Company: Canadian Education Centre Network Cultural & Language Institute Korea
Position: ESL teacher
Employed: 2004-2005
Where did you go to school? What program did you attend?
I attended Brock University and completed a degree in ancient history and then furthered my education at Medaille College completing a degree in education. I have been interested in teaching since I was in high school.
What drew you to your current field?
I never really considered working as an ESL teacher until I finished university. I heard some fellow students talking about teaching overseas but they never really followed through with it. I thought it would be a great idea to look on the Internet to see what I could find in the ESL teaching field.
How did you find your current position?
I came across many websites that had positions all over the world but the best one was the CECN at teachingoverseas.ca. Be careful of the company you choose - there are many that are not as helpful. Find the best company that is the most informative, not the company with the fancy web page. It is a great company to work for because all of the people are Canadians, as is the Director. I found it a big help being in a foreign country and not being able to speak the language. Both the Canadian and Korean administration are a big help to the teachers at the school in every possible way.
Tell us a bit about your responsibilities.
I teach elementary school students in the afternoon and adult classes in the evenings. I prepare my lessons for them in advance, based on the needs of the classroom. In addition to regular teaching I also participate in the many extra-curricular activities the school organizes to make the experience at the CLI an 'authentically Canadian' one for the students.
How do you feel your job makes a difference?
I think teaching is one of the most rewarding jobs. It is most rewarding when a student of yours, whether an adult or child, understands you as a teacher and leaves your class with plenty of fulfillment. The best motivation is to love your job. If you do not love your job and the people you work with, it will make your job very difficult. It also motivates me to know I am going to teach people and enjoy every minute of it. The thing that made me smile everyday was that the children were always smiling and happy to see me, although they did not want to learn - as most young children do, they would rather play. It was a nice feeling to walk into a classroom and have the children greet me with a smile. This is what makes the job rewarding.
What skills have you learned through your work experience?
The best skill I've learned is patience. When teaching a foreign language to people it can be difficult because they are not at your level of speaking. If you have no patience it will make teaching frustrating for you, which may result in loss of classroom control. Whatever problem you may encounter while teaching, always remain calm and everything will come together.
Is there one accomplishment you are particularly proud of?
I am glad I came to Korea to teach English. Not only do you get to teach but you get to experience a new culture, travel throughout various countries while making local and Canadian friends. I would recommend this job to anybody ÔÇô it is an experience of a lifetime and one you will never forget.
What are your future career aspirations?
To go back to Canada and obtain a job in the teaching field. jp
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