Aaron: Ireland: Sep 01, 2021

I have accumulated experience teaching children and teenagers aged 12-18 in a secondary (high) school and children aged 4-12 in a primary (elementary) school setting since October of 2020. This experience means that I would be able to create lesson plans that keep pupils interested and allow them to thrive. Due to COVID-19 classes have been extended to an hour meaning that I have experience keeping a class’s attention over long periods of time. I have learned to adapt to the more difficult teaching environment that Covid has created.

As I can play different instruments such as guitar, saxophone and tin whistle, I would be able to perform traditional Irish songs for the pupils and would encourage them to participate while teaching. If possible, I would enjoy setting up a music club in the school to encourage and teach anyone willing to take part. I would be capable of this task as I was an active member of my secondary school community helping to organise charity events such as book sales, bake sales and talent shows. For work in my community I was awarded a Gaisce President’s Award. To add to this, I was a senior prefect and mentor to children who had just started secondary school. In this role I was proactive in helping students with any issues that they needed to resolve and would be able to bring that experience to help in a Korean school community.

As a singer in a chamber choir called The Ramparts and from starring in two university plays, I have been exposed to the pressure of performing live in front of large audiences of strangers. The skills learned from these experiences have translated into my work as a teacher as I have no issues in dealing with stress and pressure. When teaching children, you must be flexible to all different levels of ability and background making my improvisational skills from performing applicable to a teaching environment. I have gained valuable experience teaching in a primary/secondary school and being part of a school community as a teacher. The feedback I have received from pupils and staff has been very positive and I would want to bring my enthusiasm and passion for teaching to the pupils in Korea. I have confidence in my ability and experience to adapt to the different learning needs of Korean students.

Importantly I hope that my experience in learning and teaching in Korea will help me have a deeper appreciation for the country’s culture, heritage and history. I am fully prepared to invest my time, energy and skills into getting the most of my class if hired.