Korean Job Discussion Forums

[digahbleh]

hi, thanks for all those who responded back to my wonderland post, i really appreciate the feedback.
Another question:
What's the deal with public schools? are there any people out there who have worked in public schools? how are they?
anyone who has worked in both public and private? what are the positives and negatives?
again, i appreciate all the comments. making the decision is complicated from abroad and the more info the better, thanks
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[ttompatz]

[Milwaukiedave]

Public school jobs really depend on the provience and the schools themselves. I worked for a year at an Incheon Public School and loved it.

I was treated well and never worried about getting paid on time. They provided a larger apartment (because I'm married) and give you a settlement allowence.

The staff was always nice to me and helped me. My co-teachers were (and still are) my friends. The Korean teachers who don't teach English are sometimes more difficult to get to know because they have a limited English vocabulary, but I made friends with several of those teachers as well. I did have one female co-teacher when I first got there who had a bit of a fridgid personality and thankfully she went on maternity leave less then two months after I got there.

There are some pros and cons to public schools (in fact someone wrote an excellent summary of those recently).

My advice is do a lot of research and ask questions before you sign a contract.

[ttompatz]

This one?

http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/posting.php?mode=quote&p=1339238

[Dome Vans]

Contracted holiday is another important consideration when looking at the right province.

Different Offices of Education, schools interpret the contracts in different ways.

Pro: Contracts may stipulate that you get 14/20 days holiday, but in reality you get 3 weeks for summer break and 6 weeks for the winter break, which is well over the stated amounts. And you get paid for them.

Con: Some provinces keep to the contracted holiday entitlement and will make you come in and work/sit for weeks in January even though there are no students. Maybe a little time in the summer, that's if there are no summer camps. And sometimes you don't get paid extra for the summer camp anyway.

I'm lucky to be in the former category.

[Milwaukiedave]

Yep..that's the one.

[naturegirl321]

[syun79]

That depends on the school. Technically, you aren't allowed to live with another person in your apartment unless they are another teacher (it would be considered shared housing), but my school was cool with my hubby living with me...he's Korean. My apartment is a really good size though and more than big enough for the two of us.

As for the pros and cons...Well, public school is a government job and you are considered a teacher, not an instructor. In Korea, titles are a really important thing. At the public schools, you are more inclined to be here for the full eight hour day, but there are a lot of days that classes are cancelled or you get to leave early and still get paid for it. Many hagwons do not pay you for cancelled classes and you still have to stay past your eight hours of teaching because you have to plan lessons or grade papers. They also require eight (60 or 50 min. classes) for the eight hour day. At public schools, it's eight hours (ex. 9-5) that you stay there, but you only end up teaching 4-5 classes that are from 40 min. (elementary) to 50 min. (high school). And lunch hour. Public schools offer more paid vacation, more sick leave, better health insurance, and maternity leave (also paid). Public schools also offer leave for extenuating circumstances (death in the family). I've never had an overnight camp at my schools, but they do have winter and summer camps as stipulated in contract. Private schools can sometimes offer a better salary.

Personally, I prefer public schools.

[naturegirl321]

That's weird. I guess I'll have to ask for a housing allowance when my husband comes.

They told me that it's a studio one room apartment, so that's a big scary, I'm not sure how small it's going to be.

Here in Peru, I've been working 14 hour days, so 8 sounds great!

[syun79]

Yeah, it depends on the area that you are going to live in. Also for public schools, if you live out in the more country type areas they will pay you an extra (I think) 300,000 won a month. I would ask the recruiter if it's possible to get a pic of the apartment. We live in what they call an officetel. It's about the size of an efficiency apartment back home...they had no problem with us living together (I told the principal and he was cool with it). It really depends on your school. It's a lot more convenient because you don't have to buy any furniture or appliances and stuff. If you have any questions, you can always PM me, too! Glad to help!

[yingwenlaoshi]

[naturegirl321]

I haven't seen a picture, but I'm not really used to Western housing, I've been outside of the US for six yeras now, and used to Peruvian style. About living together, they know that my husband will be coming, but not until Jan. Depending on the size of the flat, we might have to look for something else.

[syun79]

yingwenlaoshi: not lies. From my experience. Granted, it's not all and you can find a few good ones, but those are rare, too. Your opinion and mine may differ, but to call me a liar is just spiteful. There should be no name calling.

[BS.Dos.]

I'm really enjoying the whole PS experience. Granted, I've only been at it for 6-weeks, but so far, so good.

I've also just started teaching at another local school, a girls MS, for which I teach an additional 6-classes per week, which is on top of my 13-hours at my HS. Initially, I was worried about the work load as I'm still cutting my teaching teeth so to speak and have been trying to make my lessons as interesting and as dynamic as possible without simply resorting to teaching prescriptively from a text book. However, as my MS students are at a very low level, I can get away with drilling them with simple dialogues for now as has been requested by my co-teacher. However, I intend to steer away from the book once my co-teachers trust in me builds and she lossens the teaching leash a little as is the case at my HS where I enjoy complete classroom autonomy. Having the opportunity to teach both both boys and girls and in schools of different ages is a unique opportunity and one which I feel can only add to the overall teaching in Korea experience. Furthermore, this teaching variation will hopefully also assist in my development as a teacher. It's a kind of win-win situation for everyone.

I couldn't possibly comment on private schools, but within the context of the PS system, so far, I feel respected and appreciated and am enjoying the experience immensely. Choosing a PS in Korea has definitely been one of my better decisions and while I'd be the first to admit that there's still time for the proverbial wheels to fall off, I've no reason to suspect that that will happen.

[yingwenlaoshi]