Read 12630 times

  • gurudanny98
  • Veteran

    • 108

    • September 10, 2010, 02:01:11 pm
    • Busan South Korea
Re: How can I be a fun teacher?
« Reply #20 on: December 21, 2017, 06:50:56 pm »
I worked at a place 2 years ago, replacing a teacher who let the students play in class, go through the books quickly and never really buckled down to study. I was a taste of bad medicine to these kids.  Even though I was fun and easy-going, I made them study and focus on the lesson. It was also a bad hogwon because I didn't have support from the Korean staff who saw the students as little won signs  They didn't like me because of that. The teacher that the OP probably replaced probably spoiled the kids as well.


  • imtwina
  • Explorer

    • 9

    • September 23, 2015, 08:51:24 am
    • Gangwan-do
Re: How can I be a fun teacher?
« Reply #21 on: December 22, 2017, 10:00:02 am »
I don't know how to build rapport

For non after school classes I usually do

-Greetings
-Sometimes a warm up game if I can think up one or find one that fits
-The book
-Ending game

I recommend always doing a warm up. Every month you can introduce a new song...even for 5 and 6 graders.  Some good ones are "Today is Monday" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-7V__eJHuo&list=PLOuDQ8I5zQ9cIlZ-rxTaghGCD2xopMjxH&index=12 or "The Months Song" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XaOMTy3uQEo&list=PLOuDQ8I5zQ9cIlZ-rxTaghGCD2xopMjxH&index=10  Or a song with a hand clapping exercise "A sailor went to sea, sea, sea." Or What's the Word PPT games. Your warm up doesn't have to be related to the lesson.  It's just to get them in to English mode. 
To build "rapport" just try to get to know the kids.  Talk to them in the hallway or at lunch. Definitely try to learn some of their names. Ask them how to say things in Korean.  Don't be afraid to be silly in class. Give the kids opportunities to prove what they have learned already and praise them when they do.
Also, talk to your co-teacher about lessons. You may not need to teach everything in the book.  Just focus on one or two elements.  And, you don't have to play a game every lesson.  Try role-playing or dramatizing dialogs. Or have the kids draw something related to the lesson but personalized. Or do a crossword or word search. If you are looking for more games try Games and Activities on esltreasure.com or Games that Don't Need Technology http://www.waygook.org/index.php/topic,4535.msg25125.html#msg25125
For afterschool programs, don't over-think it by trying to plan something new and brilliant - use the resources here to get you inspired. http://www.waygook.org/index.php?board=22.0 If you need a "game" to use in a pinch, try Spoons with playing cards.  3-6 graders all like it and you can play it for 15 - 25 minutes. Instead of eliminating players, have the loser of each round spell out the word S-P-O-O-N-S



Re: How can I be a fun teacher?
« Reply #22 on: December 22, 2017, 12:07:46 pm »
I don't know how to build rapport

For non after school classes I usually do

-Greetings
-Sometimes a warm up game if I can think up one or find one that fits
-The book
-Ending game

I recommend always doing a warm up. Every month you can introduce a new song...even for 5 and 6 graders.  Some good ones are "Today is Monday" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-7V__eJHuo&list=PLOuDQ8I5zQ9cIlZ-rxTaghGCD2xopMjxH&index=12 or "The Months Song" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XaOMTy3uQEo&list=PLOuDQ8I5zQ9cIlZ-rxTaghGCD2xopMjxH&index=10  Or a song with a hand clapping exercise "A sailor went to sea, sea, sea." Or What's the Word PPT games. Your warm up doesn't have to be related to the lesson.  It's just to get them in to English mode. 
To build "rapport" just try to get to know the kids.  Talk to them in the hallway or at lunch. Definitely try to learn some of their names. Ask them how to say things in Korean.  Don't be afraid to be silly in class. Give the kids opportunities to prove what they have learned already and praise them when they do.
Also, talk to your co-teacher about lessons. You may not need to teach everything in the book.  Just focus on one or two elements.  And, you don't have to play a game every lesson.  Try role-playing or dramatizing dialogs. Or have the kids draw something related to the lesson but personalized. Or do a crossword or word search. If you are looking for more games try Games and Activities on esltreasure.com or Games that Don't Need Technology http://www.waygook.org/index.php/topic,4535.msg25125.html#msg25125
For afterschool programs, don't over-think it by trying to plan something new and brilliant - use the resources here to get you inspired. http://www.waygook.org/index.php?board=22.0 If you need a "game" to use in a pinch, try Spoons with playing cards.  3-6 graders all like it and you can play it for 15 - 25 minutes. Instead of eliminating players, have the loser of each round spell out the word S-P-O-O-N-S
All the 3-6th graders, I know their names. Kindergarten I know most. 1st and 2nd I know one or two. I do try to talk to them though there's not much time out of class since I'm prepping, and at lunch I can't sit with them.
I do ask them how to say things in Korean a lot though lol, but I am afraid to be silly. I'm highly embarrassed but I'll try to be more silly... i dont really know how...

