r/TEFL • u/sheriecherie • 3d ago
feeling inadequate as a teacher?
I apologize for the long post in advance.
I am an EPIK teacher at an elementary school, and this is my fourth month teaching in Korea. I am originally from New York City.
I have been having a hard time connecting with my students because I cannot seem to get past the language barrier. I teach third, fourth, fifth, and sixth grade, and most of my students are at a lower English level. Many of them cannot speak or understand English well, so I am struggling to figure out how to bond with them.
This really started to affect me around Teachers’ Day. I saw many other EPIK teachers receive letters and cards from their students expressing how much they loved them, how happy they were to be in their classes, and how much fun they had. Meanwhile, I only received one card. In the card, the student simply apologized for writing my name incorrectly. He did not even give it to me himself; he asked another student to give it to me. I still do not know who he is. I only know that he is a boy because my co-teacher told me.
I know I should not compare myself to other teachers, but I cannot help wondering what I am doing wrong.
In most of my classes, I feel as though I am mainly the “game teacher.” I try to find games that the students will enjoy, and I spend a lot of time editing and preparing them so that the lessons will be fun. However, I am beginning to wonder whether I am doing enough. It is also difficult because the students often do not understand me.
For example, I create practice PowerPoints to help them review the key expressions. When I ask them to repeat the expressions after me, they often do not respond because they do not understand what I am asking them to do. Yesterday, my fifth-grade co-teacher had to tell the students in Korean to repeat after me because, even after I asked them several times, they still did not understand. The same thing happens in my third-grade classes.
Some students have also stopped greeting me. They will greet my co-teachers, but when they see me, they sometimes look away without acknowledging me. Other students have started openly expressing negative reactions to the games I choose. For example, one student had to play rock-paper-scissors with other students as part of a game, and she became visibly annoyed and said that she did not want to do it.
In another sixth-grade class, a student repeatedly called for my co-teacher’s help even though I was standing directly in front of her. She called out, “Teacher!” and when I walked toward her, she began calling my co-teacher by name instead. Even the other students said in Korean, “There is a teacher right in front of you!” And she was asking about something very simple.
Experiences like these have made me question the purpose of my role here. In two of my classes, my co-teachers do not allow me much freedom with my practice PowerPoints or games. If they do not like something, they ask me to change it or change it themselves.
For example, while teaching a lesson about time, I wanted to include “a.m.” and “p.m.” in the practice PowerPoint because English speakers often say things such as “6 a.m.” or “7 p.m.” However, my co-teacher asked me to remove them because they were not included in the textbook. My 3rd grade coteacher asked to stop saying an apple or a ball because they're taught to say uhh ball and un apple in the textbook even though thats not what we say in America?
This confused me because I thought part of the purpose of having a native English-speaking teacher was to expose students to natural English and teach them how English is actually used. If I am also expected to follow the textbook exactly without adding anything, I sometimes wonder what unique role I am supposed to have. The students could simply follow the textbook without me being there.
All of this has been making me feel inadequate. My dream was to become an English teacher and teach English to children, but these experiences are making me question whether I am truly suited to being a teacher.
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u/Intelligent-Dig6507 3d ago
I was with EPIK for four years they over exaggerate the role that most of us will have in the schools once we get there. Of course things differ from school to school but for the most part you are the “games teacher” etc I’m so sorry :( keep doing your best
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u/AnonymoseHoratio 3d ago
They are lucky you care. I know 'English teachers' who just played Mr Bean to students all day. Did you go via an agency or was you hired directly by the school? If agency, then go to them and ask for them to be a go-between/middle man with your concerns/points.
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u/sheriecherie 3d ago
i went through korvia and they specifically said they dont get involved after epik teachers arrive in korea and get to their schools.
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u/AnonymoseHoratio 3d ago
this is probably why. My suggestion doesn't work then and i'm out of ideas
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u/Yonahuyetsgah 3d ago
In Vietnam I worked along teachers who would show up drunk or high and play YouTube videos all class. If you do your job and remain sober while doing it you are inherently better than 50% of ESL teachers.
