Just a question to throw out there to individuals who have done ESL over in Asia.............. is it worth the time and effort?

I have read websites, but rather get some thoughts from individuals who have done it from this website.

Thanks

Welcome, arturus. We may have a couple of teachers on here, and I hope they will respond to you soon. ( Some kids come over right out of college & get jaded opinions, so read a lot of opinions before you judge!) I taught conversation part-time for a while in Seoul, years ago, and found it a very good experience. I know I was a help to the students, and that was a good feeling. No teacher ever makes a lot of money, but respect seem to make up for it. Worth it? We'll see what the real ESL teachers say! Click below for a preview:
http://thedailykimchi.blogspot.com/2...gone-wild.html

Thanks Joe!

I certainly hope to hear from some that do ESL there. I am now retired and will be a contractor over in the desert for a couple of years. After that, i hope to do ESL for several years and enjoy life.

Look forward to the replies.

Sorry for the late reply!

I'll soon start my 3rd year in Korea as an ESL teacher. Personally, I love it!
Here are some things to watch out for.
1. Try to go with a public school over a hagwon. Less chance of trouble that way
2. Try to talk to or e-mail teachers who are working there now.
3. If things are signifigantly different from what you were led to expect (rat hole apartment or big changes to schedule) don't be afraid to just get out before its too late.
4. If you need other expats around, get a city job.
5. Realize you need to fit in with the culture.

If you have any questions, post them up here and I'll try to be more regular about getting on here than I have been!

Jeff J

Hello! I'm currently teaching ESL here in Korea, nearing the end of my year-contract. From what I've seen and experienced, I'd say that there is a risk involved in taking a job at a hogwan -- not everyone has a great situation, and some places can take advantage of teachers, from what I've heard -- but I think it's worth trying, because there definitely ARE good schools, and if one ends up being terrible, you probably won't have too hard a time finding a better one quickly. My experience has really been pretty good overall, except for the fact that my boss changed things on me after a few months here, and made me work at another school instead of his two days a week, because he has financial issues. But your question was whether it is worth the time and effort . . . . My answer is yes! -- as long as you don't mind being in another country and everything that entails. And you'll likely be spending a lot less time working at one of these ESL jobs than you would with most other jobs. Once you get into a routine, it shouldn't be too demanding, really. I think the compensation is great for the work required!! (And the income tax I pay here is 3.5% . . . . Compare that to the U.S.!) Oh, and most jobs are teaching kids -- so you've gotta be OK with that (unless you're looking for some adult-teaching split-schedule deal). It's NOT true that these Korean kids are all oh-so-well-behaved in class. haha. Far from it. But as long as you enjoy kids, new cultures, and can be flexible and patient (sometimes Koreans drive me crazy!!), you'd do well to give it a shot. If you want more specifics, just ask. I'd be happy to answer any more questions you may have. :)

I wish I were team teaching because that Confucianism seems to be going out the door. My middle school students want to play with electronic computers or talk and my elementary school students just want to play. I admit I came without teaching training or experience, but I figured they were actually going to try and talk with me in class as they do outside class. I came thinking Confucianism made them docile. English is fine for working with international people, but then you have manners.

I am not a disciplinarian, but I can assure you that if I got angry, they are not going to want to speak English any more than they do now. I don't know if we really have a bite, even if we bark. I have threatened not to do games or not to give them chocolate, but they still play. I have tried to be silly and bought fun things, but they still play. I tried a game or two, but they only want to do bingo and hangman as far as class games go. I have been very anxious and depressed. Fortunately, I've had very kind, generous and fair co-teachers and boss, or I don't know what I'd do (I don't do suicide, alchohol, sex, drugs or mutilation or anything else--maybe youtube and Western food). If I have a student by him/herself, then, we can accomplish something academically. Can someone help me? I just get back-patting sympathies and pious platitudes, but nothing useful for me. I need to know how to reach them in empathy and press their buttons, when they act up.

I think there should be an American society and manners class in schools and hagwons. They are nice people here, but kids need to know how we think in the West (some adults do as well because they may not be able to help effectively, such as I received some neat things I'm blessed to have, from what I've been told, but it had no telephone landline or chair). We need classes to learn how Koreans think, especially children of various ages, because I really don't know what motivates them to want to know English. Adults would probably want to learn English, even if their boss makes them. I don't know enough about the kids' minds to empathize with their lot in life as kids or to accuse them of being just plain rude. I think having to speak it only, when they know the basics, is a healthy start. You know what they say about necessity in America, anyway.

The problem is, the Korean English teachers obviously speak enough English to have an all-English class. That is what the president must require. A half an hour to an hour and a half with me ain't gonna solve nothin'. I used that writing because this is not a class.

As the last poster said, the education system has a big problem (ours does too, but in a more opposite direction). My take is that they shove all this information into their heads, but they're not going to remember most of that stuff. That's why we have "Are you Smarter than a 5th Grader" in America. Now, if there were nation-wide homeschooling, the parents would have to remember most that basic stuff and that would make it worthwhile.

