essential items for teachers in korea
a guide to be used for SOUTH KOREA
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table of contents
correlating video: coming soon
guide updated 22.08.02
Welcome to the world of teaching EFL (English as a Foreign Language). Whether you work at a 학원 (hagwon; private academy/cram school) or at a public school, here are my recommendations for things you should and could have at your desk and in your classroom. This guide is directed toward those who have never taught in a Korean school before; if this isn’t you, you may not find some of the information useful. If you are a teacher here in Korea and use something not listed, please let me know in the comments! I’m always looking to improve my classroom.
THE BASICS
slippers
First things first: slippers. If you are this deep in researching teaching in Korea, you already know that students, teachers, the administration, and all other staff wear slippers or indoor-only shoes. But you may be thinking, what kind of slippers? Do I need to buy certain ones? Should I buy them in Korea?
You can buy them in Korea, of course. There are plenty of options here (people wear slippers all the time, after all). I’d only suggest buying slippers in your home country if you need a larger size. Most shoes only go up to 295 (US 12) for men and 270 (US 10) for women, and even those can be hard to find without shopping online. And no, you don’t need to buy certain ones; some people wear crocs (sport and relaxed mode), some wear brand-name slides, some wear sandals, some wear sneakers that are strictly for inside school (mostly only those who are pregnant and those with balance issues, I've noticed).
The only slippers I’d suggest you stay away from are the really goofy, fluffy character ones. Not because the kids wouldn’t like them, but because most school halls and classrooms are made of polished stone tile, vinyl wood planks, vinyl sheets, or a mix of all of those plus a few more. It can get very slippery even with the proper soles, especially when it rains. Those fluffy slippers are not meant for hard surfaces and do not have the correct non-split bottoms or soles (or any sole at all, for that matter). Also, no one else wears them. It would be a little awkward to walk into your school on the first day with ginormous fluffy slippers.
Here are some examples of slippers most teachers wear:
Students tend to wear these:
middle & high school
elementary school
If you want to see some more examples, search “학교 교사 슬리퍼” (school teacher slipper), “교사 슬리퍼” (teacher slipper), or “교사 슬리퍼 남성“ (teacher slipper male) on Naver. Keep in mind that most teachers wear socks, but I’ve known a few who’ve gone sockless (literally only two). It’s up to your preference. There are many slippers with a heel as well, which isn’t necessary to have. Just find a shoe that is comfortable for you. Also, try to not buy the white student slippers, they are NOT an alternative to crocs. Only elementary schoolers wear those and if you show up in them, your students will intuitively learn “what are those???” even if they wear the same thing.
Some things to consider while buying school slippers:
Comfort and support. You will be standing on your feet for sometimes up to 6 hours with little time to sit. Having some sort of arch support or solid base will save your feet, ankles, knees, hips, and back.
Non-slip bottom. School flooring can be slippery, and if you have to walk fast between classes, slippery shoes and stairs will not be your friend. I’ve lost count of the amount of times I’ve almost slipped on the stairs while carrying my laptop and class supplies. The fake Adidas Daiso slides, although cheap, could possibly leave you in a hospital.
Fit. Does the shoe come off easily when you walk? Does your foot slip forward? Try to find ones that stay secure. This doesn’t really matter if you aren’t moving quickly throughout your school or walking up or down stairs a lot. But I’ve taught at schools where there is no time between classes and I’ve had to go from the first floor to the third with a bunch of stuff in my arms. Shoes falling off and landing a couple of stairs down is not the end of the world, but if you are strung thin that day already, it may just lead you closer to the edge of insanity.
the ugly monstrosities
I would have slippers at each school you teach at; if you want to bring them from school to school, be my guest. But you can and will forget one day and then you will be stuck with the ugly monstrosities that the school has as guest slippers. The click-clack echoing throughout the halls will leave everyone acknowledging your shame.