Oh I actually don't play a game every class... if I cant find a proper game I use worksheets instead... maybe i shouldve mentioned that

I will definitely use song warm ups

ive tried none english related warm ups as well which they enjoyed and then they went back to hating the lesson after the game or they just wanted to keep playing the game

It's mostly my 4th grade class i struggle with... theyre rude and hate everything. i used to do warm up songs with them and they hated it... unless it's kpop... and then if its kpop they just wanna listen to it the entire 80 minutes of class time

Ive also tried to have 4th grade draw related things to the lesson - they love drawing - however they like just drawing one anime character.... they dont want to draw something relatable

What in the book do you usually skip? 1 period isn't much in the book. so idk what id skip besides what i already skip which is the games they have in there. the book lesson is already short...

I also don't have a co teacher... i teach alone. there's no english teacher here. just home room teachers. i dont think they know the answer of what to teach since theyve never taught english... before me there was a net here for like 4-5 years

Thank you so much for all the links and help btw!!!
« Last Edit: December 22, 2017, 12:09:43 pm by tryingtogettokorea »


  • weirdgirlinkorea
  • Moderator - LVL 2

    • 2041

    • September 09, 2010, 06:00:18 pm
    • Seoul
    more
Re: How can I be a fun teacher?
« Reply #23 on: January 02, 2018, 07:45:46 am »
Don't take your job or yourself too seriously. Before anyone jumps on me saying that I am saying slack off or don't do your job, that is not what I am saying. I am saying, particularly at the elementary level, especially in public, a greater part of the job is cultural not English. English is just a secondary by-product. Definitely teach them but, but do it in a way that is just more of a play environment. I second a rapport though. I am only successful because I establish a rapport with my students every time. I teach high school. Sometimes they say or do shocking stuff to be funny, to test me. As long they don't break my basic rules of respect (and they know what those rules are), I don't try to police them.
I don't like kpop and I don't pretend to. I don't like soccer. My rapport is based on my love for them and teaching and they know it. That's all I can say. Find something you love about them and/or the job and use that to fuel your rapport with them.

people keep saying rapport... i can't even build rapport with people my age... much less children who cant understand me
I am not at all trying to be rude, but perhaps you are in the wrong field? Although, I am a massive introvert, in the classroom I transform into extraverted introvert. Teaching is a very social profession. If you have difficulty building rapport with English speaking adults, no matter the advice you are given here you are not going to connect with your students. If you really love teaching your students it will show and a natural rapport will happen but if you don't they will also know that and will do very little for you. Children are like dogs, their scent skills are higher than adults. They can tell/feel emotions emanating from others. If they feel you don't enjoy being their teacher, they will not enjoy being your students and will very likely not cooperate.
If, still, you want to make it work anyway, I recommend buy some pedagogical books on connecting with students. There are loads out there on Amazon.
Ignoranţa este adesea o boală fatal şi cretin nu poate fi vindecata.


  • fishead
  • Hero of Waygookistan

    • 1165

    • April 23, 2010, 07:58:05 am
    • Yangju Korea
Re: How can I be a fun teacher?
« Reply #24 on: February 05, 2018, 06:46:27 am »
 Wear a set of Mickey Mouse ears.
You will instantly be transformed into the fun teacher.


