TESOL Class: I loved the class, Brian made the 5-day class feel like a breeze and he has such a BIG personality the time went by very quickly. It did not feel like he was lecturing at us, rather, it felt like he was speaking from experience which definitely put me at ease and it felt like I was just having a good time (while learning of course). I liked that we all had to do presentations in front of the class. Yes at first it was like NOOOOOO but if you want to teach obviously you’re going to have to get used to presenting to complete strangers. It was fun seeing everyone’s unique teaching styles!!! Actually, I have used certain teaching styles I saw in those classes and I have incorporated them into my actual English classrooms, every little bit helps trust me.
What Would You Change About the Class? I wish we had spent more time putting together cohesive lesson plans. Now that I’m out here and I must plan my own lessons I find myself getting frustrated or lost in the process of what to teach and how to teach it. Yes we are given textbooks to follow, but the textbooks are of no use to me as it is mostly written in Korean and the parts that are in English are not good teaching materials.
Job Placement: How was the staff? So after I finished class I had the pleasure of working with Christina Schoneau I cannot
say one bad thing about her she was awesome!!!! She was patient, sweet, enthusiastic, knowledgeable, responsive, reliable did I say patient. It was nice because we actually took the TESOL class together so she was able to speak on my behalf and knew the skill level I was performing at which helped when editing the resume process.
Did you find resume and cover letter editing helpful? This is something I have always had a hard time constructing on my own let alone writing one for a job overseas, Christina helped me develop a cohesive resume. I would say specific points about myself and she would develop those ideas into strong bullet points. She made me sound really good on paper!!! Something I have always lacked at doing, I can speak on my behalf but putting those in words… not so much.
Were you placed in your country of choice? Yes I was. Word of advice though, trust the country Bryan tells you to go to, why? Because more than likely he knows best! I didn’t listen---so that’s all I will say.
Teaching Abroad
Where were you placed? What age group? I was placed in Ansan, South Korea. When I first came to Korea I taught the entire school K-6th grade, the teachers and the parents. Now I only teach 3rd-6th grade.
Describe your experience abroad: This experience I can’t really put into words, it’s one of those things you have to experience on your own to understand the full aspect it all. This isn’t a vacation this is actual work and kids are involved. The experience is more than just teaching English there are cultural differences that make the experience what it is.
What advice would you give to first time ESL teachers? I have three key points- Go with a very open mind; don’t listen to others because everyone’s experience is as diverse as can be. Write down why you decided to leave America because there will be days you will want to pack up your things and GO! It’s ok to feel scared and worried about leaving the US, but don’t let that fear hinder you from experiencing this wonderful world we live in!
