With 7 years of experience teaching ESL in South Korea, I observed that new teachers at Korean hagwons (private after-school academies) often lack guidance and structured onboarding. Hagwons typically provide little formal training, leaving teachers to adapt on the fly while managing classrooms and navigating life in Korea. Inspired by these challenges, I designed a comprehensive onboarding program for Rainbow Island Academy to help new teachers feel confident, supported, and prepared to deliver high-quality instruction from day one.
Rainbow Island Academy – Teacher Onboarding & Training Program
Self-initiated project demonstrating instructional design, onboarding, and L&D skills
Problem
Korean hagwons often lack structured onboarding. New teachers are thrown into classrooms with little guidance, leading to inconsistent teaching, communication gaps with co-teachers and management, and stress navigating work and life in Korea.
Solution
I designed a comprehensive onboarding program for Rainbow Island Academy, including:
Step-by-step materials (PPT and teacher booklet) covering school policies, schedules, and classroom expectations
A 3-day hands-on training schedule with shadowing, age-group curriculum meetings, and classroom prep
Age-specific curriculum guides, sample weekly schedules, phonics teaching guides, and classroom setup checklists
Clear communication channels with co-teachers and Head ELT
A first-month HR checklist for visa, health check, and pay setup
Rainbow Island Academy Onboarding
Onboarding Video
Introduces school, staff, classrooms, and curriculum
Highlights both academic learning and fun, hands-on activities
Shows school culture and co-teacher collaboration
Teacher’s Guide
Mirrors the onboarding PPT for note-taking and reference
Covers policies, expectations, daily schedule, curriculum, and first-month tasks
Supports teachers to feel confident and prepared from day one
Additional Materials
Alongside the onboarding video and teacher’s guide, I created supplementary resources to support new teachers during their first weeks:
3-Day Training Schedule – guides shadowing, classroom prep, and age-group curriculum meetings
Age-Specific Curriculum Guides – shows what to teach, pacing, and learning goals for each grade
Classroom Setup Checklist – ensures classrooms are ready with materials, seating, and positive learning tools
Phonics Teaching Guide – step-by-step instructions for delivering Sadlier Phonics lessons
Sample Weekly Schedules – color-coded, flexible schedules to help teachers plan efficiently
Why It Matters:
These materials provide a structured, supportive learning experience, reduce stress for new teachers, and make sure instruction is consistent and aligned with school goals. By having clear references, teachers can focus on teaching effectively instead of figuring out logistics or guessing expectations.
By providing clear guidance and resources, new teachers can focus on delivering engaging, high-quality lessons right from the start.
