In comparing one job to another, there is a lot to take into consideration. Obviously, there will be a set of pros and cons to each one, and it can be difficult to sift through them each fairly. Also, there is a certain aspect of it all that is very personal and objective. The following comparison is between my experiences teaching stateside and the experience I have so far teaching in South Korea. I have loved every job I have ever had teaching, but I hope to shed some light on some of the struggles that you are able to avoid by teaching abroad, specifically with Chungdahm Learning and the Aclipse program.
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Tags:
preparing to teach in Korea,
Teach English in Korea,
Teach Abroad,
Teach English overseas,
English teacher in Korea,
teaching at CDL,
career
The scariest thought some people have before they move abroad and begin teaching in Korea is isolation. Often foreigners worry about how they will fit into the Korean community and be accepted by their fellow co-workers. It is daunting to think about situations where you may run into communication issues or cultural misunderstandings. However, don't let the fear of the unknown stop you. The best part of living and teaching in Korea is having these moments, that allow you to grow and have an amazing experience. Below I will go into detail about the Korean culture, along with ways that you overcome your fear of being along in a foreign land and in turn become embraced by the Korean community.
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Tags:
things to do in Korea,
English teacher in Korea,
ex-pat life in Korea,
expat,
benefits of living in Korea,
Korea friends,
korean community,
community,
member
Teaching abroad is all about engaging with the people and experiencing a new culture. Koreans are notorious for treating foreigners excellently, especially when they can see that a person shows an interest in Korean etiquette and is trying to learn a few basic Korean words. It is well worth trying to get to know Korea and Korean people, while living and teaching in Korea. It will go a long way with your time spent in the country, and you will encounter more unique experiences and make some friends outside of your comfort zone. Getting to know the Korean people, will help you grow as a person and also allow you to feel less frustrated with language barriers or small misunderstandings. In this blog I will focus particularly on building a relationship with the Korean staff at ChungDahm.
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Tags:
Teach Abroad,
English teacher in Korea,
life in Korea,
chungdahm,
chungdahm learning,
Teaching skills,
branch,
korean staff
In the ESL world Summer school happens all over. At Chungdahm Learning we have two periods of extra classes. These happen during the Winter and Summer vacation months and they are called Summer and Winter Intensives and they are usually conducted from Weeks 9-12 of both semesters. Currently, CDL is hosting their Summer Intensives and plenty of Korean students either switch over to morning classes or do intensives as well as regular classes. It is a time when the academy is super busy with Achievement testing and the winding down of a term. It can be rather overwhelming for teachers and staff, so it is best to be prepared in advance and have a set schedule to follow. In this blog I will go over the summer intensive curriculum along with tips on how you can make sure you are well prepared.
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Tags:
summer in korea,
English teacher in Korea,
Vacations in Korea,
ESL,
chungdahm learning,
teaching abroad,
Teaching skills,
how to be a great ESL teacher,
intensives,
summer school
Training week is your introductory course into teaching in Korea for ChungDahm Academy or April Institute. For one week, you will be with ChungDham trainers at the beautiful training facility in Jamsil before getting moved to your working branch. Living in Korea is amazing but it is important to make sure to pass training week first. Here are my 3 key points for passing training week:
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Tags:
English teacher in Korea,
arriving in korea,
teaching at Chungdahm,
Training Center,
training week,
chungdahm learning
Building a rapport in an ESL classroom is vital to having a successful semester. It takes a lot of courage to speak in another language and if your students speak freely and often it shows they feel comfortable enough to participate in your class. As an ESL teacher if you have accomplished this magic element it will help turn an average class into a great class!
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Tags:
creativity with students,
Teach English in Korea,
English teacher in Korea,
Korean students,
Motivate Students,
motivating students,
ESL,
new teacher,
rapport,
how to be a great ESL teacher,
rapport with students
At Chungdahm Learning, Week 1 is where all the magic happens. As a teacher you will know that those first moments are imperative for setting the tone for the rest of the semester. First impressions and introductions go a long way with regards to student management and an active learning environment. The way you handle your students and their behavior on the first day, will go a long way to making your classroom a happy learning environment and your time teaching in Korea a memorable one.
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Tags:
student management,
First week in Korea,
English teacher in Korea,
teach in Korea,
chungdahm,
smart classroom,
training week,
ESL,
chungdahm learning,
teaching job,
classroom materials,
reward system,
teaching rules,
learning management
As a bank manager in the U.S., I was in complete shock with how convenient banking in Korea is. In the U.S., it seems that there was so much paperwork and red tape that you needed to do just to get tasks accomplished. Shortly after you arrive to teach in in Korea you will quickly realize how convenient and efficient banking is compared to back home.
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Tags:
preparing to teach in Korea,
English teacher in Korea,
banks in korea,
Banking in Korea,
paycheck,
credit card,
sending money,
remittance account
Now that the autumn season is quickly passing us by, I thought it was best to share my last experience hiking in South Korea for this year. Usually when I go hiking, I like to stay near the Seoul area but this time a couple of teachers and I decided to go hiking near Daejeon. Daejeon is the fifth largest city in South Korea and is known as the ‘Silicon Valley’ of South Korea. Here, you can find KAIST (Korean Advanced Institute of Science and Technology) University where many of my students aspire to attend. On a side note, KAIST is one of the top universities on the Korean peninsula.
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Tags:
losing weight in korea,
Teach English in Korea,
Teach Abroad,
Teach in Asia,
English teacher in Korea,
what to do on the weekend,
Activities to do in Korea,
hiking in korea,
Korean dish,
Daejeon,
Weekend activities in Korea
We all know that life can be hard at times. Living in a foreign country away from your family, friends, and home can make a bad day... even worse. Since we all have tough days, I thought it would be helpful to show some examples of what difficulties to expect and how to I got through it.
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Tags:
Korean culture,
teaching in Korea,
things to do in Korea,
English teacher in Korea,
drink in Korea,
advice,
eating out in Korea,
students in Korea,
Activities to do in Korea,
makgeolli
