Well it's 1000% percent official, I am staying another year. I have started the new semester with lesson plans from last year to choose from, and I've even met the green newbies from this years EPIK August intake. Time flew by, but when I meet the newbies I definitely feel like a seasoned veteran. While I still can't speak much (slash any) Korea, I am fairly capable at day to day life. It's pretty nice.
The other day I was in class with my kiddos, comfortable "teaching" and looking forward to lunch and my work free afternoon, and I thought "I am so happy I have another year of this." I could not have a better school or kinder co-teachers.
So let's see, what have I learned about Korea? What would my advice be to incoming teachers?
Firstly, I highly recommend teaching with EPIK. Even when you aren't as lucky as me, public school teachers have a nice chunk of vacation. Private school teachers do not. I can't imagine anyone wanting to come all the way around the world not hoping to travel! Yes it takes a little bit more time and effort to get hired by EPIK, but it is so worth it.
Secondly, just chill out. Coming here with no expectations is the way to go. I think real teachers have the hardest time because they come here expecting to change students' lives and have these deep meaningful connections with their kids. But really, we are just English entertainers. I certainly have bonded with some students, but you can only bond so much with limited communication skills. While they may remember me fondly, I can't really pass on any wisdom deeper than "It's raining. Take an umbrella!"
Thirdly, shut up and eat it. Un-vegetarianing myself was 100% the right thing to do. People here bond over food (slash people everywhere do haha) and there is NO WAY to eat vegetarian Korean food. I assure you, it can't be done. If you find someone claiming it can be, they are either lying, or an idiot who is eating fish sauce, shrimp paste, and beef broth unknowingly. Picky eaters are even worse. While initially a little hesitant, I adore Korean food now and will miss it immensely when I leave. It's salty and glorious. As one of my students wrote to me in a letter once "My favorite food is kimchi. Soon you will love kimchi too." She was so right.
The other day I was in class with my kiddos, comfortable "teaching" and looking forward to lunch and my work free afternoon, and I thought "I am so happy I have another year of this." I could not have a better school or kinder co-teachers.
So let's see, what have I learned about Korea? What would my advice be to incoming teachers?
Firstly, I highly recommend teaching with EPIK. Even when you aren't as lucky as me, public school teachers have a nice chunk of vacation. Private school teachers do not. I can't imagine anyone wanting to come all the way around the world not hoping to travel! Yes it takes a little bit more time and effort to get hired by EPIK, but it is so worth it.
Secondly, just chill out. Coming here with no expectations is the way to go. I think real teachers have the hardest time because they come here expecting to change students' lives and have these deep meaningful connections with their kids. But really, we are just English entertainers. I certainly have bonded with some students, but you can only bond so much with limited communication skills. While they may remember me fondly, I can't really pass on any wisdom deeper than "It's raining. Take an umbrella!"
Thirdly, shut up and eat it. Un-vegetarianing myself was 100% the right thing to do. People here bond over food (slash people everywhere do haha) and there is NO WAY to eat vegetarian Korean food. I assure you, it can't be done. If you find someone claiming it can be, they are either lying, or an idiot who is eating fish sauce, shrimp paste, and beef broth unknowingly. Picky eaters are even worse. While initially a little hesitant, I adore Korean food now and will miss it immensely when I leave. It's salty and glorious. As one of my students wrote to me in a letter once "My favorite food is kimchi. Soon you will love kimchi too." She was so right.
My main lesson, I guess, is just that being an English teacher in Korea is amazing. I am beyond spoiled. People bend over backwards to help me out. I get called pretty about 90% more frequently than back home. When I tell strangers that I am an English teacher they light up and even clap. Then call me pretty. When I walked into the hospital to get a standard yearly health check, an English speaking Korean, not hospital staff, asked if she could help me within one minute of my arrival.
In conclusion: Teaching English is Gyeongju, Korea is amazing. I highly recommend it to anyone who has a desire to travel and live a stress free life. I know I will eventually have to return to real life with goals and challenges... but until then I have one more year to relax, sing English chants, and bumbled around awkwardly in formal situations.
Cheers Korea :)
In conclusion: Teaching English is Gyeongju, Korea is amazing. I highly recommend it to anyone who has a desire to travel and live a stress free life. I know I will eventually have to return to real life with goals and challenges... but until then I have one more year to relax, sing English chants, and bumbled around awkwardly in formal situations.
Cheers Korea :)
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| Espression choco chip frappuccino. A.Mazing. |
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| And a car. It amused me. |
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