Re: How can I be a fun teacher?
« Reply #25 on: March 12, 2018, 11:13:29 am »
Don't take your job or yourself too seriously. Before anyone jumps on me saying that I am saying slack off or don't do your job, that is not what I am saying. I am saying, particularly at the elementary level, especially in public, a greater part of the job is cultural not English. English is just a secondary by-product. Definitely teach them but, but do it in a way that is just more of a play environment. I second a rapport though. I am only successful because I establish a rapport with my students every time. I teach high school. Sometimes they say or do shocking stuff to be funny, to test me. As long they don't break my basic rules of respect (and they know what those rules are), I don't try to police them.
I don't like kpop and I don't pretend to. I don't like soccer. My rapport is based on my love for them and teaching and they know it. That's all I can say. Find something you love about them and/or the job and use that to fuel your rapport with them.

people keep saying rapport... i can't even build rapport with people my age... much less children who cant understand me
I am not at all trying to be rude, but perhaps you are in the wrong field? Although, I am a massive introvert, in the classroom I transform into extraverted introvert. Teaching is a very social profession. If you have difficulty building rapport with English speaking adults, no matter the advice you are given here you are not going to connect with your students. If you really love teaching your students it will show and a natural rapport will happen but if you don't they will also know that and will do very little for you. Children are like dogs, their scent skills are higher than adults. They can tell/feel emotions emanating from others. If they feel you don't enjoy being their teacher, they will not enjoy being your students and will very likely not cooperate.
If, still, you want to make it work anyway, I recommend buy some pedagogical books on connecting with students. There are loads out there on Amazon.

Yes, you're right.I consider myself an extrovert...I hate being alone and find it to be boring yet being with people causes anxiety smdh.
This is why I decided not to teach anymore even before I wrote this post. The problem is, I have so many months left so I need to make it work for the time being.


  • Sautee
  • Adventurer

    • 32

    • March 28, 2016, 05:34:43 am
Re: How can I be a fun teacher?
« Reply #26 on: April 05, 2018, 11:55:36 am »
Have you consider that the problem might not be your personality but your teaching method?

I only ask that because this changes the perspective from why I'm personally wrong for teaching to what am I doing that's wrong? I don't mean this as an attack but a necessary shift in perspective.

I know, at least in NYC, first-time teachers usually have an environment of support, that is mentors and observers that give back feedback. They also have spend weeks, if not months, observing and being guided by more experience teachers. Furthermore, they're always get further education and workshops in their field.

For us EFL teachers in Korea, we have none of those. And in a number of cases, this may be first gig teaching. Which includes myself.

--
So instead of asking how I can be a fun teacher. You'll find more useful information by giving us your lesson plan and your class procedures, how your students react and behavior and etc. And then the teachers with more experience and skills can break down what you can do to improve.

But if you just ask "How can I be a fun teacher?" is a useless question that will get answers of questionable worth. Cause the main question you need to ask yourself is, "what am I doing that works?" and "what am I doing that doesn't work?" Fun is nice but skill, knowledge and experience is what we look for in leaders.

And a teacher is a leadership position. No matter how much some teachers want to shirk the title and its associated responsibilities.
« Last Edit: April 05, 2018, 12:02:58 pm by Sautee »


  • fishead
  • Hero of Waygookistan

    • 1165

    • April 23, 2010, 07:58:05 am
    • Yangju Korea
Re: How can I be a fun teacher?
« Reply #27 on: April 05, 2018, 01:09:13 pm »
Have you consider that the problem might not be your personality but your teaching method?

I only ask that because this changes the perspective from why I'm personally wrong for teaching to what am I doing that's wrong? I don't mean this as an attack but a necessary shift in perspective.

I know, at least in NYC, first-time teachers usually have an environment of support, that is mentors and observers that give back feedback. They also have spend weeks, if not months, observing and being guided by more experience teachers. Furthermore, they're always get further education and workshops in their field.

For us EFL teachers in Korea, we have none of those. And in a number of cases, this may be first gig teaching. Which includes myself.

--
So instead of asking how I can be a fun teacher. You'll find more useful information by giving us your lesson plan and your class procedures, how your students react and behavior and etc. And then the teachers with more experience and skills can break down what you can do to improve.