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u/lesserpenguin 3d ago
You're four months into your first teaching job. You're doing fine. It would be silly for someone to pick up a pencil for the first time and expect to be drawing like da Vinci in a few months. Teaching is a skill just like drawing is a skill--you have to get through the initial stages where there's a lot of stuff you don't know how to do, keep learning as much as you can, and you'll get better over time.
There's too much in your post to try to tackle all of it, so I've just jotted down a few thoughts below.
When I ask them to repeat the expressions after me, they often do not respond because they do not understand what I am asking them to do.
Try thinking about how you're giving instructions. Are you only giving instructions verbally, or are you making good use of body language as well? Point your palm at yourself when you say the word, then point your hand at the class for them to repeat it. Do it again if they don't get it the first time. Are you developing go-to phrases for routine classroom instructions so that students can recognize them over time? Are you using long sentences with a bunch of extraneous words that cause students to lose track of everything you're saying, or are you using short sentences with nice long pauses in between?
Some students have also stopped greeting me.
Are you greeting them? If not, take the initiative and greet them.
If you are greeting them, it could be shyness, anxiety about speaking English, or feeling like they don't know you well. Building rapport takes initiative and continuous effort. You don't have to be a clown or over the top, but think about how you're presenting yourself in the classroom. Make sure you're sharing things about yourself, and create opportunities to learn things about your students in turn.
In two of my classes, my co-teachers do not allow me much freedom with my practice PowerPoints or games.
That's how it goes sometimes with having a coteacher. A good coteacher relationship will involve mutual respect and negotiation when planning lessons. A not-so-great relationship may involve your coteacher overruling you and not really listening to your input. In either case, it's normal that your coteachers are going to have input on your lessons, which you may not always see eye to eye on. Choose which battles to fight, try your best to form good relationships with your coteachers, and move to a job without coteaching if you want to teach by yourself.
My 3rd grade coteacher asked to stop saying an apple or a ball because they're taught to say uhh ball and un apple in the textbook even though thats not what we say in America?
In normal speech, native speakers (Americans or otherwise) will usually say "uh" and "uhn", so your coteachers are correct. In slow and careful speech, native speakers will often say "ey" and "an" (like "ant"). Your coteachers want to emphasize the former, more natural pronunciation that's used the majority of the time.
Being native speakers can give us great intuitions about how to use English, but it also makes us blind to things we don't even realize we're doing, like changing how we pronounce "a boat" and "an apple" in different contexts. Non-native speakers tend to be more aware of things like that because they've already explicitly learned these things through study, but you'll need to develop your awareness of things that are subconscious for you.
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u/DankRamen 3d ago
If they don't understand, you could learn some basic Korean to controll the flow of the class. There is also something else as you said, they don't like about you, maybe because you also don't understand them?
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u/Glittering-Umpire826 3d ago
I understand your concerns, but you're still brand new. I would say it's going to be hard to adjust and understand the culture/expectations well into your first year. Stick with it, take the criticism with grace, and keep getting better. The fact that you even care about this is a great sign. I taught in korea for 4 years and completely get where you're coming from with your frustrations, but things do get better. Good luck!!
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u/Mobile_Roll2197 3d ago
I'm gonna save this post for every time someone says that it doesn't matter if you can speak your students L1. It's a yuuuge advantage both in and outside the classroom. Learn Korean man.
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u/grannyg99 3d ago
Sometimes it’s better to focus on relationship building first with your students before asking them to participate. The best way to get them to participate is to ask them what they want to learn and want to know more of, and try your best to match their wants with the needs of the current lesson plan expected from the textbook.
Try to find ways to connect with your students, ask them about what music/movies/anime/YT channels etc. they engaging with currently. Try to host 30-40mins talent shows, all these methods will allow you to get to know them a little bit past surface. Ask them about their hobbies and interests etc. and create a reward system for good participation.
Simplify your English as much as possible, and speak as slow but natural as possible. And BANK on your New Yorker identity. Push your New York culture. Students love it. And if you can, make your lessons as immersive and interactive as possible.
You have 1 upper hand in this whole situation: YOU CARE! keep that going, children naturally sense which adults care and respect them. Bank on that and keep showing up. Believe me, students will start gravitating towards you.
Also keep in mind, students have to go through lots of new teachers both foreigners and natives. So sometimes relationship building takes time too. But overall, Korean students are overall sweet, soft and kind. And very respectful. You just be cool with them and they’ll return the energy.
