ylfriends]

Emotionally lost control of bodily functions LOL

[EmoGirlLovsU]

I lived in korea for a year. I was 10 years old. It wasnt tht bad, with school and all. just crazy. never got beaten once. i was happy for tht. but i was glad to be back in the US. soooo happy

[idunno4got]

a little tip, it's best to do a clap or clapping to get children their attention..

[jenilyn8705]

That is hilarious -- I can imagine because heck 5 year olds act like that no matter what the country or culture. I've been thinking about teaching in Korea. Luckily for me, I have some teaching experience and have been a substitute for kindergarten and elementary so at least I have a concept of classroom management before being thrown in some room with kids that don't speak english. Ha.

[misterjag]

Love your videos, Kevin. I went through a similar situation with my first teaching job in Korea. Only difference was I had a background in working with emotionally disturbed adolescents so I probably felt a bit less intimidated.

[o0Marijne0o]

Korean Kindergarten Cop

[Mbeebeelove]

bodily functions picture that ! LMBO! heheh (^_^)