A Guide For New EFL/ESL Foreign English Teachers/Instructors in South Korea - Public Schools, Hogwans, Universities, and Training Center/Institutes

I've put together this post with everything I think a new foreign teacher might want to read about when they first arrive in Korea that I've written and blogged about.

If any of the following materials are used as a part of an orientation or new foreign teacher training manual I would appreciate being cited as the author (if it's something that I wrote) and or as a source from which the materials were taken from (if it's something I found and arranged and posted on the Net). I've spent a lot of time and energy writing and blogging and would appreciate the citation. Thanks.

Update: I'm sorry but there are some formatting problems. I'll try fix them soon . . .

Before Coming to Korea

Before Coming to Teach English in Korea--Things to Bring with You on the Plane

Upon First Arriving in Korea

SMOE Orientation in Seoul, South Korea: my packing list for the orienation-quarantine-24/7 lock down . . .

2009 SMOE Orientation -- SMOE Orientations From The Past . . . taking a look at what's online and trying to get a sense of what is coming soon . . .

2005 New Foreign English Instructor Arrives at Korean Public School -- A look back at my first week in Korea . . . wow, it's been a long time . . .

New Foreign English Instructors/Teachers in Korea: Bring pictures with you for an introduction lesson during the first week at your school

First Day At School For New Native English Teachers in Korean Public Schools -- Checklist

New Foreign English Instructors -- First Day In Your New Apartment Checklist

Cultural Differences and Culture Shock

New Foreign English Teachers in Korean Public Schools -- One Foreign Instructor's Take On Some Major Cultural Differences

Korean Education System Topics

Introduction For New Foreign English Teachers To The Korean Public School Environment

South Korean English Education Madness -- 15 minute video that explains the general situation and problems

"Korean Children 'Don't Get Enough Sleep'" -- Wow . . . now there's a 'revelation' to foreign English teachers!

A Foreign English Teacher's Reflections On 3 Years of Teaching in a Korean Public School English Program

New Foreign English Teachers in Korean Public Schools -- Health and Homesickness in Korea

2005 New Foreign English Instructor Arrives at Korean Public School -- A look back at my first week in Korea . . . wow, it's been a long time . . .

EFL/ESL Teaching Books

List of EFL/ESL teaching methodology, lesson plans, games and activities, and cultural background books in my personal teaching library

TESL/TEFL Teaching Method and Theory Books, Lesson Plan and Teaching Resource Books For New Foreign English Teachers In Korean Public Schools

Bookstores in Korea

New Foreign English Instructors/Teachers in Korea: Kim & Johnson Bookstore, Gangnam, Seoul

New Foreign English Instructors/Teachers in Korea: Kyobo Bookstore in Ganghwamun Station (near Gyungbuk Palace)

New Foreign English Instructors/Teachers in Korea: Young Poong Bookstore in Jonggak Station, Seoul

New Foreign English Instructors/Teachers in Korea: Bandi & Lunis Bookstore in Jonggak Station, Seoul

"What the book?" -- New and Used English Books and Magazines -- Itaewon, Seoul, South Korea

Used Book Store in Itaewon -- not "What the book?" -- a different place called "Foreign Book Store" -- Check it out

Korean English Co-Teacher Topics

New Foreign English Instructors/Teachers in Korea -- What to do when your co-teacher doesn't show up for class.

8 Tips for Foreign English Instructors Co-teaching with a Korean English Teacher

After School Programs/Classes/Extra Classes and English Camps

New Foreign English Teachers in Korean Public Schools--Summer and Winter Camps Checklist

Extra English Conversation Classes: Setting them up; Mixed levels; Getting paid; class size limits and levels of students in the class

English Winter Camps in Korea--What to do when your co-teacher tells you to design 20 lessons for a camp and submit them tomorrow--F*#@!!!