It’s also a good idea to have summer and winter slippers. In Korea, schools aren’t heated or cooled everywhere inside; only offices (if you are lucky) and classrooms. Some schools — because of COVID-19 — have the windows open all the time, regardless of the temperature. That means your feet will either be hot or cold depending on the weather. If you are really sensitive to temperature, then this will for sure be a must and up your comfort level dramatically.
toothbrush & toothpaste
Like slippers, brushing your teeth is another normal thing to do at school and work in Korea. With COVID-19, most schools do not allow their students to brush their teeth at school anymore, but you are a teacher and can if you want to. My office has a sink where everyone brushes their teeth, but in other schools, teachers will do so in the bathroom. It’ll depend on your office's facilities and the individual culture at your school/in your office.
The supplies you need for brushing your teeth are obvious: toothbrush and toothpaste. There are a few more things you can use, though, like a cup to rinse your mouth and a UV toothbrush sanitizer case (or just a regular case, it really doesn’t matter).
Most of the Korean teachers I know don’t put their toothbrushes in a case; instead, they leave them sitting in the cup with their toothpaste. If you want to do that, go ahead. I bought a UV sanitizing case because I had to travel to multiple schools and wanted to use this toothbrush as a “travel toothbrush” when I went on trips and whatnot. I think putting your toothbrush in a case is a lot more sanitary than leaving it out for dust to collect on it.
If you want to find your own UV sanitizing toothbrush case, you can search “휴대용 자외선 칫솔살균기” (portable UV toothbrush sanitizer) on Coupang or any other website you like. They range from ₩12,000 to ₩30,000 and can come in a variety of designs.
If you want to purchase a cup, just any normal small water cup (but tall and heavy enough so your toothbrush doesn’t flip out or the cup doesn’t fall over) would work. Daiso has a lot you can choose from or you can just use a coffee mug. Most people in Korea use a cup to rinse their mouth after brushing their teeth, but you can also use the ultimate man-made cup: your hand.
water bottle
You are a teacher. More specifically, you are a Native English Teacher. Your job is to talk… and talk… and talk. Your throat will hurt if you don’t keep it hydrated. I always bring a water bottle around with me (one where the mouthpiece can be concealed because of germs). I also make sure my water bottle is opaque just in case I want to spike it, no one will know (this is a joke).
Find yourself a water bottle that is at least 500ml; I use one that is 700ml and it lasts me 5~6 classes. Larger than 1 liter might be a little awkward to carry around, anything under might not last you. Depending on your school, you may not have time between classes to fill up, so you don’t want to bank on that pit stop.
You can find cute water bottles anywhere in Korea: Daiso, Artbox, Homeplus, Emart, Starbucks, or any other coffee shop. Find a few you like and stay hydrated. Make sure to wash them, too, so mold doesn’t grow on the inside.
USB
You need to buy a USB. You can buy them from many stores, even Artbox. The word for a USB flash drive in Korean is… wait for it… “USB 플래시 드라이브” (literally phonetically “USB flash drive”).
This flash drive should be used for your bank and NEIS certificates (the only way you can log into those accounts is through a computer with those certificates), and for keeping your paystubs. You don’t need a large flash drive for this. I bought one that was 32GB and only use .4GB, which includes certificates, pay stubs, tax information, and random PowerPoints. 4GB would be more than enough.
If you plan to use PowerPoint instead of GoogleSlides for your teaching materials, you should have an extra USB just for that. If you lose the USB with all of your certificates on it, it will be a huge pain in the ass. Moving from class to class increases the chance you will leave your USB somewhere, especially if you have multiple schools.
With some banks, you will need to pay to reissue a certificate, and losing it is a privacy concern as well. If someone knows your password and has your certificate, they can log into your account. Do yourself a favor and have two USBs: one for your important files and one for teaching materials.
work bag
You need a bag to carry around your personal items and a few other things to survive the day. Depending on what you need and if you travel to multiple schools, this bag can be of various sizes, shapes, and styles. A lot of teachers only use purses, some use tote bags, some use briefcases, and some use backpacks. There isn’t a specific bag you need to use, just whichever one fits everything you need and is in a style that you like. I personally use a backpack so I can go shopping after work and shove all my things inside.
