Korean Job Discussion Forums

[applesandshanana]

I've been seeing a few postings lately for academies that claim to teach SAT prep and AP classes (like this: http://www.stevenacademy.com ). Are these just your run of the mill hagwon or do they actually teach what they claim to? Does anyone have any experience working at one?

I would really prefer teaching an AP class in my subject area to teaching English, but I don't want to get caught up in the mess of hagwons.

[faster]

There are plenty of SAT/AP prep hagwons around, yeah.

[applesandshanana]

Do the problems of ESL hagwons tend to come up with them as well?

[robot]

Steven Academy is decent place to work.

They're exclusively test (SAT, AP, TOEFL, etc) and entrance (FLHS, Ivy League admission essays) prep.

Like any hagwon, they've got their share of problems. The schedule is all splits, as most instructors teach a variety of subjects, and the academy fills the afternoons with 1-on-1 privates. During intensives, 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. shifts were the norm -- and some instructors brag about putting in 15-hour-days. Sometimes, there's no time for meals, so instructors just have food ordered to their classroom and eat while they teach. There's also no set curriculum, which means you need to set your own -- which could be good or bad, depending on how you look at it.

However, the pay is fair -- starts at 40,000 won/hr and goes up from there if you're good. Do well, sell your classes, and you can make a doctor's wage.

If you don't mind working weekends, this could be the position for you. It also helps if you speak Korean, as few of the admin do (or at least did), are American, have a degree from a top U.S. university, and can demonstrate excellence at the subject you teach.

And when you want out, you'll find the academy is a good stepping stone to sweet positions elsewhere...

[faster]