So I just started today at a high school here in Korea, don't know the level of the students and have been told that since its exams I won't see the kids this week. I guess next week starts with the festival but was not told how long that would be or how it affects classes. Does anyone know how many classes I'll likely be teaching before the end of the school year. I have two classes a week with year 1 and year 2's. This is my first teaching position and I have no idea what I should do with the kids for the rest of the month so any advice would be appreciated.

Like many I was told to concentrate on speaking and listening, one of the Korean Teachers gave me a copy of "High School Practical English II" to look at but I don't know how much I'll be expected to follow it.

As I said any help would be appreciated.

Thanks TK,

have you found that the students like us trying to use their korean name or do they have/prefer that we use their English name?

Every school is different, but I would say you will need to prepare 8 classes for each grade over the next 4 weeks. You might have classes here and there that are canceled, but there will be one class that will make it's way through the gauntlet of canceled classes unscathed.

Two things you should do ASAP.
1. Ask for a copy of your school calendar and ask one of your co-teachers to translate it for you.
2. Ask about winter English camp (if you will be teaching it, when the workbook need to be finished and how many pages the workbook needs to be). IMO English camp is the thing you should be worried about most. Get onto it!

Don't stress too much about your classes in December, your kids won't want to do much and will probably be watching movies in just about every class. Prepare some fun activities and games, it might even be that your co teachers tell you just to show movies.

Next March is when you'll start real teaching (you'll likely have winter classes, but they're a little different than regular classes, it'll depend on the level of your students and how many times you see them a week as to what you do). Anyway, I'd suggest next March the first thing you should do is find out the level of your kids then tailor lessons to their level. If you're classes are streamed, like mine, congratulations! For my top classes I run English debate classes, which are very successful. For the intermediate/low classes it's all about fun and getting them comfortable with English, in fact I've found that even my lower kids have started communicating with me outside of class, so I guess this approach is working!

I've never had to lay down the law or make rules as others on here suggest. Your co teachers should deal with discipline and your students know what is right or wrong, it's not elementary school.  I think that coming in and laying down the law makes you seem unapproachable and just like the Korean teachers. I have a very strong, friendly relationship with my kids and seldom have discipline problems.

Lastly, about school life. Get involved! It's really important to your co workers (both inside and outside the English dept.) that you go to the "meetings" (free food and drink, what's not to love), have the odd shot of soju with the principal etc. It's a very rewarding experience. Also, get involved with the kids, I work at an all boys high school and even though I'm terrible at it, I try and play basketball at least once a week with them and I often wander around outside chatting etc. In fact last week I was involved in some epic snow fights. I've found all of this has made my classes even better, and getting to know these kids is a special experience.

Sorry about the essay, I guess after 3 years I have a lot to say. Good luck!

P.S, last advice, if you're flexible with your contract your school will be to. Don't live and breathe that damn piece of paper. Actually this is probably the very best advice I can give you (unless you work in an awful school).

Thats the vibe I've been getting and when she showed me the schedule my co-teacher said the third years prob won't come anyway. The biggest issue I have is that the last teacher here was also Canadian so I don't know how much they already know about Canada. I was just planning to do something around christmas for one lesson.

My bigger concern is that I need to do one on one workshops everyweek with the schools english teachers and in my two sessions that I have create evaluations for the English Club members to be handed in.

Thats the vibe I've been getting and when she showed me the schedule my co-teacher said the third years prob won't come anyway. The biggest issue I have is that the last teacher here was also Canadian so I don't know how much they already know about Canada. I was just planning to do something around christmas for one lesson.

My bigger concern is that I need to do one on one workshops everyweek with the schools english teachers and in my two sessions that I have create evaluations for the English Club members to be handed in.

For the workshop lots of them say they just want free talking which in Konglish means buy a textbook. I am currently using Lets Talk by liskorea. I give them the handouts a week in advance. When they come in they start by reading the text. I have each one read a paragraph and then call another teachers name out. That teacher then continues reading. Then I have them do the decussion questions. Ten to fifteen minutes of small talk at the beginning or the end is always a good idea.