Besides carrying a water bottle and some personal items from school to school, I suggest having an umbrella and a shopping bag/tote (I have a foldable one).
The rainy season will creep up on you, so having a collapsible umbrella is a great idea. Most schools have umbrellas you can borrow, but there are those days when you are running late, get out of the house, and only realize then that you need an umbrella. If one is already in your bag, then no time is wasted running back inside to grab one.
A foldable shopping bag is great not only for buying some groceries after work but if you have a lot of things you need to bring home from the office.
contract
Always keep a copy of your contract at your desk. I keep my contract in a folder on my desk and reference it whenever I need to or whenever I have to talk to my school or co-teacher about something regarding my work duties, hours, pay, vacation, sick leave, etc. Always, always, always have a copy of your contract at your desk at each school you teach at with the original (and another copy!) at your home. Having your contract handy is so important, I cannot stress this enough.
OPTIONAL PERSONAL ITEMS
pouch
Chances are you aren’t only going to have a toothbrush and some toothpaste. There are many other things people need throughout the day. Having them with you at work will make your life a lot more comfortable (you are here for 8 hours after all). To keep all of these necessities together and organized — regardless if you work at multiple schools or not — you need a pouch… a big one.
I bought a plain mesh one from Daiso in the beauty section; it’s around 18cm x 25cm and it fits almost everything I need. 18x25 may seem like a lot of space, and it is, but it’s better to have more room than not enough. Smaller pouches can be cute, but sometimes it is better to settle for function than form. I’d wait to buy a pouch until after you have your own personal list of what you want to have with you so you know how big you need it to be. If you wear make-up or have periods, I’d have separate little pouches just for those products.
You could use a travel make-up or toiletries bag instead of a pouch, but I think it would be too bulky to carry around. A pouch is thin and can slip into a purse, briefcase, or backpack (whatever your style is) even if there are other things inside. A travel or make-up bag would take up too much space since those are typically cubes.
other personal items
Let’s get something obvious out of the way: everyone is different and everyone has different needs. You probably won’t ever use some of the things I’ll suggest here. Some things I don’t mention, you’ll end up finding absolutely essential. It just depends. Look at your needs and what you use often, then try to have those products at your desk.
Here is everything else I keep in my pouch and at my desk:
Beauty:
Lip balm, hand cream, roll-on sunscreen, deodorant, perfume, and spray moisturizer. Most of this is obvious as to why it’s here, but I do suggest that if you haven’t gotten into the habit of wearing sunscreen, you need to start. There are roll-on sunscreens you can buy all year round at Olive Young so you don’t need to touch your face, just swipe the product onto your skin. Also, if you are someone who uses and needs deodorant, have a spare at work. There will be times you’ll forget, have a surprise sports day, or the air conditioner stops working and you absolutely need a refresh. You won’t always use it, but it’s one of those things that when you need it, you really need it.
Oil blotting sheets, face wash, and skincare. Oil blotting sheets for those hot summer days, and face wash and skincare for when you wake up 5 minutes before you have to leave your apartment because you are desk warming alone and do not give a single shit. Might as well get paid to wash your face. I have mini versions of products that came as a “gift” in packs I bought, and I use up those samples you get from various stores (those are great for traveling, too!).
Dry shampoo, hairbrush with a mirror, and hair ties. If you have longer hair, you know brushing your hair throughout the day is necessary to keep it tangle-free. Hair ties or a scrunchy are great for when you are lesson planning or for a hot day. Some people are never informed about picture day until the day of, so dry shampoo and a hairbrush could save your scrappy self from being immortalized in your students’ yearbooks.