But if you just ask "How can I be a fun teacher?" is a useless question that will get answers of questionable worth. Cause the main question you need to ask yourself is, "what am I doing that works?" and "what am I doing that doesn't work?" Fun is nice but skill, knowledge and experience is what we look for in leaders.

And a teacher is a leadership position. No matter how much some teachers want to shirk the title and its associated responsibilities.

 Lots of times people confuse these things because they are reacting to feedback from Korean English teachers that might not be familar with a lot of the language used when being critical of an ESL teacher. Also lots of the criticism is second hand and translated direct from feedback from students parents. Often the Korean teacher will not be able to pinpoint the exact terms needed to critique the lesson on hand so they rely only on what they know from their limited vocabulary. They will also revert back to lots of stereotypical  KBS English programs with Isiaac Durst because for the most part that has been their only positive image of a NET.

 As a result KET teachers and reluctant to discuss issues related to classroom management with the NET. Although in many cercumstances when the NET has a reputation as being a boring fuddy duddy their are also lots of classroom management issues at play.


  • Sautee
  • Adventurer

    • 32

    • March 28, 2016, 05:34:43 am
Re: How can I be a fun teacher?
« Reply #28 on: April 05, 2018, 01:37:46 pm »
Ok, so here's the 411.

You don't need to be a fun teacher to be a good teacher. Although the two can feed into each other.

I'm sure you've had teachers who you thought had a great personality but when it came down to the actual class you didn't learn very much. And conversely, you had teachers that were strict and dour but you learned a lot.

In the latter, those classes might have even been fun because the teacher knew how to challenge you as a student. If you like playing video games, there's a lot of parallels between video game design and lesson planning.

For instance, tic-tac-toe might be fun for kids but any reasonably intelligent teen will figure out the limitations of winning and losing. Furthermore killing 5 rats to level up might not be bad but having to do that 50-100 times is going to tax even the most patient person.

Why do I mention this? It's because you have to think of it in terms of effort to purpose and effort to outcome.

If the player doesn't have any idea what purpose they're putting their effort towards, or if that effort seems grossly out of balance with the outcome—the player will be frustrated or bored.

Likewise repetition of the trivial or of already learnt material is infantile to anyone. What's 1+1? Good! What's 1+2? Great! What 1+3? Wow! What's 1+4? Awesome! What's 1+5? Cool! and etc.

So what's my point? It's that I want you to start planning with purpose—with always the linguistic purpose in mind.
Sure I can make them listen and repeat the whole audio but if the activity at the end only uses the two sentences, do I spend 5 minutes on listen and repeat or 2 minutes on cue-response drills instead?

Sure I can spend 2 hours making cards for them to play but will a 15 minute powerpoint do the same purpose instead?

Break your lesson planning into:
What you want the students to be able to do.
How to check they're able to do it.
How you will have them practice.
How you will teach them how to do it.
And how you will have them put what they learned to use.

Next, think about execution—classroom management, instruction-giving and actual presentation. What are you doing while actually teaching, are you just reading off the page or are you actually pay attention to what the students are doing? And, during each lesson, always have a notebook either on hand or in your mind where you note things that you can do differently to improve the execution of your next lesson.

There's more to know and consider,  but I think following these principles will help you improve your teaching vastly more than just "oh be more outgoing" or "do more interesting games".

And finally, right now you're a teacher. So putting in the work to understand and practice teaching methodology, especially CELTA or TESOL or TEFL teaching should not be a trite consideration but something you should actively do.

If only so teaching becomes an active experience to get better at it and not a passive one to suffer through.
« Last Edit: April 05, 2018, 09:08:58 pm by Sautee »


Re: How can I be a fun teacher?
« Reply #29 on: September 15, 2020, 09:10:24 am »
I think another factor is age. If you are 40 and up it can be hard to relate to them, sometimes even if you are mid thirties. Your energy level has a lot to do with this. If your energy is low and you are soft spoken then they will be bored. You need to be loud and you need to get their attention. You get what you put into it. If you are high level energy and entertaining then the students will like you. If you are timid, shy, and boring then they will dislike you. I had this problem for a while according to some people and these days I try a lot harder and the students appreciate me more. I think even if you are older you can still do a good job if you adjust your style.

