First let me start by saying when I first started teaching abroad, I was NOT a teacher. I was not motivated to move across the ocean to inspire kids. I wanted to be a teacher because it was the only opportunity for me to explore the world on a shoestring. I had no money and a whole lot of debt... how else was I going to get anywhere?
Now that you know my altruistic intentions, you are probably guessing that my classroom was a joke.
It was.
The kids walked all over me. My classes were awful.
Not wanting to fail, I started trying to learn how I could be more effective. These same kids were learning in other classrooms and they were behaving too... how could I change the world and become a decent teacher...
I did just that, I changed. I became their teacher not their friend. I prepared for my lessons and created goals and outcomes that were realistic for my classes. I wasn't consumed with the desire to be funny all the time and always have my kids smiling. They are there to learn - be their teacher.
Good luck in your classroom. My kids are great. They were awful to begin with but what else could I expect, they didn't have a leader in the classroom. Be a leader, be their teacher.
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“I had been teaching ESL in Europe and Asia for four years when I contacted Footprints. Before I found Footprints, I was independently searching for a position in Seoul and I was extremely hesitant to pursue any of the contracts that I was offered. The schools and other recruiting firms that I came into contact with were offering contracts with suspicious clauses and inadequate housing. I knew that Ben and Jeff ran a professional service as soon as I spoke to them on the phone. I have since completed my one year contract in Seoul and can honestly say that everything went well from beginning to end. Although Korea is not always the easiest place to live, Footprints makes the transition so much smoother. Footprints is upfront, honest and dependable. I would highly recommend their service for anyone considering teaching abroad and would not hesitate to re-sign with Footprints in the future.”