Other:
Most of these are me-specific and this list may look different for you.
Extra folder. Having a folder so you can bring papers to and from work won’t be something you need all the time, but having one sitting around just in case can be a good idea, especially for important documents or cute notes and drawings you get from students.
Headphones. You may need to find videos, songs, or check the activities on the CD for your textbook. You’ll need headphones for that unless you want to scar everyone in your office with the horrors of EFL YouTube songs.
Extra KF94 mask. Most schools will have masks on deck for you and your students to use. However, the masks schools have are white and the largest size possible. If you don’t like white masks or if you have a smaller head, have a few stashed in your desk or work bag.
Period supplies. I suggest having a week’s worth of whatever you prefer to use. A lot of Korean teachers put their pads and tampons in another little pouch and just carry that pouch to the bathroom with them. Some people hide their pouch, some people whip it around confidently. Do whatever you want. (If you use a cup, have a water bottle to wash it out in the school bathroom. A lot of Korean teachers I know use a cup, so it’s not a “taboo” to use here!).
Salonpas (pain patches). This is a “me” problem. I love Salonpas. Maybe I’m addicted, I don’t know.
Tissues. Your office should have facial tissue, but some don’t… or it runs out and no one buys any for a whole 3 months in the middle of cold season. I have a travel pack at my desk for when I spill something, too. They come in handy.
Lap blanket and pillow. Yes, people do take naps at school. All the time. I’ve noticed it is more common for elementary teachers to take naps than middle or high school teachers (because elementary teachers are finished teaching after lunchtime while middle and high school teachers are in class until after 3 PM), but a small blanket will come in handy for when your office is freezing. I also double my blanket as a pillow if I need to.
Phone and headphone charger. Having a longer cord is nice, just on the odd chance your outlet is far away from your desk or just far enough away where your phone can sit on your desk, but it’s awkward to use.
Ramen, tea/coffee, other snacks. Although your office may have food and drinks, it’s nice to have just in case your office runs out, you forget your lunch while desk warming, or if you have an allergy and can’t eat school lunch that day (or if you just don’t like it). Cup ramen will save you.
Extra socks and a sweater. Extra socks and an extra sweater can be great for colder weather, but the extra sweater can double for more than just warmth. You will have an outfit malfunction one day. It happens to everyone. Whether it is an unwanted stain from something unexpected or a rip right down the ass crack of your pants, a sweater, flannel, button-up shirt, or whatever else that can tie around your waist can save you time and time again. Also if you have a hole in your sock, a student will point it out. An extra pair won’t hurt to have.
Coat hanger. You won’t always need a coat hanger, especially if you hang stuff off the back of your chair, but if you have a longer jacket, it can be useful. Not all schools have a coat hanger (which is why you may need your own) or a closet for teachers to use, so check beforehand. People in my office hung their jackets from the top of the whiteboard before we convinced our principal to buy us closets.
Some things I don’t have at school but could be useful: tweezers, pimple patches, sweat pads, cough drops, nail clippers, a nail file, and nail glue (if you have long nails). Pimple patches and sweat pads are seen as “manner products” in Korea. No one will think of you as weird or dirty for needing them, but people won’t expect you to use them, either. Although I will say having a pimple patch is better than having an Osmosis Jones moment.
OFFICE SUPPLIES
office supplies
No matter what grade you teach, you need these office supplies on hand:
Pens, pencils, erasers, and markers. For making notes, signing papers, and creating materials.
Scissors, ruler, and a box cutter. For cutting and measuring different materials.
Tape, glue, stapler, and staples. For creating materials and keeping your papers organized.
Sticky notes. These can be used for games, so have a lot! I suggest a few different sizes (the typical big square for games, smaller ones for your own notes in your textbook).
Binder clips and paper clips. Organize your materials and hand out packs of papers to students easily.
