senator wrote:
> To MedellinHeel
>
> No, don't change my words. I mean "able to control classrooms".
>
> And don't think that because you have kids who just try to get by that that
> means you have some big classroom crisis. That's an easy thing to handle.
>
> But I would agree with you that at some rotten places - these are not
> schools - teachers choose to put up with it. BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO. And
> you, who are not in their league, have no right to judge them or even
> comment on them in any way.
>
> So stay in Korea and be happy you have minor things to deal with.

So explain to me how one is to easily handle (control) such a class like I mentioned?

No one is forcing anyone to work anywhere. At least not that I am aware of. Now, if you mean they might not have a better option and choose to put up with it, then yea, I would agree that might be the case. While some teachers do not even care and are only there for a paycheck.

I am not condemning them. You have to do what you have to do. Personally, even if I was in their shoes and also chose to tough it out, I wouldnt feel good about it. I would feel like I was compromising principle. I have left the school everyday for the past week not feeling good about myself and the situation. Id be embarrassed for someone to view me in my 1st class tbt.

Lol at teachers that only observe circuses and zoos everyday being out of anyone's league in regards to teaching. Calling that teaching is quite the stretch. I pity teachers in these situations. Not a lot of teaching or learning is taking place in those classrooms. Tough environment. One has to be insanely patient and care free to make it through each day without quitting or getting fired.

I do not blame the teachers for this. This is primarily the education system's doing. They cater to the bad kids and worry about appearance. When all they should be worried about is fostering controlled highly engaged classrooms that facilitate learning.

If a student can not refrain from disrupting the class they need to be thrown into ISS, everyday if need be. But no, cant do that. Flipping joke.

hadrosaur wrote:
> Thanks for your response.
> Of course I will be looking at other options as well but this post was made
> to find out more information about Seoul and the schools there. Thanks
> again for your advice.

Just checking lol You would be surprised at some people's plans or expectations.

I imagine it wouldnt be easy to just target one city and expect to land a job there. Might want to cast your net a bit wider imo.

@senator

"must be able to control classrooms"

I would probably change that with "must be able to deal with out of control classes".

Some kids / classes you just can't control. Parents dont do anything. Kids already been suspended, got in school suspension, after school dentition, silent lunch, parent meetings, trips to admin offense, etc etc. None of it works.

You will see this much more in the US I presume. I actually think controlling the classroom and general classroom management comes more into play abroad. For example, I have been in Korea past 3 years and those kids will do what ever they can get by with. However, if you are strict and consistent with discipline they shap'en up. Where as the class I am in now in the US, doesnt matter how much classroom management or procedures you have. The kids just wont listen and do not care.

I have conflicting opinions on teachers that deal with these types of situations.

1) I admire their patience and ability to persevere.

2) On the other hand, I frown upon teachers that let kids control the classroom and create chaos. To clarify, when I say "let" I mean put up with it. Personally, id quite. No way in hell im wasting my time in a classroom that is a circus with disrespect left and right. In which no real learning is taking place. Basically, I am just in there telling kids to stop xyz the entire time.

Seems to me cell phones shouldnt be a problem. If a teacher sees it in class give a warning to the class. Next one you see take it and give it back after class.

Yea, I am doing TeacherReady.

I recently returned to the US to finish up my alternative certification program. I was placed in a low income mostly minority school to do my student teaching. It is a bloody circus in my mentor teacher's class. She is constantly having to tell students to stop talking, stay in their seat, etc. They don't listen to her and laugh when you try to discipline them. If a kid gets crazy crazy bad I have seen her send them to the administration. But for the most part she is content with just repeating herself a thousand times during class I presume. For reference, my only experience has been mostly ESL work and some student teaching in Korea. The kids at the IS's were behaved. As for the kids at the language academies, they can be unruly if you let them, but usually if you are stern, consistent, and discipline them they will shape up.

Thank God I only have to teach this teacher's class for a week. I have no clue how people can work at schools like this.

I think the main problem with education is schools are not committed to having controlled, engaged, high learning classrooms. It is frowned upon to send kids to admin, iss, after school detention, and suspension. If a kid is incapable of not disrupting the class, they should be removed from the classroom and school. The hell with hurt feelings and any other bs reasons to try and accommodate these types of students.

I do not imagine this is as big of an issue in the IS scene as that is a different type of demographic. But I am sure there are some outliers.

What has been your experience and opinion with this?

HK is known as one of the highest paid cities in the world. Needless to say, I am sure you would be able to save more in HK than in the UK. You would just need to double check whether the school provides housing or a housing allowance and cross reference that with apartment costs in the city.

