Teaching English
Teaching english can be a very good experience. There are many bad stories out there, and it takes a strong person to see through all the stories and to pick your own happiness. Teaching is a business in Korea. Private institutes (Hogwons) are where the beginning teacher will start. They are very low on the education scale, and can be difficult; but after you have been teaching for a year, it is possible to move to the university, or a public school (that is if you want to stay on another year).
I teach in an institute....and I love it! It can get very hectic at times and my kids can make me crazy...but since I enjoy what I do...it isn't so bad. One thing that every new teacher should be aware of is that you will begin teaching practically immediately! I know many teachers that got off the plane and where taken directly to school and had a class!! This wasn't the case for me, but I have a great director also! When I got off the plane I was taken to my house, and told to rest a litlle and unpack. I was then asked to go to the school, just to meet some of the kids. I went for about an hour, then when my director noticed that I was just too tired she took me home to rest! I slept all day and started on monday morning.
Teaching english is different than teaching anything else. I have many classes where my students know absolutely no english...and it is a struggle, but you can get through these moments. I have learned that bribes are the best things in the world. Anything from home is great....I use stickers, comic books, and stationary as rewords, and if a class is really good they might get a couple of coins or a hamburger! These little extras are miracle workers and I would suggest using them.
Discipline is an interesting area in teaching. Corpral punishment is legal here, but it is a bad habit to get into if you plan on teaching back home. The punishments I use are usually taking things away...like their game day! I also give them three chances and if they are just totally crazy, then they have to do jumping jacks for five minutes! I know this may sound crazy, but it works (and they are too tired to act out). If they are just too out of control, the best thing to do is hand the kid over to your director and let them take care of the situation.
I could go into a lot of different teaching methods...but as I have learned every school is different. Many of the schools may use the same books...but they all teach differently. I have total freedom about what I teach, but many of the teachers have to follow a strict guideline. The best information you can get is from experience, and by observing other teachers. This will be the biggest amount of help.
Teaching can be wonderful...or it can be hell! Life is what you make it, and so is teaching!