Everything on this list should be a no-brainer… but wait, box cutter?! I saw that on my desk the first day and had to do a double-take. It didn’t seem legal to even have in a school. But, yes. It is legal and your box cutter will be your new best friend. No one goes around slashing people… most of the time.
Make sure your desk has a glass top, your ruler has a straight edge (metal, preferably), and your box cutter is sharp. You can use a box cutter up against a ruler to cut straight lines. If you drag it over multiple sheets of paper repeatedly (I’ve done 30 pieces of paper at a time just fine), you can cut through them in no time. Just don’t cut yourself. This works great if you need to cut a paper in half (or in smaller pieces) and don’t have a paper guillotine.
desk organization
Here are some other supplies that will help with organization:
A second monitor. If everyone in your office has two monitors besides you, get a second monitor. The school should provide it as long as if they provide it for everyone else. Having two monitors makes creating materials and checking PowerPoints a lot easier.
Drawers. If they are not built into your desk and all teachers in your office have the same set of drawers, ask for one too. The school should provide it. It’s hard to keep all of your supplies organized and neat if there is nowhere to put them.
Monitor stand. Although you may need to purchase this yourself, having a monitor stand will help with your posture and gives you some extra storage room under your screen.
Desk organizer. You know, the ones where you can put your books upright and maybe it has a few drawers for paper clips and the like. You may have to buy one of these yourself, but it’ll keep your things tidy.
Cup for pens, pencils, scissors, etc. If there is no place in a drawer for them, a dedicated holder for your supplies will keep your space clean. You will probably have to buy this yourself, so make sure it is sturdy enough so it won’t fall over. A paper cup from the office won’t cut it (I’ve tried).
CLASSROOM MATERIALS
textbooks & CDs
The most basic items you need to make sure to have are your textbooks and the correlating CDs. In Korea, textbooks for elementary, middle, and high school students aren’t those hardback nightmares that gave everyone back problems. For elementary and middle school, they are thin paperback books (less than 1cm wide); high school books are a bit thicker, but still not deadly. All textbooks have a correlating CD with videos, dialogue, and other material that could prove to be useful for your class, like images, quizzes, printouts, etc.
There are three types of books depending on the publishing company and grade: the textbook students use, a textbook similar to the students’ but with answers, and then the teacher’s guide. Most companies only have the students’ books and the teacher’s guide, so you may only have those to use.
I’ve taught at some schools where I was only ever given the students’ textbook and not the answer textbook nor the teacher’s guide. You need a teacher’s guide, especially for elementary school. Although all of the descriptions for games and other activities are in Korean, scripts for skits, songs, and chants are listed in the teacher’s guide. For lower levels (3rd and 4th grade elementary), there are usually no vocabulary lists or key expressions in the chapter’s introduction lesson or literally anywhere else in the book. You need to use the teacher’s guide to see the target language.
You can get away without using the teacher’s guide for middle and high school, but you will need the answer textbook so you can do all of the listening, speaking, reading, and writing activities and give your students the correct answers. The answers could be intuitive, but sometimes they are so awkward you would have never written it yourself, even though you are a native speaker. Most schools want you to follow the textbook to a T since that is what will be on the test, so giving the students the correct answers is very important.
classroom materials
What you use in the classroom really depends on your teaching style, what games you want to play, and what grades you teach. There are a few essentials that you should have for all levels, though: number sticks and a bag for picking random items.
In Korea, every student has a number that can be written in various ways depending on your school. Here are some of the ways I’ve seen it:
3학년 1반 13번 (3rd grade, class 1, number 13)
3-1-13 (grade-class-number)
3학년 1-13 (3rd grade, class-number)
1-13 (class-number)
13. Student’s Name (number. name)
Your students — even your young ones — will know their number and their friends’ numbers after the first few weeks of class. It’s not weird at all to call on them by number. Putting numbers on a stick so you can randomly call on someone, play speaking bingo, or make random teams can make your life a little easier. It’s also fun to watch the students sweat it out when a number close to theirs was called. They sell number sticks online, but I made mine myself with popsicle sticks, paint, and a black marker.