Besides, America has had the greatest scientific minds working for it (and before it, Europe--China did not have cram schools when it had its braniacs) and they were not from cultures (if not American, like Einstein) that stuff facts (mostly facts; some liberal propaganda from school book writers like modern-day Scholastic) down their kids minds night and day (though idleness for kids is no good either). They made amazing things because they thought laterally. But, if you just want a lab rat (no offence to scientists in the trenches as we need you too, unless you work on mad science like Merck's) contribution to society, you can cram details into your kids' heads.

Talk to alpope on our forum. or on alpope@yahoo.com He taught for two years and is returning soon. He had no experience initially, but found that using magic tricks and card tricks and the like worked like, well- magic!

I hope you do not see my frustrated remarks as being that I think America and even all the West as doing things the smart way and what not. I just am in my environment there and things work more smoothly when I know where my resources are (I am not saying we are right and S. Korea is wrong when it comes to small things). Believe me, though, I have plenty of complaints about how we do things and not just in the schools. I'm afraid South Korea may be going our direction (with sexual images easily available at children's eye-level) and I'm afraid we're going down the path of Europe, which already is down the toilet thanks to its social "progress"ives.

If S. Korea doesn't want our stuff here, I agree for the most part (let good Catholic stuff come here, of course :) ) as most of the Hollywood movies have stuff that is bad for society and the music (though classical stuff is good stuff) is often trash as well. However, stuff like "Tell Me", with its provocative dance and maybe lyrics, I don't know, has to be phased out, I think. Otherwise, Hollywood and our pop music, will just be part of an existing wastepool which, I hope, we did not create (but modernism and prosperity, not that communism is right either, breeds that filth). I think the president of this country needs to stamp out this business or see it go the way the West is going now, headed by Europe (the terrorist nations will probably have them by the you know what in my lifetime). I think it would be a national security issue for S, Korea to take out the trash.

I hate to see South Korea go that way. I mean, the people are kind and, at least where I'm at, the Christians seem to be pretty conservative. Societies that have easily seen sexual portrayals of people will lose their way and their heart.

You need to have firm rules intact or the kids, from any culture, will walk all over you.

The kids need to know that there are rules in your classroom and that they are fairly enforced. Each rule needs to come with definate consequences.

Keep the rules short, in number and statement.

In my classes I have 3 rules (and the start of getting them talking)!

Rule 1. Speak English in this class. (1 offense, name on board, 2nd, yellow card, 3rd, red card)

Rule 2. Listen to the speaker. (This covers talking, text messages, mp3's and such, same punishments as above.)

Rule 3. Respect others. (Fighting, and other misbehaviors)

Name on board. Just write the kids name on the board as you carry on the lesson. They will all see. If they keep it up give them a yellow card. I stole this straight from soccer and they all know what it means. Tell them what they are doing bad then too. (Jin Won, yellow card! Put the cell phone away or it's mine! Young Hoon, yellow card! Speak english in class!)
The level 3 red card comes with a punishment, make them stand up for a few minutes. Take the cell phone and when you do, unhook the battery if you can (think of the missed text messages! be sure to give it back at end of class!)

More serious issues, fighting and such, are red carded first. Please be aware that when it comes to swearing, it may just be another word to them. Due to movies and music the "F" word has lost most of its sting. Just explain that this is bad language and swearing (in Korean I believe swearing is called "Yo!")

Also be sure and channel their curiosity of naughtiness into niceness. When the boys send their leader to ask "Teacher what is English spelling Korean word ddong?" Realize this took effort to set up and courage to ask! String them along "What is ddong?" Finally break down and in a conspiratorial voice, amid promises not to share or report the source of this illicit information, tell them "Ddong's english spelling is poo poo or dooky or something equally horrific!"

I like the soccer idea, but it seems, when I deal with one kid or try to get a response, another sneaks around and does something else. I can't see everything and I think it will make me seem inconsistent.

I can't teach if I'm chasing kids around. They do try English, though--just loudly, in a way that attracts teachers' attention. I do feel guilty for any disrupted other classes, though I'm perfectly fine with being fired (though that probably won't happen). I mean, it was not expected I would be good at this or that it was my life direction. I've been considering working with the poor or something.

I hate to be vulgar but what is the equivalent of a kick to the groin for them since I cannot give them penalties that put their life's success at risk (even that might not be a concern to them at this age)?
I still feel helpless. I prefer team teaching. They respect those teachers. One ESL/EFL teachers said there is a kind of repertoir or understanding between Korean teachers and students.

In any case, I will not feel responsible for how they treat the next foreign teacher. If the person is good at managing a class, he/she will get their respect despite how they saw me; if not; they'll eat them up alive as well. I'm just glad Korean students aren't making death threats and what not and getting into vicious fights (though they will get one swatting at them for some bad thing they said to the offended party).

It's funny that I met one who has my troubles, but likes it here well enough and another who was effective in class management, but hated the country (for 7 years--in order to get enough teaching experience for something!).