Teaching EPIK

I've had a few teaching jobs so far and on my contract it's always said: English Conversation Instructor
This means instructing students how to speak/use English. Usually during the hour you are in the room you will spend about 30%-40% of the time setting up activities, helping correct mistakes, drilling etc.
However in this job I find myself being 'on' well over the usual amount simply because the students don't like to express opinions (in class) or use self-directed learning.

So how does that effect my role in class?
Well, it seems for a large part you are several things:

1. Entertainer: Keep the kids amused for the full hour
2. Miracle worker: You must get shy teenagers to speak-out
3. Cultural Advisor: You need to learn and point out the differences in our cultures and how it effects interaction.

For me they are all pretty tough, but that's why your here right? So the first two are quite straight forward:
1. To entertain them means creating a good lesson plan, joking around in class, connecting with the kids
2. To coax English means a little from No.1 and general patience/persistence

The third one, for me, is the most important. When it comes to their English education you can but do all you can but unless you really are a miracle worker then you might not see much progress. However when it comes to the cultural side of things you can really make a difference.

For several weeks running I did a series of classes that focused purely on how to interact while conversing in English. This involved pushing the big four:

Eye Contact
Gestures
Volume
Intonation

Through aspects of the Korean culture and simply being teens the above skills are severely lacking when they read dialogues or speak in class. After being persistent and often reiterating the importance of them I did see a marked improvement.

Other things to consider is how the students interact with yourself in class. Although I am a teacher in Korea I am not a Korean teacher and so expect the kids to learn how to treat me like a Westerner. Honestly they still struggle with this but I guess I haven't been pushing it enough.
Some key things to change in their behaviour include:

Calling you teacher: They should address me as Sir (as in English Schools) or by my name (my own preference)
Handing/Receiving objects: Koreans do this with two hands but Westerners don't so I point this out. Then it's up to them but as long as they are aware of it.
Being afraid of hitting: Students are often 'clipped around the ear' by the Korean teachers so if you go to touch them they may flinch. I just make a point of not hitting them in any way (unless obviously comical) so they trust me more.

There is one thing you must not forget............... that despite being treat in the school as a lesser teacher, you ARE one and YOU control the students.............. so if they mess up the room or you need help don't be afraid to keep them after class or tell them to pick up their trash if they litter at school (with a smile of course : )

One last note is perhaps obvious but I though I would mention it anyway...........You are being watched!
Of course there's no need to drop in some TV style danger music 'dum dum duuuuuummm' but it's true. People in school and around town are watching how you act in day to day life. There will be days when you don't give a rats arse but always try to be on your best behaviour. The amount of times I've seen a fellow Brit abroad and had to hang my head in shame or have the conversation: "where are you from"?, "I'm from England", "ohhh.... England, Football Hooligans.....".
If one Canadian is rude in a one foreigner town then that means that all Canadians will be seen as rude from then on. So 'put on a happy face' even when it's difficult.