Category: TEACHERS ABROAD BLOG

As another year in Korea approaches, I have begun to reflect on the differences I am faced with and changes I have made during my time as an EPIK teacher in South Korea.

An English camp in Korea is set up for students to attend during the summer months when they have more free time from their regular schools. Not all EPIK teachers are asked to teach in one of these but I was and I loved it.

Being adaptable in Korea is essential. When I first moved here, I was really nervous about making new friends. I lived in the smallest state in America, Rhode Island. Moving halfway across the world with just my husband was not only adventurous but nerve racking at the same time.

Oral English classes can be challenging for some newer English learners. A lot of the time, students will learn how to read, write, and use grammar correctly but may skip on the speaking and listening.

Support for ESL teachers thinking of going away to teach English in a new country is vital to helping a person make that big step into this grand new adventure. So who was there to help me? and how can I do my bit to help others?

Your first ESL class is always an important one. Even if you have a set lesson plan prepared for you by your school, giving your first ESL lesson can be a daunting task. Your first lesson makes a big impression on your students, establishes your teaching style, and sets the tone for the year.

Positive reinforcement quickly became the most preferred method of classroom management for ESL teachers, mainly because it works so well. But there are a variety of different teaching styles that stem from teachers’ backgrounds, personalities, and experiences.

School variety is something I am used to, I was first informed I would be teaching at two schools in Daejeon the last day of my EPIK orientation. I was excited because I would have a split schedule and experience in a number of different school settings.