teach english in Korea

Sent in my documents a week ago and just need to hear from EPIK representative to interview me. I’ve gone this interview once already, so I know what it’ll be like.

I really hope I get to teach in Seoul, Incheon, or Busan.

This is one I did twice.

The first time was in 1995. I spent 6 months in Chonan teaching high school. I lived with a family (that spoke little English) and it was a great. I had no English teaching training, so this was very much a “learn on the fly” experience. I really liked it.

The second time was in 1996. We lived in Seoul for 9 months, and the job wasn’t as good. We were constantly pushed to do extra stuff outside the contract. Most of what they wanted was stupid shit. They pushed and we pushed back - it sucked. This group was motivated purely by money.

There was an organized lesson format, which sucked. We had 10 minutes of instructional materials for 3 hours of instruction. After 6 months of this shit, teachers were supplementing lessons with Sesame Street taped off AFKN. What a joke. We made good money, but as for real teaching…...

It all worked out in the end. The stuff I “learned” in Korea (mainly working with shit heads who want what they want because they want it) is very useful.

I now work for LAUSD teaching ESL. These guys (LAUSD) can’t even get their act together enough to pay people correctly.

Cultural note: Contracts in Korea are (at least then) seen as a living document for future negotiations.

i currently live in sokcho, south korea. if i had gone to seoul my experience would have been totally different. here i am emersed in the culture and have done my best over the past three months to learn the language. in seoul you can find a starbucks and order in english. i wouldnt change this experience for anything. i really didnt come here because i wanted to teach i wanted the experience.