Korean Student Pointy-Sense: The 24 Hour Test/Assignment Point Radar Phenomemon in Korean Students

Living in Korea -- Locations and Conditions

2009 Foreign English Teachers Living in Korea: Best and Worst Living Conditions Contest

Memories from 2005 on Ganghwa Island

Life in Korea - Issues for Foreign Instructors

Act on the Treatment of Foreigners in Korea -- Brian in Jeollonamdo has a translation link about this

Lesson Topic Ideas

"I can’t think of any English lesson topics . . ." Lesson Plan Topics List For New Foreign English Teachers In Korean Public Schools

Where to find western food in Korea

The Best Hamburger in South Korea -- The Smokey Saloon in Itaewon

Where can I get kebabs and middle eastern style food in South Korea? Sultan Kebab in Seoul: 3 locations

Coming Soon: TURKEY DINNER IN KOREA!!! WOO HOO!!!

2008 Thanksgiving in Korea with a Turkey!

Dinner at the Olive Garden--YUM!

Where can I get Indian food in South Korea? -- Foreign Restaurant in Itaewon, Seoul.

Taking Julianne to VIPS in Chuncheon

Korean Foods

There's a five part series from the TV show "Bizarre Foods" where they talk about Korean food culture and give a lot of info.

Also check out aeriskitchen How to make Korean food videos from youtube--Aeri is amazing!!!

Here's a show explaining 'bibimbap.'

Korean Traditional Porridge -- When you want something light and tasty to eat . . .

Shaving in my kitchen, eating dokgalbi, and Julianne's first time shooting a bb gun

Everyday Korean Foods -- Julianne's First Dolsot Bibimbap

Weird bacon for breakfast, a walk by the river, and dokgalbi for dinner

When the Korean winterscape gets you down reach for your favorite comfort food

Yang Yom Galbi BBQ in Korea

Korean BBQ Galbi Video 2008 Nov 21 Dinner in Chuncheon

Lyn likes to eat steak with kimchi--That's so WRONG on so MANY LEVELS--lol

Chicken dokgalbi in Chuncheon, South Korea--up close and personal

Teacher Training and Conferences in Korea

Check out KOTESOL's official website to learn more about it. You can become a member and then attend monthly sessions with presentations, and also attend the yearly international conference held at the end of October in Seoul.

2008 KOTESOL October 25, 26 COMING SOON . . . THIS WEEKEND!

2008 KOTESOL Weekend

2008 KOTESOL: Me acting like a cat . . . yikes, or should I say "Meow?"

NOTE: Before reading this post below be aware that regardless of the criticisms I make in this post I will still be attending the KOTESOL conference. It is a great place to network with other foreign teachers from hogwans, public schools, training centers/institutes, and universities . . . and get some teacher training and hear presentations about EFL/ESL methodology . . . and the list goes on.

KOTESOL Conference 2008: Amateur vs. Professional/International

Shopping for Clothing

"Big Size!" Clothing Shopping Trip to Itaewon

Being Sick and Hospitals and Medicine in Korean Culture

"You should go to the hospital."

The Nurse Who Could Speak English -- Visit to Seoul National University Hospital International Foreigner Clinic

Got a cold and cough like me? Try Chinese Herbal Cough MedicineChinese Herbal Cough

Medicine in South Korea vs. Buckleys--Which one do you think makes your face contort the most?

E2 Visa Health/Medical Check for Renewing a Contract -- One of the things I truly dislike about living in Korea

Visiting a Korean Emergency Room -- Gangwon National University Teaching Hospital: a nurse gave Julianne a needle full of "red stuff" tonight . . .

Things you can do when you're sick and at home on a Saturday night in Korea: Disney XXX

Look for posts this fall where I will write about EFL/ESL teaching books I recommend based on level of school/student being taught and/or English skill/program/camp, etc.

I'm also planning on writing a lot more about co-teaching in Korea . . .

I hope this helps new foreign teachers arriving in Korea in the next couple weeks . . .

Good luck!

J