I made my number sticks with different colors so I can create groups based on those colors (3 to 4 in a group): red team, orange team, yellow team, you get the picture. I can also do larger “rainbow” teams where each team needs a color of the rainbow. My younger elementary kids love using these sticks.
A bag for random items can prove to be useful on multiple occasions. I have two sets of bags: one that is just a general bag used for games like charades and others that have numbers painted on them (1 through 6) to use for team games.
Here are some ideas for using a bag:
Charades. Use the target language in a game of charades.
“Mystery object” games, adjective games. Have students touch an object and have them describe how it feels.
Speaking test. Put speaking questions on strips of paper, have a student pick one out, and then that’s the question they have to answer for their test.
Scavenger hunt. Do a scavenger hunt and have students collect different items.
Team activities. Have items for an activity already inside for a team to use; they can put all of the things back inside for easy cleanup and transport.
There are obviously a lot more activities you can do with a bag, but those are some of my tried and true go-to’s.
You can purchase bags online either on Coupang or on teacher-specific websites like iScream Mall (check to see if your school has any you can use first). “주머니” means pocket or pouch in Korean. You’ll be able to find smaller drawstring bags suitable for your class using this word.
There are some other classroom supplies that I think are very useful to have, but not entirely necessary. Although I currently teach elementary school students, I’ve used some of these things in middle and high school as well. Just because you teach older kids doesn’t mean they aren’t, well, kids. They still like to have fun and your class is an escape from the boring textbook work they have to do in every other class. Make it fun, let them laugh, let them be kids.
Here are the supplies:
Pointer. A pointer so you can point to different areas on the board or screen without clicking a touch screen or moving around too much.
PPT clicker. So you don’t have to constantly go back and forth from the computer to the board.
Portable microphone. If your throat hurts from talking so much even after a month of teaching, you should try to get a portable microphone. There are ones that you can wear as a headset or a traditional hand-held microphone. Lots of teachers use them!
Digital timer. For different timed activities. Make sure the clock is big enough so students can see even from the back of the room.
Magnets. Some classrooms have magnets, some do not. Having magnets on hand will be extremely useful.
Basket. If you have to travel from classroom to classroom, having a basket that fits your textbook, worksheets, and any materials you use can save your arms. At my school, each teacher has a basket, but I’ve seen teachers use carts as well.
Large picture flashcards. Especially for younger grades, they should come in a learning pack from the textbook company. You can use them for learning and for review.
Individual whiteboards and markers. For team and individual games. Always check the markers before using them and try to clean the boards after you are finished with your classes. Students can't clean them well with the shitty erasers that come on the backs of markers.
Portable lined magnetic whiteboard. To make teaching the alphabet a bit easier, where students can see you write the letters in a blown-up version of their notebook. Korean notebooks for English classes are different from the ones most native speakers are used to from their elementary school days. Korean notebooks have 4 lines to write on instead of 3.
Answer buzzers. For team quiz games. I have ones that light up because it can be hard to tell which team was first with their buzzer if the noises are too close to one another.
Board/card games. “POP” and “GO FISH!” are great games to have when younger advanced students finish early with classwork and homework.
Big pocket dice. To play multiple different games. It’s best if you have 6 of them, so different teams/groups can do activities together.
Laminated color cards. For trading games. I recommend making these yourself; around 60 cards total having at least 5 different colors.
ABCD telepathy cards. Instead of writing on a board, you can have cards with different options (ABCD or 1234) for playing telepathy.
Magnetic letters. For students learning the alphabet.
Building blocks. For different listening or spelling-focused games.
Foam dart gun. I only use this with older kids (middle and high school). You can have different review questions on the board, have a student shoot the gun (with their eyes closed), and whichever question they land on, they have to answer for points for their team.
