A Venture in Teaching KLEL

teach english

From my tattered jeans and shirt and rubber slippers, I slipped into a blouse, a decent pair of jeans and sandals for my first day of work. Once entering the room, I arranged the books that I was going to use for the three-hour class. I set-up the cassette player and looked around the room of the 12 year-old-kid who was staring blankly at me. I didn’t know if she were sleepy or uninterested. All I knew was if I messed up with the class, I would surely lose the five-thousand-per-month paying job that I just recently had. That was the first time I taught a Korean student. I can still remember her face and her English name, Candy, and I can still remember how we played with her game board the whole three hours.

Well, so much for first impressions.

When Koreans come here, they usually have four options in learning English. First is by hiring a personal tutor who could teach them in the comforts of their homes. Second is by enrolling in a language center with trained ESL teachers and a bulk of ESL Materials. Third is by enrolling in a school in the Philippines, preferably private schools that specializes in using the English language as the medium of instruction. Third is by mingling with the people – socializing with Filipinos would require Koreans to use the English language in order to be understood, thus giving Koreans an avenue to practice the English language.

Most Koreans go for the first option especially if they are on a tight budget and they do not like going out to go to schools. However, if they don’t get satisfied with home tutors, they enroll in language centers. Those who will be staying for years in the Philippines, they usually choose the third option. The last option is for those people who do not have the time to go to language centers and are too tired (or lazy) to go back to studying.

Among the three options, the most difficult is the second option. NO, it is not difficult for the Korean students. Rather, it is difficult for the people employed in the language centers.

It is difficult because language schools specialize in ESL and guarantee results. If students are not satisfied, they demand and Koreans are very good in demanding. Not that I am trying to make a black propaganda against them (yes, most of them are difficult to deal with but I should not also forget that it is because of them that I am employed) but it is actually true – the same for any paying customers who spend money for results that were promised to them.

Korean students are also very particular with the consistency of teachers. They usually prefer studying with the same teachers until they go back to Korea. It takes time for them to adjust so constant absences or even tardiness are greatly discouraged. But maintaining a flawless record gives a very good impression on your Korean students, and usually when they go home they never miss showing their gratitude.

Aside from this, the culture difference also becomes a factor. In teaching Koreans, we actually tell teachers not to tell their students their age. Seniority is a big issue for them and somebody younger teaching somebody older is not a common scenario in their country. The old holds wisdom and disposes it to the young. Seeing it the other way around is a little bit difficult to swallow.

Another thing that teachers should know is that Korean children are really cute but can also be very easy to hate. The cuter they get, the meaner they are. They have this uncanny way of pushing you to your boiling point. I experienced during my teaching years teaching a six year old kid who showed me the middle finger because he doesn’t want to sing the nursery rhyme we were practicing as part of our class activity. The next day, he learned the F word and was so amused by it that he uttered it over and over again until our two-hour class finished. Some students would even curse you in Korean while smiling at you so it would also help if you try to memorize some Korean cuss word. If it helps in your feat in memorizing, there are actually around 2,000 Korean cuss words.

Koreans are also very particular with the teacher’s pronunciation. Even if they know that you are in the Philippines, you need to have the American twang. Funny really because no matter how good you are in grammar, if you do not have the American twang, then it’s useless. However, exceptional knowledge of the English grammar is also a must for teachers. You will be surprised to encounter a student who could barely speak an English sentence properly but could ace grammar tests easily. Yet, being good in grammar is not enough – you should also be able to scrutinize which grammar topics are important in helping them make good sentences. Because even if grammar is important Koreans hate learning grammar. It is actually not common for students to request grammar classes. Either they request for a conversation class with a native English speaker or any class with a native English speaker.

The Korean fashion is also very contagious. I get to see teachers transform from wearing good, old, plain working clothes to straight-from-a-Korean-fashion-magazine outfit. I guess it’s their way of acculturization – if you don’t understand the way they think, at least try to even out with the clothing.

The Korean food is also fascinating. The first time I smelled Kimchi, I immediately made a promise that I would not dare eat the food. But now, I actually look forward to being invited by a student to eat out for dinner. Talking about food and being invited to eat out with a Korean student, be sure to prepare your stomach for a very foreign taste. If it helps, try to order sam gyeop sal or kimbop. Also practice eating spices and herbs alone. Koreans love feasting on them – grilled, boiled or even raw.

The list of these must-knows still goes on. But as with any other experiences, nothing will really prepare you to teach Koreans. Just learn from the experience because it will train you in future endeavors.

Sometimes I also wonder why the job of teaching Koreans does not receive a high regard in our society. It is equally challenging as with teaching in the formative learning institutions. The job does not just require you to teach people to use the English language, it also imparts a view of what Korean culture is.