Public school

I was recently asked to give a short presentation on my experience teaching at a Korean elementary school. I have been wanting to make more videos in and about my school, so this was the perfect opportunity! I asked two of my best students – Gaeun and Jiyeon – if they would help me out and give a tour of our school in English. They highlighted several things they thought were unique about our school, but I do want to point out that these differences are not across the board generalizations. Rather, they are differences between my current school in Korea and what I remember from elementary school in America (which was a long time ago!).

This is the 2nd post in a 5-part series about how to make your EPIK job awesome! This one is really important. Doing your research into the culture before you come is vital to managing your expectations about the life you will have at your school. In general, but especially in regards to your job, it is important to be prepared for the unexpected. While in most situations there’s nothing you can do but accept it, there are a few tips I have to share that may alleviate some of the stress caused by last minute situations that can occur in your school.

This is my 3rd year of teaching public school – at the same school! I’ve loved my school from Day 1 and I feel so so so amazingly lucky to work here. You hear horror stories about public schools too, not just hagwons, so I basically won the Korean job lottery! Working at the same school has also given me the opportunity to observe and learn a lot more about the way Korean schools are run. Now that I’ve been at this school longer than many of my coworkers, I’ve also been able to compare how teachers treated me in my first year when I had no idea what I was doing, to now, as someone that can converse with them in Korean or English and adheres to Korean manners. This makes new teachers feel comfortable around me, and they see me as another respected staff member and not just “the foreigner”. This is so important in how you feel about your job and your time spent in Korea. I know it has made all the difference to me.

Recently I was contacted by Rich Gedney of Travel Auteurs on YouTube about a new project of his.  Rich had asked if he could interview me on Blog Talk Radio about my life teaching English in Korea as an expat.

Travel Auteurs is a new project where YouTubers from around the world are interviewed about their lives relating to filmmaking for their respective channels.

Well, the semester is over!  That includes English camp which lasts 2 weeks after the semester close.  This means I get to do the beloved "desk warming" detail.  That means I sit in my chair all day and keep it warm!

Shyuh, what else would it mean?

Aaaand since so many of you are dying to know what a Korean public school is like, I decided to make a little tour video for your curious viewing pleasure.  So here it is.  Please excuse the face warping that happens.  I used the YouTube video stabilizing tool and it did funny things to my head.  For the rest of the video though, it really worked well.  The original RAW footage was very shaky.

Here's to warm desks!