Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Otago]

I am in the process of negotiating the minefield of finding a teaching position in Korea or China. Two questions:

1.Is the correct reference for private schools in Korea hagwon or hakwon/ I have noticed both used, which is correct?

2. Given the large difference between the salaries offered in Korea and China for what is basically the same job I am puzzled as to why anyone would go to China. I know the cost of living is cheaper in China but assuming both countries offer accommodation as part of the deal I cannot see what the attraction is in China. Is there something in the equation I am missing?
Any comments would be appreciated

[tob55]

Simple enough questions...

I am not a Korean language scholar by any means, but here goes...

The Korean character "ㄱ" carries both the "K" and "G" sound, so when saying it, the word usually carries the "G" sound...I just spoke with two Korean teachers I am sitting next to and they informed me that Koreans would prefer to spell it using the "K" instead of the "G", but they both admitted that the spelling is correct either way...There you have it for this questions...

It is commonly known (or maybe not) that Korea and a couple of other countries offer people looking for jobs the best opportunity to save moeny when working abroad for many reasons, but I would guess there are number of reasons why someone would choose a place like China, Thailand or other parts...It really depends on what your want to see and do when you are working...China is vastly larger than any other Aisna country you will visit so some people probably like the opportunity to see many things...Just my thinking on it...

[Fishead soup]

When I first came here it was Kyouggi-do now its Gyouggi -do

[boyne11]

It's "Hogwon."

Is it Busan or Pusan?

[CentralCali]

Be happy! They're both correct. It just depends on which romanization (that's romanisation if you're not American) system you use.

[Pak Yu Man]

In Korean it's more of a K than a g. People who say g are using the 'English' word. If anyone doesn't agree with me. Ask a Korean to speak the word slowly. You'll hear the k.

It should be Busan (the b should is a little stronger) and it should also be Daegu.

Edit: Koreans mangle English, so it's your duty to destroy Korean.

Call it a Hakgwon. Screw everyone else and their opinions

[bjonothan]

Hogwon is the most retarded way to spell it. The romanisation of Korean gives me the willies. I think that is the biggest reason why their language is so hard for so many people to learn and also why both languages are slaughtered. Hakwon or Hagwon are ok....

[krjames]

The problem is simply that there are a number of romanisation systems floating around. The government brought out a new system in 2000 to cope with the internet (I think) as it doesn't have any of those grammatical symbols as in the McCune-Reischuaer system which was the main system before 2000.

Of course if you come to Korea, just learn the alphabet 한글 and life becomes easier.

So really the correct spelling is 학원. hakwon in the post 2000 system.

And yes, it was confusing to see to different sets of spellings on signs. I thnk learning the hangeul is the best thing to help enjoy living here. Actually it was the lack of an alphabet system that put me off China, as much as the lack of money!

Cheers

[Binch Lover]

[cbclark4]

So where does the silent 'L' come from.

As in Mr. Lee.

[jvalmer]

The ㄱ is generally a 'g' sound if in the initial position and a 'k' sound in the final position. However in the case of Hagwon, the next syllabal leads with a ㅇ, so the final position of the 'ㄱ' is assimilated into the inital of the second syllabal, in general speech. So, the word sounds more like 'ha-gwon' than 'hak-won' when said fast. But, if you say the world slowly Koreans will pronounce each syllabal alone. So if said slowly, a Korean will say 'hak-won'.

학원 sounds like 학권 (hagwon) when said fast
but when said seperatly will be like 학 - 원 (hak - won)

This may explain why a Korean will say the 'k' sound when said slowly...

[jvalmer]

[some waygug-in]

In response to your second question, I can only say what I've been told by friends who've been to both.



Of course, it depends where in China you go. China is a huge country and is completely different regionally. Most people I know say they liked the south near the coast but they hated the north and Bejing.

In addition to what has been said above;

they said that eventhough the money is not good in China, it is sufficient for a very comfortable lifestyle within China. The quality of life is far superior to that in Korea.

The Chinese are far less workaholics and thus there is far less stress placed on foreign teachers. They have long holidays and lots of breaks, less classes per week and they seem to be far more friendly towards foreigners than Koreans.

[Yu_Bum_suk]

Which is correct, Hanukkah, Chanukah, or Chanukkah?

[Fresh Prince]

If the typical native English speaker says, "hakwon" they will probably put too much aspiration into the "k." If they say, "hagwon" it will sound a lot closer to the Korean. The problem with this is that in Korean, it actually is closer to the "K" sound however this particular sound does not exist in the English alphabet and phonetic structure of the English language. So they both are correct but have different goals in mind. One goal is to help foreigners pronounce the words correctly, the other goal is to approximate the Korean pronounciation.

As far as why someone would choose China over Korea, that's a question that each individual would want to research on their own because it depends on individual goals and interests.