As for getting a job there. Seems to me targeting only one city puts you at a disadvantage out the gate. Not to mention you not having much experience.

Is it possible for you to get a job in HK? Sure

Will you get a job in HK? I wouldnt bank on it.

If I where you, I would cast my net a bit wider. At the very least you need to be open to other schools in China and the surrounding region. Will increase your chances of landing a job and getting out of the UK.

I am curious how the secondary math works in places like East Asia when the kids are so more advanced than your typical Western kid / curriculum. Do schools teach the same curriculum and most all the kids ace it with a breeze?

Could someone describe the secondary math curriculum for me in those places? Classes / books etc.

Thanks

It all depends on your goals, needs, and lifestyle preference.

If you are wanting to drop a lot of money on X investment as your main goal then pay would obviously be more important.

If you have no goals requiring a lot of money and you lived a simple life then location might be more important.

All depends.

Things like age, whether you have a family or not, etc all come into play.

25 year old single guy, no debt - hell yea I am going to Bangkok on what ever pay I can find.

35 year old guy, with a family - i am looking to find a place that pays well

Mr DepTrai wrote:
> Or, if you have real degrees, get a college adjunct position. I make $35hr
> teaching college classes. NO whiney kids, NO bullsh*t from admin and
> parents.

I will only be in Saigon for about 6 months. Will probably just look for a part time job for some extra play money.

Mainly just looking to hangout and relax.

I would not want to live in PP with a family or as a single guy. (Assuming I had other half way decent options).

PP is quite behind when it comes to infrastructure and development. Even as a capital it still feels like a dusty little backwards town.

I did a Southeast Asia tour last year and I was ready to get out of PP after one day lol.

But it is cheap and offers good traveling options in the region.

@Nikkor

Haven't been to China, but to be honest I do not need much to be contempt or happy in a locale assuming it has basic necessities. For me to be happy all I need is one good friend and a workable pool of women to date.

I have traveled around most of SEA having lived in Asia the past 2-3 years. I am wanting to spend these next 2 years working towards starting a family or atleast getting a serious relationship. I am nearly 30 and while all the partying and inhibition have been great, its time to work on settling down and moving on to the next chapter.

Vietnam is ideal for this. Hence why I am also interested in South China, as it is a stones throw away.

But at the end of the day I gotta take the best job / opportunity that comes my way.

@PG

Yea, screw Elementary Ed and even the Lower Secondary General Science licenses. I am just gonna spend next year studying and return to the US next November and take the 6-12 Mathematics and 6-12 Chemistry license exams. I will probably still apply this winter for a Middle Grades Math job just to see if I get lucky, but will just plan on entering the IS arena Fall 17 with much better certs.

Why does this forum not have a big sticky at the top with "What are my chances?" lol This question gets asked so many times.

Pretty much anyone has a chance. Someone correct me if I am wrong, but I think there are some very low tier schools that hire people without even a teaching license.

Pretty much the more experience, responsibilities, and connections you have/had the better. I assume the top candidates get the best jobs and on down the list.

Also helps to not have a ton of dependents. Single or married to another teacher is best.

If you are a decent candidate i.e. licensed with little to no dependents (this goes for newbs also) so long as you are not picky about location and school you have a pretty good shot at getting a IS job. This is assuming you are exhausting ALL job search options.

With regards to Thailand, pretty much any IS is gonna provide a more than enough salary to live off of. Thailand is one of the cheapest countries in the world. Large plate of food at a nice mall in Bangkok costs like 1-2 dollars. Cheap housing and public transport also.

To be honest I am kind of not even wanting to get a IS job this August. That would mean no 6 month vacation in SEA. If I am gonna take the High School Math license exam next November then it would be kind of a waste to take the Elem. and Middle School Science license exams right now.

@Psy

Not sure why I didn't think of middle grade general science. That would be better than SS definitely.

I have zero familiarity with computer science so that is probably not a good route to take given my short timeline her in the states. I need something that only requires a small amount of study and background knowledge to pass.

I am not understanding your comment about the primary edu. While it is the most common, it also will have the most vacancies. I know newb primary edu teachers who got jobs with zero experience. Most recent one got a job in Shanghai. There are probably low tier schools but for my first gig I won't be picky in the slightest. Easy test to pass that just gives me one more option when job searching. Cant hurt.

So I think for the 1-2 months I am still here in the states I will

1) knock out the last assignment of TeacherReady
2) get primary edu certificate
3) get the middle grades general science certificate

Then when I get to Korea in January start studying for the 9-12 math certificate.

Edit* Just looked at the General Science test info. Lots of info to learn fml good thing you don't need a high score to pass