Just adding my two cents...

The idea that you have to be a clown to teach kids is not right. It can help to be animated and entertaining, but if you don't know how to teach then it doesn't matter. Being a clown is usually nothing more than a cover for bad teaching.

If you're an introvert it can still work. You just got to balance your talk time and theirs and they should be talking most of the time. If you get good at using games and activities to practice the content in your lesson you don't have to be a high energy goof ball.
Who is ESLinsider?


  • Liechtenstein
  • Hero of Waygookistan

    • 1947

    • February 15, 2019, 04:39:00 pm
    • NE Hemisphere
Re: How can I be a fun teacher?
« Reply #30 on: September 17, 2020, 03:52:00 pm »
After several years in Korea, some time in China and many years in SE Asia, I am still boggled at how profoundly immature Korean students are regardless of their age. Adults too, for that matter.


Re: How can I be a fun teacher?
« Reply #31 on: November 11, 2020, 10:36:05 pm »
After several years in Korea, some time in China and many years in SE Asia, I am still boggled at how profoundly immature Korean students are regardless of their age. Adults too, for that matter.
I have to agree on some of the students. I certainly don't recall playing games the entire time when I was in grade school, but it seems like the expectation here


  • VanIslander
  • Fanatical Supporter!

    • 4422

    • June 02, 2011, 10:12:19 am
    • South Gyeongsang province for 13 years (with a 7-year Jeju interlude)
    more
Re: How can I be a fun teacher?
« Reply #32 on: November 12, 2020, 02:04:06 am »
I think another factor is age. If you are 40 and up it can be hard to relate to them, sometimes even if you are mid thirties. Your energy level has a lot to do with this. If your energy is low and you are soft spoken then they will be bored. You need to be loud and you need to get their attention. You get what you put into it. If you are high level energy and entertaining then the students will like you. If you are timid, shy, and boring then they will dislike you.
B.S. on the age but Word on the energy!

I am 51 and in my 18 years here I have never been pegged by students as older than 36. :)

I am LIT every minute of every class. Every minute. Don't waste time is my mantra. I am in the same mindset i was in when playing a lead on stage in a.high school play. I am ON from :00 until :58. I hustle to erase the board and guzzle cold tea or water before the next class. The fav part of my day is classtime. If i am sick i don't feel it until the last class has ended (or - horror - those months when a one-hour gap is in my schedule. I prefer rockin' 4-8 pm every week day. I am here for that!

How can one be a fun teacher?

1. Don't try to be "fun". BE ENGAGING. I want to say be challenging but 1 or 2 of every 20 classes has more than one sluggard who's nonresponsive to it (no, not even 10%, but a few every week. Let's not excuse our lacklustre slacking teaching effort - gawd how many hagwon teachers start classes late, have few rules, don't seem to care about attendance, effort or demeanor.)

2. CARE. That's it. Care whether your kids arrive on time. Ask them not to be late next time. Ride the receptionist to phone and see why they aren't in class when it's classtime. Do it all with an eager smile!

3. BE NICE. No hats, no gum, chairs down, no heads on desk. Help each other. Let's go!

4. It's English time. LET'S SPEAK ENGLISH NOW. Of the four or five times a year i have to send a student to the hallway, it's usually for refusing to stop chatting in Korean despite a warning. Strong warning. And "Yellow card" (i pantomime pulling it out of my shirt and look totally serious).  Three strikes and you are out. My diligence on this results in few problems for most classes a year. Classroom management is about what they can get away with.

5. REWARD "GOOD JOB." I am constantly seeking to encourge positive energy. I even remove my mask for two seconds to simply smile! I give little candies or chocolates at the end of the class 1 to 3 times every 4 to 5 classes (they line up, according sometimes to their performance, sometimes randomly).

6. BE ENGAGING. (Bears repeating.) If you are bored, they certainly will be! Don't waste a single minute of classtime. Half of my 90-minute daily prep is ensuring i have extra tasks (often review material or re-enforcing foundational stuff) for the quicker students to do while i help the slower ones.

My students like my class. They smile when they come in. I only try to be "fun" once every two months (i call it "Game Day" but it's really challenging pair or group work with nice yummies, better/bigger for winners).