Spinning wheel. Ideally, it is magnetized so you can change out the contents of the wheel easily and it preferably has around 30 spaces (or however many students you have, so you can use this as another way to pick a random student).
Gacha/toy-vending machine. I use it whenever I can: to assign projects, partners, give rewards, or do different worksheets. You can find these online with “뽑기기계”, “캡슐 뽑기 기계”, or “뽑기 가챠머신”. Your students will love it.
Before buying anything, make sure that your school doesn’t already have it in a supply closet somewhere. Most elementary schools have a closet full of different classroom materials that were purchased throughout the years. It usually is shared supplies, so make sure you put it back when you are finished with it. The middle and high schools that I’ve taught at also had supply closets, but only with a few whiteboards and a small selection of colored paper. Don’t bank on middle or high schools to have a large selection of classroom materials.
If your school won’t buy you extra supplies, try to sneak it in with English Camp materials. I always make sure to purchase things for English Camp that I can use in other ways throughout the year (that’s how I managed to get a gacha machine). Don’t spend your own money unless you absolutely have to!
craft supplies
Even if you teach high school, you may need some craft supplies to make or customize your own teaching materials. Here is a list of different craft supplies that I’ve used. You may need more depending on what crafts you do with your students and what you have planned for your own materials. These are products that I use at least once a semester or have used to make materials that I use often:
Magnetic tape. You can use this for a variety of activities. You can buy the tape from Daiso or buy a pack of pre-cut tape on Coupang (buy the pre-cut tape). You can also rip off the tape from the back of the cards you get from ordering delivery food. That tape is quite weak, so you’ll need a few strips. If you are going to have to write the same things on the board every class, make small magnets of what you will have on the board (numbers, letters, phrases, etc.) so you can just put them on the board instead of writing it out every time. Your hands will thank you.
Split pins. Also known as paper fasteners and probably 5 other names I don’t know, these pins are great for making moving crafts.
Origami paper. Besides origami, you can use these thin, colorful sheets for any activity where you need paper, but don’t need to use bulky craft or construction paper.
Colored paper. Buy a variety of colored paper that is A4 (printer sized) and thin enough so it won’t jam the printer. I use different colors to signify varying levels in games/activities and just for fun.
Craft/construction paper. Not only for making pretty projects with students but for making pretty materials for yourself to use during class.
Thick paper/cardstock. For making books, signs, or pop-ups.
Acrylic paint. For yourself to decorate or customize your own materials; I’ve painted my own number sticks and my own buzzers, giving each a specific color associated with a group.
Fabric paint. Again, for yourself to customize your materials. I used fabric paint to put numbers on fabric bags for group activities.
Water-based washable paint. For students to use for different activities.
Paintbrushes. Definitely not for the paint.
reward supplies
Can I get a hell yeah for candy and no homework coupons?
The sad thing is that the majority of NETs I know who teach in public schools do not have the “power” to give students rewards, especially no homework coupons. And, because of COVID-19, many schools do not want students to eat candy in the classroom or anywhere in school besides the lunchroom. This means that giving out candy as a treat or reward for doing well is not allowed. This will depend on your school, however!
Here are some ways to distribute points for rewards:
Individual stamp sheets. Students get stamps for participating, doing their homework, and bringing all of their supplies for class (book, notebook, pencil, eraser). After getting a certain amount of stamps, they can get a prize. For giving out stamps (especially for younger students), you can give them a stamp every time they raise their hand. Have them mark this in their notebook or in their textbook on the page you are working on for the day and then give stamps at the end of class.
Whole class behavior points. Can be in the form of a sheet where you mark down points or physically show the points in the classroom with magnetized hearts, smiley faces, or whatever icon you like. If you do this, having a happy face for when they behave well and a sad face for when they behave badly is a great idea. Subtract the sad faces from the happy faces, and that’s how many points they get that day.
