One of my biggest regrets when coming to Korea was that I didn’t begin to learn the language until my second year of teaching. If I had learned the language, I firmly believe that my first year here would have been even more amazing than what it was. While knowing Korean isn't required to teach for ChungDahm, you will find it is very beneficial to at least of have a general understanding of the language for things like using public transportation, reading a menu and understanding your students, especially if they are younger. Learning the Korean alphabet (Hangeul) only takes a few hours as King Sejong, the writer of Hangeul, made it so that that each letter represents movements made with the mouth and tongue. Below I have provided a list of common words that you should know when dealing with Korean students as well as Korean staff members during your time teaching in Korea.
Read MoreTeachers Share their Experiences While Living Abroad!
Tags: student management, Students, English in Korea, Korean students, class management, learning management, school supplies
Interested in Growing at ChungDahm? Learn About Becoming a Team Leader
Posted on Mon, Oct 23, 2017 @ 03:38 PM
ChungDahm has given me a great opportunity to expand my teaching and managing skills especially in a foreign environment. I will admit, managing is not for everyone and I don’t believe that anyone can become a manager, however if you are interested in growing with ChungDahm Academy, then becoming a Team Leader may be the first step for you.
Read MoreTags: Faculty, Students, English teachers in Korea, Korean students, Head Instructor, team leader, chungdahm learning
Tips to Get Good Remarks on Student Surveys While Teaching at ChungDahm
Posted on Tue, Feb 28, 2017 @ 12:14 PM
One of the best times and hardest times as working as a teacher/faculty manager is when I have to do teacher evaluations. As a faculty manager, I am responsible for making sure that my teachers are doing their best whenever they are in front of their classes. This is rewarding and challenging at the same time. It is completely easy to give praise when someone is doing well, however for some it can be difficult when you have to give a poor review. In my experience, most teachers would like to know different techniques so that they can improve. I know I do. In this blog I will offer tips to help you excel in the classroom while teaching in Korea for ChungDahm and in return earn a positive evaluation.
Read MoreTags: student management, Students, Motivate Students, CCTV, teaching,, new teacher, learning management, student surveys
Before I begin, I just want to let my readers know that each ChungDahm location has a different set of rules when it comes to preparing for classes. The reason for this is because different locations teach different courses. Depending on the classes being taught at your location, you may need to prepare a lot of information for your class or you may not. Below I will talk about how I go about preparing for my day of teaching and encourage my fellow teachers to do the same.
Read MoreTags: Students, working in korea, teaching at Chungdahm, teaching,, chungdahm, smart classroom, 3.0 smart student, smart textbook, class management, chungdahm learning
Topics to Help you Connect with your Korean Students at ChungDahm
Posted on Fri, Sep 23, 2016 @ 04:05 PM
If this is your first time teaching in Korea, it can be quite intimidating especially since you will be handling students. I remember when I got here, I wasn’t sure how I could connect with my students. I wasn’t fresh out of college and I wasn’t accustomed to the Korean culture. One of the things my trainers at Chungdahm told me to do was to brush up on Korean pop culture and ask my students’ about their daily lives. I think because I started to watch and listen to the Hallyu or the Korean Wave (Korea’s version of Hollywood), it has me a better teacher. To be successful, bonding with your students about different subjects can make your life teaching a lot easier.
Read MoreTags: student management, Students, Korean students, Kdrama, students in Korea, KPOP, seoul comic books, class management, webtoons
I took a teaching job in Korea with the plan to take a one year break away from my career as a bank manager. I never expected to stay for four years. But I have, probably because, I really enjoy teaching and I am making good money. After four years as an expat in Korea, I have learned that people with certain interests and personality traits thrive in a teach abroad job. If you are considering teaching abroad, ask yourself these three questions. If the answer is yes, and you have evidence to support your answer – you will thrive teaching and living abroad.
Read MoreTags: student management, Students, Teach Abroad, living in Korea, tips, teaching at Chungdahm, motivating students, teaching advice,, teaching jobs, class management, teaching kids, teaching adults
One of the initial struggles every teacher usually goes through, whether it's teaching English in Korea or back at home in your native country, is building relationships with your students. As a male teacher I found it hardest to build a rapport with my female students. The key I have found to strengthening the teacher-student bond is becoming knowledgeable of what kids, in this case Korean kids, are passionate about. For girls I have found the best way to relate with them is through Kpop and for the boys it is through sports and video games.
Read MoreTags: student management, Teach English in Korea, Students, sports in Korea, quiet students, Videogames Korea, motivating students, KPOP
ChungDahm calendars are divided into 4 semesters. There are Summer, Spring, Winter and Fall semesters that generally consist of 13 weeks. During these semesters plenty of things are going on, such as Winter and Summer Intensive schedules. Semesters come and go pretty quickly, and before you know it the end of the term has arrived and you should be mentally preparing yourself for the next semester. Unlike most school terms, ChungDahm does not have breaks in-between semesters, so for any ChungDahm teacher the beginning of each new semester is stressful and fast-paced. You have to adjust to a winding down environment and then to a brand new starting environment. It takes a lot of mental preparation and classroom prepping to become accustomed to this environment.
Tags: student management, semester, teach, schedule, prep, Students, teaching in Korea, a year in Korea, abroad, Activities to do in Korea, teaching at Chungdahm, teacher
I know the life of an English teacher in South Korea may seem like all sunshine and sparkles and soju, but of course the only way we can afford all those sparkles is with that little thing known as a job. I find it a bit ironic that this blog is for potential English teachers, yet little of the content on here actually addresses teaching itself. So with that in mind, I thought I would share a few tips about teaching at Chungdahm. This one is dedicated to my boss Joe, who half-jokingly told me to write a teaching blog while shaking his head about the…sometimes questionable decisions made by the teachers under his watch.
Tags: Teach English in Korea, Students, Teach Abroad, Teach in Asia, teaching at Chungdahm
At Chungdahm, you'll have the opportunity to teach a variety of students with a wide range of English speaking skills. From the lowest levels in Chungdahm April to the advanced levels in Chungdahm, each group offers different challenges and rewards. That being said, my time teaching Chungdahm's Master level has been the most rewarding and remarkable.
Tags: Students, teaching in Korea, teach in Korea, cdi, teaching at Chungdahm, teacher, master class