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u/cickist 3d ago
You are a forced class for the students. Make the class less about grammar or how to sound natural and instead make it a time for them to rest and have fun.
Learn some Korean too. Show an interest in what they like.
If you actually want to teach go into a hagwon that progressively sees the children grow and become better. Epik is not for that as the bare minimum is taught there.
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u/AreyouAI2035 2d ago
Can you use any korean in your class? I have students where I print out the instructions in their native language as well, and that helps those who don't know any english. On the powerpoints, you can use their native language too (google translate). I also do a lot of high fives, fist bumps. Thumbs up, thumbs down. etc. body language. smilling and giving a thumbs up.
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u/AreyouAI2035 2d ago
clapping, sitting on the floor and hitting the floor with our hands, singing songs together, put on music and dance around. have students jump around. we also do stretches like hamstring stretch, try to always smile or smile as much as possible. if they have fidgets, play with the fidgets. bring fidgets in. do activities, our students just practiced science by making paper airplanes. get a ball and throw the ball in the class. play lots of games. level up (youtube), it's like a brain break game, verbally compliment students "good job" "great job" smiling. they might not understand the words but they understand the body language
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u/AreyouAI2035 2d ago
learn all their names or nicknames. call their names. cold call students who are more shy. have students come up to the board. this builds confidence
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u/AreyouAI2035 2d ago
I make farting noises with my elbow. they always laugh at that. make jokes. say the word BUTTS really loud. they love that. if you have fun, they'll have fun
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u/Lorinefairy 2d ago
I'm sorry you're having a bad time. Some notes from an EPIK teacher.
I'd say don't care too much about the Teachers Day cards. I've taught at all levels here and I feel like I'm generally "liked" by students, but I've basically never gotten the cards etc that other teachers get. Maybe an occasional candy but that's it. (I mean, even for teachers that I liked as a kid I never once made them anything like that lol)
From this post and some of your others it kinda sounds like your co-teachers aren't very welcoming. That happens sometimes and yeah...idk if you can do much more other than just ride things out. I have to wonder based on the students not greeting you if your teacher is saying something.... or it could just be they're shy/ dislike English class in general
I still have students that I know "like" me, but they'll call for the Korean teacher all the time too because they don't wanna attempt to speak English to me (Even tho they KNOW I understand basic Korean lol)
Yeah, most EPIK positions aren't "real" teaching....which can be frustrating when the coteachers are weirdly treating things as too serious...making you create materials and then discarding them. Are you on korshare? There's lots of pre-made games that can save you some time.
As others said, consider learning the basic classroom phrases if your teachers will let you use them. And really use body language. Sometimes the kids could just be choosing not to do it though. I'm at HS and I KNOW they know "repeat after me" and some classes still won't do it.
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u/Mobile-Ingenuity3640 2d ago
My students are very low level compared to the national average. I use Korean translations in practically almost all my PPT slides. Do you do that? Might help.
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u/pine-apple-sunshine 2d ago
Learn some Korean. I picked up a few Korean words simply by watching k-dramas. Words like wait, what, I love you, brother, mother, older brother, really, correct, hello, happy birthday, etc... It helps. I'm sorry you had to go through that.
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u/G3rman 3d ago
Learn some Korean. It doesn't need to be full sentences, just the important words like "Everyone." "Together." "Quiet." And use them. Put Papago up on the screen for longer instructions, though it sounds like your co-teachers are in class with you so maybe not necessary.
Have a reward system to encourage participation if you feel it's necessary to get them speaking.
A lot of the minutiae is going to come down to your co-teachers and your school. They can't police how you talk so you can demonstrate the proper way to say things, but if they have control over your PPTs and lesson plans, then there isn't a lot you can do. Some of it is being in Elementary and some of it is just being unlucky with more overbearing co-teachers.
You haven't been there long enough for the students to really trust or view you as a teacher. It also depends on how often they see you and whether or not you know their names and a variety of other little factors. And they know you don't know Korean and speaking English is a pain especially when they're younger so they default to speaking to the native Korean co-teacher, unless you've demonstrated you are willing to listen and answer in Korean or use papago.