Lucky papers. It’s essentially a raffle and the “lucky paper” is just regular scrap paper cut into smaller squares (make sure it is unique in some way so students cannot make their own lucky papers). Students will write their names on them and can receive multiple every class. They will put it into a single bag (specific to their class only) and when the bag is full or when you finish a chapter in the book, you can pull out a select number of lucky students who will receive a prize.
Here are some reward ideas:
Snacks. Candy, chocolate, etc. (COVID-19 restrictions depending)
School supplies. Pencils, a new English notebook, cute erasers.
No homework coupons. Special paper that cannot be replicated.
SHOPPING LIST
note
You are a teacher. You need things to create lessons and activities with, and most of that supplies should be provided to you through your school. Don’t buy things on your own — this isn’t America.
If your school does not give you the materials you need, request them and keep requesting them until they cave. You can’t do your job properly and do your students’ English education justice if you are not given the right materials. Just because Native English Teachers (NETs) are not seen as “real educators” by most other teachers in Korea doesn’t mean your school shouldn’t have to provide you with the basics.
Some schools will buy all of what is listed (sans the personal items) while some schools do not have the funds for it. Talk with your co-teacher, ask about the English budget, and what the school provides other teachers. Don’t be shy about asking for this information, it can only benefit you and your students.
Keep in mind that you don’t need all of this at once; I spent a good chunk of time accumulating everything on this list, so don’t feel stressed out if you don’t have it all within the first month of teaching.
Necessary Personal Items:
water bottle
slippers (1 pair for each school)
toothbrush and toothpaste
USB (4GB, for bank and NEIS certificates)
work bag
copy of your contract (and a folder to put it in)
Strongly Recommended Personal Items:
USB (64+GB, for teaching materials, if needed)
period supplies and pouch for supplies (if needed)
headphones
phone and headphone charger
a pouch to keep everything
lip balm
hand cream
roll-on sunscreen
deodorant
umbrella
Optional Personal Items:
winter slippers (1 pair for each school)
toothbrush case
extra KF94 mask
hairbrush
hair ties and clips
tissues
lap blanket
dry shampoo
perfume
cup ramen and tea
cup to rinse your mouth after brushing your teeth
spray moisturizer
oil blotting sheets
pimple patches
sweat pads
make up and pouch for make up
face wash and skincare (sample packets or travel-sized)
tweezers
nail clippers
nail file
nail glue
cough drops
Salonpas (pain patches)
pillow
extra socks
extra sweater
coat hanger
shopping bag/tote
folder (for random papers you need to bring to school or home)
Office Supplies (your school should supply you with):
textbooks and CDs for all grades (teacher’s guide, too)
pens
markers
pencils
erasers
scissors
tape
box cutter
ruler
sticky notes
binder clips and paper clips
glue
stapler and staples
Desk Organization Items:
a second monitor (if all other teachers have one, your school should provide it)
a set of drawers (if all other teachers have one, your school should provide it)
monitor stand (school may or may not provide)
desk organizer (school may or may not provide)
cup for pens, pencils, etc. (school may or may not provide)
Classroom Materials:
PPT clicker
basket
digital timer
individual whiteboards and markers
pointer
portable microphone
magnets
large picture flashcards
portable lined magnetic whiteboard
answer buzzers
board/card games
big pocket dice
laminated color cards
ABCD telepathy cards
magnetic letters
building blocks
foam dart gun
spinning wheel
gacha/toy-vending machine
Craft Supplies:
colored paper
magnetic tape
split pins
origami paper
craft/construction paper
thick paper/cardstock
acrylic paint
fabric paint
water-based washable paint
paintbrushes
Reward Supplies:
a way to distribute points for rewards
the reward itself
Those were all of my suggestions for supplies you need while teaching here in Korea! I hope some of this was at least useful to you, and again, if you use anything else that you find quintessential to your classroom, please let me know below.
