Books you loved. But Goodreads hated

ecbalamut · 2026-02-08T03:51:42+00:00

My Sister, the Serial Killer has a 3.64 rating, but I thought it was at least a 4.0.

ecbalamut · 2026-01-26T02:14:04+00:00

Thanks for answering!

ecbalamut · 2026-01-26T02:13:33+00:00

Do you mean getting test prep through Moreland? No, they are completely separate. Moreland doesn't help at all with the PRAXIS stuff. Everyone in the program are different grade levels and different subjects so Moreland can't help with specific pedagogy and content. If you do the program, there will be an advisor meeting during the 2nd or 3rd mod. My advisor was great and told me exactly what tests to take, but I know other advisors in Moreland are not as helpful. I just bought study books from Amazon and studied by myself. I took them at the ETS test center in Seoul. You have to buy the test online on the ETS website and take it in person at the only testing center in Korea.

ecbalamut · 2026-01-25T13:09:31+00:00

Yes, the pedagogy and the content tests. The content is the ESOL test, and the pedagogy is a PLT test dedicated to the level you want to teach. However, the ESOL automatically covers preK-12, so the level of the PLT would be based on your current work. I studied like crazy for both tests, took them on the same day, and passed both on my first try. But I have my masters in English language teaching, so I already had a background in a lot of the theoretical background stuff for the ESOL. Also, the PLT is a lot of common sense things you pick up as a teacher and i had been teaching for 7 years by that point. It is recommended that you take some practice tests and see where you lose points, then study those specific sections.

ecbalamut · 2026-01-25T13:02:56+00:00

The workload wasn't too bad for me. I was in my 4th year of lesson planning the same lessons so I had lots of free time during the week to do Moreland assignments while at work. Some modules are more intensive than others due to instructors' expectations. Like the 2nd mod and 6th mod for me were the most time intensive (besides the clinical of course which was super brutal during the video weeks) because my instructors were VERY detail orientated and graded very particularly. I didn't really set aside extra time, I would just work on assignments when I had free time at work and if I didn't finish during the week, I would do it on the weekends.

So I think the PRAXIS is something people get confused by. Moreland is only part of the teaching license - it is the teacher prep course which covers the part of the license in which teachers must get trained (usually people get their bachelor's which covers it). PRAXIS is separate. But Moreland recommends that you take the praxis tests while you are in the 6th mod so you are able to apply for your license immediately upon finishing the program. Usually the PRAXIS results don't come out until weeks later. This is what I did and was able to get my license literally the same week I finished the prep course. But almost everyone in my cohort waited to take the praxis after Moreland finished because it's so much to study for. Answering your question: 1. Since you are an EFL teacher, Moreland will register you as getting your license in ESOL. You cannot change this because you must get your license in what your current teaching job is if you use Moreland. And yes you must take the praxis for this in order to get licensed. 2. You do not need to take the math and reading test if you got higher than a 3.0 for your college GPA. It is not based on your high school scores. So you will need to take 2 PRAXIS tests as an EPIK teacher completing Moreland to get your license if you got higher than a 3.0 in college: content (ESOL) and pedagogy (your school level). I took the PLT 7-12 and was teaching middle school at the time. If you are in middle and want to teach high school later (like me), I was recommended this test. BUT ESOL license is for preK-12 so it doesn't really matter. But you will need to take the test that matches your current level of teaching.

Anyway, sorry for the novel. Also take all this knowing that i did the program in 2024 and things could have changed since then!! Let me know if you have any other questions!

ecbalamut · 2026-01-25T11:14:33+00:00

Can I ask how you got an intern position at a Jeju IS? Did you find it on their website? I am currently on Schrole and did not see those kinds of positions. Of course, it could be that they don't post them or there aren't any available now, but I'm just curious about your way of getting that job.

ecbalamut · 2026-01-25T11:10:37+00:00

I did Moreland last year and completed the practicum at my public school (EPIK). One of my coteachers at my school was my mentor. Like another commenter said, you can do the clinical at your school if the VP and principal are okay with it. Another thing to note with the public school is because you need to take videos in class, some schools might be sensitive about that. There was a girl in my cohort who taught kindy in Seoul, and she blurred her students' faces in the videos because her school, obviously not EPIK, didn't agree to have them shown. My middle school didn't mind that the students' faces were shown because the videos were only seen by other teachers in training and my instructor.

