Trying to emphasize free-speaking is really difficult. I have them keep a journal. They answer a question, write at least five sentences about it, and then you can use it to segue into the lesson. You have a lot of freedom, which is great. Pick three grammar points, like past tense, subjunctive, and future tense. Then teach that all year, in dialog, tests and whatever.

Good luck!

I became a teacher later than my university friends. So I asked many things to them to have ideas about the school life. I was wondering what I have to tell in the class to make the atmosphere of the class active and comfortable. My friends told me that she taked about her daughter's color of the socks, how she cooks at home, her travel experience and so on. She tried to encougage me.
Now I feel very comfortable when I teach. I'm sure you can do well, too. Be corageous and confident.

Today was my first day and I feel like I was thrown for a loop. I spent all my time preparing a lesson plan around the textbook - which is what I was told to do. Then when I got to class, my co-teacher completely threw that out of the window and spent the lesson doing his own thing, getting them to ask me questions and speaking to the students on the side. I wish I had seen this coming because then I would have prepared a proper a slideshow - it just made me feel completely and seem as though I hadn't bothered to prepare a lesson. I really hope that it's not all downhill from here.

Hi !!
I am also a new EPIK teacher and I will be teaching at Gyeongbuk Arts High school. I was told from the previous EPIK teacher that there will be no access to powerpoint so now I can't even make an introductory power point about myself. I start tomorrow and hopefully it will be just observing but I'm at a loss right now. I have no teaching experience and no access to technology makes things even more difficult. Any tips or suggestions?
Thanksss !

Hi !!
I am also a new EPIK teacher and I will be teaching at Gyeongbuk Arts High school. I was told from the previous EPIK teacher that there will be no access to powerpoint so now I can't even make an introductory power point about myself. I start tomorrow and hopefully it will be just observing but I'm at a loss right now. I have no teaching experience and no access to technology makes things even more difficult. Any tips or suggestions?
Thanksss !

No access to Powerpoint, or not access to a computer? You can easily pop onto a computer and install Powerpoint Viewer if you have access.

In case you don't have access, definitely have a list of rules, and procedure that you want to start teaching immediately. It is true that the first day is for introduction about yourself, but you definitely need to outline some expectations about what how you want your student to behave in the classroom. This can be as simple as entering to classroom, to whether you want to assign seats that day.

Otherwise, keep it light, have some jokes, and let the students ask questions about you.

I'm a new teacher in Jeju.....and I'm already not thrilled with the deskwarming.

I could be unpacking and getting settled in my apartment....but I have to come in and sit for 8 hours and do nothing?!

What is the point of this?

I'm not new to Korea but new to Epik.

It's complete and utter b.s. that I have to get up at 6, get on a bus at 7 and sit at my desk doing nothing until 5pm and then leave.

When am I supposed to go to the bank and pay my bills? (And no, I don't want to do internet banking)

This feels like jail. I literally feel like I am chained to my desk.

I've heard people talk about how Korea is a feudal system because they own your visa, but it has never felt like it to me, until now. I am the school's property.

I've been here two days and I want to quit. I haven't even started teaching yet.

It is a complete and utter waste of my time.

I'm not new to Korea but new to Epik.

It's complete and utter b.s. that I have to get up at 6, get on a bus at 7 and sit at my desk doing nothing until 5pm and then leave.

When am I supposed to go to the bank and pay my bills? (And no, I don't want to do internet banking)

This feels like jail. I literally feel like I am chained to my desk.

I've heard people talk about how Korea is a feudal system because they own your visa, but it has never felt like it to me, until now. I am the school's property.

I've been here two days and I want to quit. I haven't even started teaching yet.

It is a complete and utter waste of my time.

If you need to go to the bank, you can always ask to leave early. Most of your co-teachers will understand and let you go.

Deskwarming can be frustrating but once you get to know your co-teachers, they may let you leave after lunch or let you "work from home". Which is, technically, not allowed via our contracts but, if your principal agrees, you're golden. Most POE's don't really care. It's in our contracts as a fail-safe because, in the past, EPIK teachers were getting 4-6 week vacations since their schools were lenient. And other EPIK teachers, who weren't so lucky and forced to deskwarm, were jealous and complained.

Just pop on Netflix and chill. Or you know, prepare for your upcoming classes. It sucks but there's not much you can do.

Quote from: LupinTheThird on March 02, 2017, 02:11:22 PM

I'm not new to Korea but new to Epik.

It's complete and utter b.s. that I have to get up at 6, get on a bus at 7 and sit at my desk doing nothing until 5pm and then leave.

When am I supposed to go to the bank and pay my bills? (And no, I don't want to do internet banking)

This feels like jail. I literally feel like I am chained to my desk.

I've heard people talk about how Korea is a feudal system because they own your visa, but it has never felt like it to me, until now. I am the school's property.

I've been here two days and I want to quit. I haven't even started teaching yet.

It is a complete and utter waste of my time.

Why are you doing nothing? That's your choice. If you have unlimited free time, there's lots of things you could be doing. Start making some materials. Watch a movie. Study. Read a book. Go for a run on the school campus. Call your family. Literally endless possibilities.


Also, saying "I don't have time to do my banking" and then saying it's because you "don't want to use internet banking" is like saying "I don't have time to make a sandwich because I don't have time to bake the bread and grow the tomato and lettuce and make my mayonnaise from scratch."

Based, always the voice of reason.

To add to this: you say you don't want to do internet banking, I know it's a hassle but you also say you're wasting time doing nothing. Why not cancel these two out and use that time to set up internet banking?

I'm not new to Korea but new to Epik.

It's complete and utter b.s. that I have to get up at 6, get on a bus at 7 and sit at my desk doing nothing until 5pm and then leave.

When am I supposed to go to the bank and pay my bills? (And no, I don't want to do internet banking)

This feels like jail. I literally feel like I am chained to my desk.

I've heard people talk about how Korea is a feudal system because they own your visa, but it has never felt like it to me, until now. I am the school's property.

I've been here two days and I want to quit. I haven't even started teaching yet.

It is a complete and utter waste of my time.

this is why i quit public school. desk warming is an absolutely pointless load of bullshit