After the disappointment of hearing I would not be able to do my student teaching, I quickly got to work organizing virtual teaching with the Moreland University student placement assistant. In no time a virtual teaching company reached out to me and I started completing their training modules right away! I felt crunched for time as I din’t know how long it would take to be placed and start teaching online… and I was mentally preparing myself to be awake all night for 12 weeks as the schools were all US Central time, which is literally the worst chance of time to be awake here, 12-4/5am. Yikes. But I was determined, and I was going to do it!
Then, miracle.
Korea decided to update its guidelines and suddenly the reasons that the school couldn’t host me were no more. I sent an email and was so incredibly delighted to hear that the school could and would take me as a student teacher now that the restrictions were lifted! Oh, I was so happy. I really didn’t want to be teaching all night, driving my girls to school like a zombie, sleeping all day… So yes, now I am organizing everything and starting very soon at my school.
These past few years have been a lesson for many people about encountering and overcoming obstacles. School and work went online, many people lost jobs, mandates and lockdowns, ever changing rules… here in Korea it has been no exception. My patience has been tested trying to get this teaching license completed (among other things), but it has been a good lesson in perseverance, letting go things out of my control, and adapting gracefully as things change.
In a totally non-schmoozy way, I am really pleased with TeachNow and their flexibility. I took time off from last summer, was able to extend my break, asked to be placed with a virtual school, told them I could teach in person at my original school, and have sent so many emails. Everyone has been so professional and helpful, they respond right away and never made me feel uncomfortable having to change what I was doing for what felt like every other week. So, huge kudos to the school for being so flexible!
Can’t wait to start teaching!