Ask a Waygook - Tips for New Teachers?

Waygook,

Today is the first day of school for me and I was wondering if you have any advice for a new ESL teacher starting in Korea.

Thanks, John

To begin, if you are a native English teacher like me, there is a wide range of situations you could be in.  I can only go off of personal experience for me as a public school teacher, but much can carry over to native English speakers working in hagwons or private academies.

Here is my list of tips for new people just starting:

Patience the First Week -- 

Congratulations, you have the job!  You are probably going to be eager to get started right away, so you may feel confused when you are told to just sit at your desk and do nothing the first week.  In most public schools, subject teachers do not teach classes the first week and in many cases do not even have their own teaching schedules yet.  If they give you no information about what you will be doing, it is because they have none to give you.  Bring entertainment to fill your free time at work the first week.

Check Your Schedule --

Once you have a schedule, look at it.  Seriously, if something looks questionable or ridiculous, say something immediately.  My first semester I was too timid to give my input or ask questions about my schedule.  I later found out that the coworker who made my schedule would have just changed whatever I wanted if I bothered to ask to her politely.  Do not be afraid to ask for things.  This might be seen as rude if a Korean teacher did it, but your Korean coteachers will give you a lot of freedom if they think you will be more comfortable and effective teaching their students.

Passwords and Combinations --

There was a lock combination on the office door I shared with four other teachers and passwords on all the computers.  I sat around waiting the first couple weeks for someone to tell me what they were and nobody ever did.  Eventually one of them realized I did not know them.  She then asked why I never bothered to ask anyone what they were. I then asked her why nobody bothered to tell me what they were.  We just blankly stared at each other.  You will have some of these moments at your school.  JUST ASK!

Good First Impressions --

This is an obvious one.  Try and make a good first impression on everyone, but the most important person at your school that you need to make a good first impression on is probably your vice-principal.  At least in elementary schools, they usually handle all the laborious administrative paperwork and annoying formalities.  If you ever get a toothache and want to leave work early to see a dentist, make sure this person likes you.  Your life will be easier.

Learn Names --

I am not talking about your students.  I have six hundred or so, that is impossible.  I mean your Korean coworkers.  If you think their names are difficult to remember and pronounce on the first day, guess what, they are still going to be difficult for you to remember and pronounce in six months.  Except you will look like an idiot in six months standing next them awkwardly without saying their name because you need their attention for something.  As soon as you meet a new person you might be seeing on a regular basis, write down their name in English and find a way to memorize them.

First Class --

There are lots of theories and ideas about what to do your first class like setting the tone, making rules, commanding respect, bla, bla, bla.  I am of the philosophy that if you just stay calm, be confident, and remain flexible, the kids will respond positively.  My first week I had a quick powerpoint presentation of my family, where I was from, and what my hobbies were.  I then spent the rest of the time playing a question and guessing game.  How old am I? (they guess and I would say higher or lower) How tall am I in cm?  How much do I weigh in kg?  What is my favorite food?  What is my favorite color?  What is my favorite sport?  What is my favorite animal?  This is a great activity because they learn about you and get to basically review almost all the English they know. 

Money --

Watch what you spend your first month here. Your settlement allowance might not be deposited until after your first week of teaching and do not expect to get your flight reimbursement until the end of your first month when you also get your first month's pay anyways.  Delay unnecessary purchases for your apartment and stay simple until you finish your first month.

Do Not Stop Eating --

If you do not think you can eat the school lunches, then bring snacks and food to school with you.  If your coteacher takes you out to have raw fish and you only eat the rice, then go home and make sure you eat something you like.  Do not stop eating.  Find Korean foods and foreign friendly restaurants you like in your city and try and maintain a healthy, normal diet.  Living in a new country and starting a new job will be stressful.  Try and eat well and get some rest.

Learn Bus Routes --

Find a bus map and then go on an adventure.  Do not let all the scary Korean words and hundreds of routes on the map scare you off.  The bus system here is cheap, efficient, and (depending on the driver) exciting!  Find the nearest bus stop to you on a map and figure out where the major bus lines go.  You might find a useful shopping center or a new favorite restaurant.  Do not just decide you will take a taxi every time you leave your house.  This will save you money and give you more freedom and independence in the city.

Scout Your Neighborhood --

I still have not fully explored my neighborhood (because I am a hypocrite).  I feel like once every week or so I say “Dammit, I never saw that was there before.  Why did I not know about this place?”  I keep finding stores in my own neighborhood (like an autobank, a Han’s Deli, a kimbap shop, a teacher supplies store, a dollar store, a printer place).  It is easy to ignore what you see on the streets because there are so many annoying, colorful banners everywhere with large bold face Korean print.  Be conscious to try and spot places of use to you close to your home.  Your life will be easier.

Befriend Your Landlord or Landlady -- 

Meet whoever runs your building and ask them to adopt you.  If you just stand there and look pathetic enough, they will take you in.  My landlady took one look at me and then insisted on being my adopted Korean mother.  My life has been significantly easier as a result of this.  She introduced to me all the neighbors.  She takes me shopping. She buys and makes me dinner occasionally.  She helps me organize and pay all my monthly bills.  She has showed me how to use my Korean appliances and has fixed stuff in my apartment.  She helped me set up my internet and straightened out problems with my phone company.  She helped me figure out how to do international and internet banking.  Unlike your Korean coteachers, your landlord or landlady probably has a lot of free time on their hands and there is the convenience of them living in your building.  My landlady does not even speak English.  Do not be deterred by the language barrier.  It is easier to communicate in basic gestures and stuff written on paper than you would think.

Be Fearless of Koreans --

You do not know the language.  You probably will not learn the language to any level of mastery or comfort in the near future.  Many Koreans have had contact with and experience with foreigners who cannot speak Korean.  Be unapologetic about not knowing the language and I say just fake it until you make it.  Do not be afraid to eat somewhere, or shop somewhere, or visit somewhere just because you do not know the language.  Wherever you go and whatever you do, just be polite and respectful and Koreans will give you excellent service.

Just Go With It --

This is probably the best advice you will get in life.  Your experience here will be flawed.  You will have "i-hate-korea" days.  You will meet rude Koreans.  You will feel like other native teachers will have better neighborhoods, better apartments, better coteachers, or better schedules.  You will have bad students.  You will at times feel jerked around or disrespected at work.  Koreans may try and hit you with their cars.  Do not let the little things here sour the whole experience.  Living here is a fantastic opportunity and working in the Korean education system is a valued and respected job in Korea.  Stay humble and be grateful.

Realize You Are A Dumb Waygook --

We are not from this country.  We are not of this culture.  Few other countries around the world know and understand Korea even a little bit.  Be humble.  Be modest.  Be respectful.  And do not be afraid to ask questions!  The vast majority of Koreans want us here and want to share themselves with us.  So open up! 

If anyone has anything else to add, please comment!