The only exception: VERY LOW LEVEL MIDDLE SCHOOLERS (I mean, the 2-4 out of 100+ who are teenagers who can't spell "house" or answer "How are you?". Some years i have none of these. This year i have three. They just wanna shut down. They really should be in their own class away from others whose levels are higher - but such is life here).
Help others, especially animals. Say what you think, be considerate of others. Appreciate more than deprecate. Teach well, jump on teachable moments. Enjoy Korea as it is, without changing it. Dwell! Yet, at times, change your life for the better. "The most important [thing] is to have a good day."


  • 303lmc
  • Super Waygook

    • 273

    • March 05, 2019, 05:23:12 pm
    • Gwangju
Re: How can I be a fun teacher?
« Reply #33 on: November 12, 2020, 07:52:04 am »
B.S. on the age but Word on the energy!

I am 51 and in my 18 years here I have never been pegged by students as older than 36. :)

thank you for calling BS on the age thing. I mean, REALLY?? I can't wait for the person who said that to find themselves in their 40's, because it does sneak up on you, and realize that you aren't "old"


  • VanIslander
  • Fanatical Supporter!

    • 4422

    • June 02, 2011, 10:12:19 am
    • South Gyeongsang province for 13 years (with a 7-year Jeju interlude)
    more
Re: How can I be a fun teacher?
« Reply #34 on: November 12, 2020, 01:53:53 pm »
The afterschool academy (300+ students, considered #1 hagwon in Seogwipo) i worked for hired a 71-year-old retired public school teacher when they already had quickly hired her 40-something son. She went on to have an awesome energetic year. He was a lazy slob.

Age is just a number when it comes to teaching energy!
Help others, especially animals. Say what you think, be considerate of others. Appreciate more than deprecate. Teach well, jump on teachable moments. Enjoy Korea as it is, without changing it. Dwell! Yet, at times, change your life for the better. "The most important [thing] is to have a good day."


  • chimp
  • Super Waygook

    • 335

    • April 19, 2015, 05:16:31 am
    • Zoo
Re: How can I be a fun teacher?
« Reply #35 on: November 14, 2020, 12:58:24 pm »
Jesus H. Christ that sounds insufferable.

Anyone else used to prefer knowledgeable and dignified teachers when they were going through the education system?
oo oo ahh ahh


  • hangook77
  • Waygook Lord

    • 6036

    • September 14, 2017, 09:10:12 am
    • Near Busan
Re: How can I be a fun teacher?
« Reply #36 on: November 17, 2020, 12:58:48 pm »
In my experience, the kids always miss me when I get sent to another school.  The schools (admins, vps and some teachers) always miss the last teacher more than me. Weird.  Those teachers were kind of quiet and serious types though.  Being their buddy for the day, joking around with them, having a fun game to play in class, high fiving in non covid era in the hallway, lunchtime, whenever all work for me.  But you can't make your personality be something that you're not.  A quiet timid person just won't be that way.  Also, a serious uptight old fashioned conservative person won't be that way either (and I am not talking politics as I know some guys with liberal political views who become very conservative, uptight, and old fashioned when they put the teacher's hat on .  IE.  Call me Mr. Smith instead of Bob.  Get angry at the slightest noise in class, etc.). 


  • hangook77
  • Waygook Lord

    • 6036

    • September 14, 2017, 09:10:12 am
    • Near Busan
Re: How can I be a fun teacher?
« Reply #37 on: November 18, 2020, 11:52:31 am »
In much of east Asia ESL, you need to be the 'fun' teacher and partly for show.  That's just the way it is.  Any trained teacher who was a public school teacher back home is going to get frustrated by Korean educational culture fast.  They either get mad and frustrated and burn out fast or they adapt and accept many 'strange' things and stay.  You can't grade the kids, give them punishment, call their parents, etc.  Some Korean teachers will enforce control and some won't.

