21 Jun
What Is April English?
April Institute’s program philosophy is based on creativity and art. It helps students use active imagination, artistic sensibility and expression to study creative thinking and problem solving. The program helps students develop cross-curricular knowledge based on a variety of topics preselected from textbooks used in Korean, American, Japanese and Chinese school curriculums. That’s the official description. Here’s the top 5 reasons why I’m so happy to be working at an April Institute branch.
1. Working Hours
As a certified night owl, I love that my work hours at April Institute are from around noon to 8 p.m. It lets me stay up as late as I want and still get a good night’s rest. Plus, when I need to run errands, I have plenty of time before work to get things done. I can go to the bank, buy groceries, and get brunch with friends all before clocking in to work! I also am never commuting to and from work during peak rush hours, which means less people on the buses and subway. Finally, while my work hours are from noon to 8 p.m., I only end up teaching less than 5 hours a day!
2. The Curriculum
All curriculum and lesson plans are the same across April Institute locations, which means I can focus on classroom management, grading, and having fun with my students over the course of my work day. While I’m completely happy with my current branch and Seoul, it also means in theory if I wanted to move to another city in Korea, the learning curve at another branch wouldn’t be very steep! As a first time teacher, the knowledge that I wouldn’t have to extensively lesson plan was a huge comfort when I made the decision to move abroad.
3. Student Age Range
The age range of my students at April Institute is from around six to 11 years old, and they are overwhelmingly smart, funny, and kind. Of course, like with any job, there are challenges, but I can sincerely say that I love getting to spend my days talking with these kids. They make me laugh every single day. The fact that I get to help these kids create a foundation for success is really special to me.
4. Co-Teacher System
At April Institute, every class you’ll teach has a Korean co-teacher. For me, this means I teach the first half of the class, then my Korean co-teacher teaches the second half. Here are a few of the advantages to this method of schooling: First, my co-teachers have been incredibly helpful when it comes to navigating the nuances of living and teaching in a new culture. Second, we share the responsibility of teaching! Especially as a first time teacher, the knowledge that I have a fellow teacher helping me guide these students has been so comforting. Third, built in friends! One of my dearest friends here in Korea was originally my co-teacher. I’ve asked her for all kinds of advice, attended her wedding, and gone on day trips from Seoul with her when we’re not teaching!
5. The Community
From my fellow expat coworkers to my Korean co-teachers and students, April Institute is my community here in Korea. I’m so grateful for a workplace that feels like a home away from home.
Diana Richtman is a writer and ESL teacher living in Seoul, South Korea. Originally from Savannah, Georgia in the United States, Diana holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Georgia in English & Women’s Studies. After receiving her TEFL certification, Diana moved to South Korea where she works at one of Creverse’s April Institutes. When Diana isn’t working, she loves exploring Korea, drinking warm cups of tea, and scaring away her friends with her karaoke performances.