Korean Job Discussion Forums

thu_tinh · Joined: 27 Sep 2006

I'm collecting opinions from other Native English teachers about the advantages and disadvantages working in a public middle or high school.

I hope they won't be all negative.

Ryst Helmut · Posted: Thu Dec 06, 2007 6:33 pm Post subject:

I refuse to work at them...they're horrid. I mean, c'mon...dirt football pitches!

!shoosh,

der Ryst

nomad-ish · Posted: Thu Dec 06, 2007 7:10 pm Post subject:

i would never work at a hagwon. it's a business first, and you'll have to deal with the kids complaining to their parents if the classes aren't entertaining enough, and then you'll have to deal with the parents complaining about their kids not learning enough. lose-lose situation.

in public schools u won't have to deal with parents at all (or very little anyways). in addition, public schools cancel classes here and there, u will teach less than at a hagwon, and u will have less shady dealings than most hagwons.

duns0014 · Joined: 11 Jun 2007 Location: Ilsan

I'd recommend against it. It's the same mentality as a hogwan except you have forty kids in a class and you're the only foreigner there.

Dome Vans · Guest

Hogwan land has vastly more pitfalls than PS working. Would never think of taking a hogwan job.

Not taught in High school but the general consensus is that the students are more interested in looking in mirrors and having more of an apathetic approach to learning.

Teaching in a middle school is a lot better. You may have 30 students who are willing to learn, high school is a little more 30 students not wanting to learn. Take your pick.

The other thing is that unless your contract stipulates that you will work at one particular school, then it's highly likely you'll get moved around to whichever school the Office of Education wants you to go to. If the plan goes ahead to have a teacher placed in every middle school by 2009, then it's highly likely that Middle school is the only option.

MissT · Joined: 06 Apr 2005 Location: Korea

I worked at a hagwon for the worst year of my life.
Why? Stressful work environment, 30+ classes a week, few holidays in contract and I only got half of those, also horrible living conditions... If only I could go back in time and do more research on the evils of the hagwon!

I now work at a public middle school and it's SWEET! Oh, how sweet it is.
I'm on year 3 at this school and will be doing one more. Less than 18 classes per week, little stress, LOTS of holidays, and my apartment is much nicer with lots of appliances and furniture. Most importantly it's actually a professional working environment.

That's all I gotta say! Very Happy

oldfatfarang · Joined: 19 May 2005 Location: On the road to somewhere.

Use the search function or search on google - you'll see this topic discussed 100's of times.

As for me, I would never recommend a hagwon over my present public school job (15 hrs a week - heaps of holidays ). But it's not all roses. You better resign yourself to seeing a lot of kids being beaten and knocked around by their 'teachers'.

I'll never go back to a hagwon.

bbonthec · Joined: 07 Nov 2007

I have never worked at a public school, but I prefer hagwons anyways. Why? Evening shifts!!! Damn, I hate early mornings. Seriously, I am willing to suffer the longer work-hours in order to be able to sleep in a bit every day. :S

nomad-ish · Posted: Fri Dec 07, 2007 12:15 am Post subject:

jadarite · Posted: Fri Dec 07, 2007 1:11 am Post subject:

Where does "academy" fit in? Is that considered more like a public school than hagwon? I work at an academy and there are about 10 students per class (1st-7th grade). Classes are short, only 30 minutes, and the students often come 10 minutes late, LOL. Classes have never been canceled, but we often get only boys one day, girls the next because they have some event at school.

NightSky · Joined: 19 Apr 2005

MarionG · Joined: 14 Sep 2006

This is my first year in Korea. I work in a hagwon. It hasn't been without bumps, but I've basically been happy.

I'm well paid (well over average newbie salary) and well treated. My apartment is beautiful, great view, two bedrooms plus a kitchen/dining area area/sitting room, and I live alone.

I am expected to teach, not entertain. I am provided with materials. One parent said I was "too hard," but kept their child in the school.

I do not receive pension, but everything else has been without incident.

Yes, there are horrible hogwons, but there are nice ones too.

Flash Ipanema · Joined: 29 Sep 2006 Location: Seoul

bbonthec · Joined: 07 Nov 2007

oldfatfarang · Joined: 19 May 2005 Location: On the road to somewhere.

Determining your length of stay in TEFL teaching is important when choosing between a hagwon and a public school. In a hagwon, you make more money - quickly. But you teach a lot of contact hours (30+) - with only 10 days holiday a year. If you're only teaching for 1-2 years, that's doable but you'll be exhausted at the end of 2 years.

But, if you want to teach long-term - then public school is way better. In P.S. you have less contact teaching hours (and so you don't burn out quickly). The pay is usually less than a hagwon - but it's always there - no problems - guaranteed. So is your pension, medical etc. And, the biggie - you get holidays - lots of holidays - to rest - or travel to another country - or to go home.

I survived 2 years in a hagwon (8 days vacation 1st year & 10 days vacation 2nd year). It was exhausting. I'm just about to leave on a 5 week fully paid salary/flight vacation courtesy of my public school. Which job would you prefer?