Teaching English in Korea is a life-changing journey, and the best decision you have ever made. This list of 5 things you should avoid for teaching English in South Korea will help you if you're planning to teach here any time soon.
I won’t go into cultural details such as the importance of bowing, or making sure to give and receive everything with two hands. Instead, I’m going to focus on things I’ve personally experienced, or observed, in regards to teaching in a public school in Korea.
Before you commit to finding a program for teaching English in Korea, read these tips!
1. Don’t Think You Can Change the System
You’re probably not going to change the world singlehandedly, just like you’re almost certainly not going to change the educational system in South Korea.
Koreans study a lot. Classroom sizes might be larger than what you’re used to. Attitudes about work may be different. South Korea’s educational system isn’t perfect. Neither is the system where you’re from. Changes will happen, over time, through partnerships built upon trust and understanding.
Building relationships, and encouraging others to be the change seems much more sustainable than coming in as the outsider with all the “right” answers. Try to understand why things are the way they are, and collaborate with your Korean coworkers to make change happen.
2. You don’t Know Everything, so Don’t Act Like You Do
You’re seen as the English expert, but that’s only because you’re a native speaker. I’m willing to bet your Korean co-teachers, and even some of your students, will know more about the ins and outs of the English language than you do.
All of those grammar nuances that seem normal as Norman to you now might prove difficult to articulate. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been caught in the middle of a lesson by a question I couldn’t answer.
Admit to not knowing everything, and ask for a little time to research particular questions. A big part of teaching is relearning how you learned.
3. Don’t Assume South Korea is a Developing Country
It’s not. And it’s changing just as fast as you can say kimchi ten times. You’re not going to be living in a hut, you don’t need to pack enough toothpaste to last a year, and you won’t be too far from Seoul no matter where on the peninsula you live and work.
South Korea is one of the Asian Tigers, a term used in reference to the highly free and developed economies of Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea, and Taiwan. It's enjoying one of the fastest growing market economies in the world today.
4. Don’t Make All Your Own Teaching Materials
That would be a waste of time. There are so many resources available for teaching abroad, specifically for teaching English in South Korea. Hop on the coattails from the teachers who've done it before. You may have access to an abundance of materials left by previous GETs, from co-teachers, or in textbooks.
All you have to do is dig a little to take advantage of this handy time-saver. For more teaching-related advice and information, check out Barry Fun English, Lantern Fish, and Waygook. Be sure to read up on tips for making lesson plans, and avoid underplanning.
5. Don’t Forget to Pack a Sense of Humor
Living and teaching abroad is all about experiencing the most ridiculous, awkward, and hilarious moments possible. Laugh at yourself, at your situation, and at those around you. Laughter will get you through even the toughest days.
Like any experience in life, teaching in South Korea will be what you make of it. I absolutely love my English teaching job in Korea. In what other capacity could I be a cook, a cleaner, a dancer, a singer, a hugger, an encourager, a storyteller, and a radio announcer in the same day? Don’t just take my word for it. Find out for yourself!