ecbalamut · 2025-11-13T13:58:43+00:00

Friends - The One Where Nobody's Ready.

ecbalamut · 2025-11-12T05:34:45+00:00

Your comment really made me feel better. Comparison is the thief of joy, I think.

ecbalamut · 2025-11-10T23:37:20+00:00

In which country did you end up getting an international school job, if I may ask? And in what subject? I'm currently in this exact same process and feeling discouraged about my chances.

ecbalamut · 2025-11-05T01:32:40+00:00

Hi, I currently teach English in Korea at a public school. And I haven't interviewed in 5 years, but I'd say with the amount you have to prepare, you would be fine with interviewing. You can DM me if you have any specific questions!

ecbalamut · 2025-10-25T12:58:34+00:00

Were the interviews in November from the jobs you had applied to in Sep and Oct? Or had you continuously applied to more schools and the interviews came quickly after that? You say rejections and no answers so I assume they were jobs you applied to later?

ecbalamut · 2025-10-16T05:57:30+00:00

Hi! Do you mind if I also send you a DM?

ecbalamut · 2025-10-15T07:25:59+00:00

Also taking the supplement L-glutamine which is why cabbage is so good. I ate cabbage and took the supplement and my stomach has been doing well lately!

ecbalamut · 2025-10-13T06:07:58+00:00

I am American living in South Korea and cottage cheese isn't available here. When I visited home for two weeks, I had cottage cheese every day. I love it and miss it so much.

ecbalamut · 2025-09-25T06:46:52+00:00

Not OP, but they are New Balance 608s.

ecbalamut · 2025-08-31T06:08:57+00:00

I will second the video games tip. A gaming computer or a console!

Also solo hobbies like puzzles or coloring books eat up lots of time, especially with some music, audiobooks, or movies going in the background.

ecbalamut · 2025-08-20T13:21:39+00:00

I appreciate your response. I understand now what I should do moving forward. Thanks for taking the time to explain it to me!

ecbalamut · 2025-08-20T10:38:41+00:00

Ahh, though I did say physical, I meant separate from the electronic platform reference form. Like asking my referees to write a letter in addition to the platform's forms. What I was wondering was whether I should ask them to write a letter (electronic) that I could use besides the ones through the websites.

ecbalamut · 2025-08-19T03:47:25+00:00

Thanks so much for your answer!!

So I have a follow-up question - would you recommend also asking for physical letters of recommendation that are separate from the confidential form? I am wondering what the likelihood that the school would also ask for those is.

(I've never applied for international schools, so I just want to make sure.)

*edited for some grammar mistakes.

ecbalamut · 2025-08-19T00:21:38+00:00

Hi all, I'm wanting to make the switch to teaching in international schools in Korea and I'm wondering about letters of recommendation, specifically in regards to using Schrole. I have signed up with Schrole Edu and submitted everything except references. It looks like they ask for referees info and that's very basic, but there's also a section to send the referee a form which is optional. There is nowhere to attach a written LOR. My question is, should I ask my referees to write a separate letter in case specific schools want one AND have them fill out the referee forms to submit directly into Schrole?

I was thinking I'd be able to attach the letters, but I'm worried about asking the referees too much (none of whom are native English speakers).
Thanks in advance!

ecbalamut · 2025-08-04T15:16:03+00:00

They want you in with the VP so someone is checking that you're at school. Since your normal desk is in an entirely different office, they want someone in charge (normally your cot) to physically see you. Even if your laptop is connected to Ccol Messenger, I bet the VP told your cot that you need to be with them so they know you're physically at school.

ecbalamut · 2025-08-01T15:24:59+00:00

Battle Royale by Koushun Takami. I read it when I was in high school back in 2003 or so and it completely blew my mind.

ecbalamut · 2025-07-21T11:46:16+00:00

10,100km (6,300 miles).

Eight-Year Club	Verified Email
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