Korean Job Discussion Forums

[The Lemon]

Another poll asked about how much one would be willing to accept for private lessons. What the poll was lacking was an option for those teachers who don't or won't teach privates at all. And as of now, that thread has had 160 views, and 13 votes. So, making allowances for some repeated views by the same people, it's possible that the vote is indicating not so many people do privates.

The pro and anti-private camps have raged against each other for years. The antis talk about wanting to protect their free time, and avoid legal hassles. The pros talk about the lucrative money they make. Both sides claim that the majority of foreign teachers are in their camps.

Let's find out.

[edited to add poll options 7:58pm]

[kimcheeking]

perhaps we can change the poll options so that we have a

yes, been here for more than 2 years
yes, been here for less than 2 years
no, been here for more than 2 years
no, been here for less than 2 years

in order to reflect what was said in the other active thread today. I will vote after lemon decides whether to change or not.

[dutchman]

I just read the other thread and now you've started another. Why are you two so sensitive about the subject? You don't do them. That's great. Move on. Every time the subject comes up Lemon feels the need to defend his masculinity (really don't understand that one) and King feels the need to extol his virtuosity. Why can't you just let the subject die? If someone else had started the thread I have no doubt one of you would have locked it and responded with something like "the search function is your friend".

[kimcheeking]

actually the other thread was not started by either of us, and I almost locked it, but the poll was original, so I decided to leave it there.

We are usually firm in the rules but everything is not black and white. Anyhow questioning moderator actions in public is not encouraged... the locking thing was uncalled for.

virtuosity, manliness, sure that's fine - I don't like it, but you can say that. Just don't question our locking things in public. use the pm function.

[itaewonguy]

I do privates, it really helps out with my petrol money and cummuting to and from work, I NEVER ride the buses or subway and the pertol and car taxes do take a toll , so doing one or two privates a week really solves that problem for me and my family...

cheers..

P.S I turn down alot too, I am not greedy, I really love my free time also..
just take enough to cover expenses for gas and car which could be considered a luxury here..
you wont ever catch me on a subway AGAIN!!

[The Lemon]

[rudyflyer]

never have and never been tempted to do it. I value my time and my status here over any monetary gain

[dutchman]

[The Lemon]

There was no "0" option, thus this poll. Nor is there any rule that says people who don't do privates can't say so in that post. People who do them, like itaewonguy, are welcome to say so here.

What's the big deal? Relax. You're making me think you didn't want this question asked. Just a question.

[katydid]

I used to actively seek out teach private lessons, but can't see myself doing that anymore, because I really enjoy being able to do nothing during my free time. Last year, I worked at a hagwan and was all about the private lessons. I made about 1 million won extra per month for a three month period, but my weekends were shot to hell.
Also, I remember being asked to teach a couple of boys...yes during the weekend, and they were 5 or 6 in Western age. Now, can anyone guess how well that worked out?
I really enjoy having my afternoons and weekends free to futz around and do what ever. I also am truly against the idea of teaching English to kids who would be too young to even speak Korean properly.
I'd be open to language exchanges right now...but even then, what I really would prefer is paying someone to be my Korean teacher and not have to worry about preparing any outside lessons....especially since I doubt Immigration would say "Oh it was only a language exchange? Well, that's OK!" should someone get suspicious.

[The Bobster]

Um, I sort of liken the question of privates to the issues of abortion and marijuana back in the States, both of which I think ought to be legal and available. My answer to people who feel differently in each case is the same : "If you don't like abortions (or marijuana) then don't have them, but why spend a lot of energy convincing people who fell differently about it? These are not things that have a great affect on people other than those who are doing it, so why the debate and why the restrictions?"

Those in favor of teaching privately would be in for a letdown, though, if the regs changed and you could suddenly do it with no risk of penalties - it IS the risk of penalties that allow you to command such high hourly rates.

There are other good reasons to do privates besides the money, though, and I think this is something that gets left out of the debate ... I don't do them myself but for a while I did and I charged less than most people because I enjoyed the work of it much more than my daytime job.

[dutchman]

[kimcheeking]

[dutchman]

[The Bobster]