I sometimes imagine what it would be like if I tried to return to the States to teach English. I find that it is difficult to imagine such a feat, as I don't feel much of my experience would translate (and not just because of the language barrier).
Though I am certain the dynamics of a classroom are relatively similar the world over, I believe my experience as an English teacher to be rather unique given the educational culture of Korea. As a Guest English Teacher (GET) I am an outsider in many different ways. Some of which I enjoy, other not so much.
Among the pleasures of being a GET in Korea are my freedom from many minute responsibilities around the school. In Korea, many of the school's needs are balanced between staff and teachers. A great deal of administration and maintenance can fall on teachers and even students who are expected to help keep the facility clean. This I find an excellent practice, and in my previous Middle School, I enjoyed seeing students taking the time to mop the hallways every few days before afterschool classes began. I feel it helps students possess a certain amount of ownership and responsibility for their environment. However, as a foreign teacher, these obligations to help with the administration of the school are not expected of me. Indeed I cannot aid my fellow Korean teachers as I don't speak Korean or possess the same training and standing as other teachers. This gives me more needed time to plan lessons and prepare for classes, giving me undivided freedom to simply focus on teaching. However, I am getting a one sided experience. As with most GET teachers in Korea, I am not expected to grade my students or assess them in any quantifiable way. Again, this gives me freedom to focus on teaching, but I am also only getting a slice of the teacher's experience as teachers back in the States are expected to provide plentiful and accurate assessments of their students.
There are also ways in which I feel my experience with not translate in a good way. As the only foreigner in a Korean school I am somewhat of a fetish. I am an obvious outsider in a community where I cannot fit into and I seem to carry some mesmerizing power that I am meant to impart on my students and co-workers (the ability to speak English well). Somehow my presence is meant to impart this as few really go out of their way to learn from me or approach me about English outside of the classroom. Culturally, I am different and exotic and though this makes me easily loved and adored by some students, it also excludes me from any real community. Koreans are very friendly people and are very kind to most foreigners about living amongst them conscious of the language barrier. However, I cannot help escaping the sense that I am perpetually the outsider in a world I cannot assimilate. It makes me a celebrity at times (something I've come to loathe) or a leper in other instances (which is not much better). I have come to experience my introverted nature much more in Korea (ironically, since in Korea I am much more social than I've ever been in my life). I simply don't enjoy being stared at as if I were from space. I've always had fantasies of being a writer in a secluded cabin in the woods, but never have those dreams appealed to me so much as when I feel a dozen eyes on me, shocked and amazed that I naturally possess pale skin and curly hair.
These first few months have been quite difficult to get established and find my way around all of the new material. I've had moments of epiphany and excitement, and days of dread and woe. Working with children is the most difficult thing I've ever done and I'll happily blugdeon the first idiot who scoffs at teaching children to my face. Teaching is tough, especially young buggers, but for all the pain they've caused me things are starting to turn around. Granted a few tend to wander from their seats and don't pay attention, as a whole there is great improvement with classroom management. With the help of my first grader's homeroom teacher, my unruly first grade students are sitting in assigned groups and trying to keep my more problematic boys in line. They're doing better, far from well, but things are... moving I suppose. My other classes have been hit and miss with Mid-terms cutting into my teaching. Rather than teaching regular classes I've been left to myself as my Korean co-teacher drills the students on the test material. It sometimes seems silly to cram for a test at the last minute rather than leaving it to an honest assessment, but I've come to appreciate the extra time to plan lessons and unwind. Especially with another open class in my future. Almost two months in and I can say I'm far from settled, but things are moving... somewhere.... I am honestly more happy here than in my previous job, it certainly seems like this school actually cares about their English program. It will still take time to adjust to the teaching style, and to help me cope I've signed up for online courses in teaching (yeah silly I know after doing this for a year, but there's MUCH room for improvement)
More from the trenches as things develop!
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