::A Geek in Korea::

Today was  the last day I’ll see my advanced students before the regular term begins sometime next week. We had an hour to kill because I had spaced out the material perfectly, but had scheduled time for a test that I didn’t have time to make (I arrived early to school, but the doors were locked. Totally not my fault.) Instead, I had a “debate” topic.

We chose the issue, “Is money the most important factor when choosing a job?” A lot of the students, when asked about their future plans in previous classes, expressed a desire to be filthy rich, or dictator of the world, if given the option. So, would they choose money above all else?

After going around the class, we made a list of things the students valued when choosing a job.

• Money got two votes.
• Following their dreams got a vote.
• Work Conditions got one vote.
• Safety got one vote.
• Helping society in a positive way got one vote.
• Having free time got one vote.
• Providing a comfortable retirement got one vote.
• Allowing for lots of sleep on the job got one vote. (Future Korean Apartment Security Guard.)

The students had never worked a job before, so I offered them some of my personal experiences when choosing jobs. I told them which of the factors they listed were on my list when I decided to choose renew my contract and continue teaching at their school.

I told them that while money was factor in choosing my job, the things that kept me working were working conditions, and helping society. I said that my job pays me comfortably, of course, and that since that wasn’t an issue at any of the other places I’d have chosen, I didn’t consider that the most important factor.

I told them that the most important factors were working conditions. I told them that when I was renewing my contract last year I was struggling at work because I had a fallout with one of the Korean teachers months before I was supposed to resign and I didn’t want to continue working with her. The students had no idea what I was talking about. I told them that one of the Korean teachers had refused to speak to me for several months straight because she was upset I had borrowed a book to make a test for a class.

They were HOWLING in laughter at the absurdity of a 3 month long teacher’s rift caused by borrowing a book. They had no idea that there was any sort of problem between us. I didn’t elaborate on anything other than that we didn’t get along, and that I was very happy to see her leave after I resigned my contract.

They didn’t say anything, but I think they were happy I stuck around while that lady left. She’s the one teacher that never had any middle school or adult students hanging around her desk chatting. I made sure to clear up that there were no more serious teaching problems at the school, and that everyone got along really well now that a certain teacher had left.

I also told them that if teaching English ever got to the point where it was doing more harm to students than help, I’d probably quit. I’m not talking theoretical post-modern “Teaching English is cultural warfare and indoctrination into international business enslavement” bullshit, but more how it directly impacts students lives. I teach several classes that can be test driven, but if my students never can enjoy the English they learn because they have to study for ridiculous tests, I’ll probably stop enjoying the classes too.

I love to teach because seeing someone’s eyes light up in excitement when they finally “get it” is awesome. If all I did was memorize things and have them spit it about out for an hour, I’d grow bored and move on. This is why I’d rather teach at a school that isn’t into sadism by assigning an unimaginable amount of work to students, then relishing at punishing the weaker students. I’ve had offers at those sorts of schools, and I turned them, and their money, down. (Several big chain schools operate in manners are barely above torture and abuse, if you ask me.)

I don’t know if they get it yet, but I think they’ll learn it’s not always about the money.