If you want real teaching as you know it in the west, teach back home or get a job at an international school.  A few strict traditional minded schools may appreciate you being strict and acting like a traditional teacher.  But many more liberal minded schools won't want you to be strict and just want you to be a fun teacher.  If your classes aren't fun and games, in most schools, Korean teachers will complain, especially if the kids complain and then the parents complain.  Many parents call the school and education office to complain about schools and teachers, especially other Korean teachers.  That steriotype in most East Asian ESL is for the foreign teacher to be the fun teacher whether you like it or not.  As I said, if you want to be a serious teacher, then go home and teach, you will be much happier. 

Here, be fun teacher, be their buddy for the day at school, ask them questions about what they like (favorite singers, favorite games IE Overwatch, etc)  THis doesn't mean being a slacker.  You still have to make classes and fun games.  Kids will tell their parents, homeroom teachers, etc that they liked your games and had fun in your class.  Over the past two years, I have probably been one of the major contributors here and also making for my own classes fun games and activities to re enforce the text book lessons.  Doing only the book is boring, many games in the book are not fun (though some are).  The Korean teachers have the advantage of going to their websites and downloading their own ppt games and other activities.  Some will share with you, but many will want to keep it for their classes and want you to do your own material. 

So, even being fun teacher, still means being busy and preparing and always scouring for future lessons and potential extra classes that could come your way.  Sometimes you find a website with lots of grammar lessons.  I had an exam day in Middle School no classes.  So, I spent hours downloading and saving along with short stories and writing.  I have in elementary, scanned many children books saved them on ppt and made some games.  (I am always prepared when asked to do a legal night middle school class, an elementary English camp, etc.)  There are many things that keep me busy all the time in spite of being 'fun' teacher and part time day time 'buddy' with the kids.  Kids go to the parents, homeroom teachers, principal, and say how much fun they have with me.  Schools keep wanting me to stay.  In 2020 90 to 95% of schools follow this pattern.  A small number can be very strict and old fashioned and want you to be a tight ass rather than fun teacher.  Use to be more prevalent 10 to 15 years ago when parents would accept strict schools.  Now most don't except perhaps a school with lots of rich parents and even then not all are like that at all. 

I've been at this a long time.  Longer than I originally wanted to be.  But luckily kids get along well with me.  Many native teachers don't like kids that much and stay and keep doing it.  If I didn't like meeting the kids, I'd be gone.  I've never been one to do something I hate for very long.  Anyways, just be fun teacher, you can use the templates I uploaded here for now. 

The books will change in a couple of years again.  I am not sure if I will continue to stay or do this.  So, some of you may have to take my ppts and carry them over to the new books and modify them to similar expressions. 


So more hard work then.  Just keep being fun teacher.  Most of the kids are complaining to parents because they want a fun game or activity in class and possibly a fun teacher to ask them a few questions.  Show some interest in them and what they like.  ESL in East Asia, as I keep saying is a different game than being a teacher back home with responsibility.  If you don't like it, don't keep teaching here. 


Re: How can I be a fun teacher?
« Reply #38 on: December 03, 2020, 08:30:18 pm »
In my experience, the kids always miss me when I get sent to another school.  The schools (admins, vps and some teachers) always miss the last teacher more than me. Weird.  Those teachers were kind of quiet and serious types though.  Being their buddy for the day, joking around with them, having a fun game to play in class, high fiving in non covid era in the hallway, lunchtime, whenever all work for me.  But you can't make your personality be something that you're not.  A quiet timid person just won't be that way.  Also, a serious uptight old fashioned conservative person won't be that way either (and I am not talking politics as I know some guys with liberal political views who become very conservative, uptight, and old fashioned when they put the teacher's hat on .  IE.  Call me Mr. Smith instead of Bob.  Get angry at the slightest noise in class, etc.).
Yeah it's hard to be someone you're not. I'm naturally cool and relaxed and approachable. I think first graders like that a lot, and older kids as well. But on the other hand classes with behavior problems are a big challenge for me as I'm not a natural disciplinarian


  • fishead
  • Hero of Waygookistan

    • 1165

    • April 23, 2010, 07:58:05 am
    • Yangju Korea
Re: How can I be a fun teacher?
« Reply #39 on: March 20, 2023, 07:09:29 am »
 Go into Youtube and check out videos of Isaac Dursk. As far as " fun energetic teacher" are concerned this is how they judge foreign teachers.