Korean Job Discussion Forums

[kimcheeking]

My current job is good 20 hours with 14 weeks of vacation 2.1. I'm at school exactly 20 hours a week, but I prep about another 12 or so.

My new job starting in March will be better. 12 hours per week, 8 weeks vacation, 2.3 per month with OT at 34,000.

[shawner88]

Maybe it's time I give up hagwoning and slacking. While easy it's unrewarding, to say the least. I find I am most fulfilled and genuinely interested when I'm teaching my adult class. I actually like preparing for it and introducing new lessons. With the kids, I'm just going through the motions and have become jaded.

I guess I don't have many options seeing as I only have a BA, but at least it's a BA in English Education from SUNY (state uni of NY) with 5 years teaching experience (2 in the states, 3 here) with references. I'm guessing to get the jobs you guys have you must have an M.A. right? How many applications does your university get for an opening? Do they hire mostly within Korea. I bet a lot of applications come from overseas. Just curious...

[the_beaver]

[some waygug-in]

So with just a BA, I should be qualified? All my Korean friends tell me that I should move on to a university job, but I do feel intimidated by the prospect. I know there are many people with just a BA doing it, but I really have no clue how to teach a class of 50 or 60 students. I have no idea what books would be appropriate and I don't know if I could do "lecture" classes.

I need there to be some interaction between the teacher and students.

That being said, does anyone have any advice for me? I am sick of hagwans. I have 4 years of "teaching" experience, so that should count for something.

Thanks for your time
Some waygug-in

[kimcheeking]

When you get a university job ask to observe your colleagues and get some advice. I also saw a book at kyobo for teachign large multi-level classes. You may find that useful.

google is your friend, I"m sure you will find lots of lesson plans or advice on this topic.

[katydid]

Waygug-in,
You may luck out...I know of some schools that give you the books you will teach from in class. You might be able to input your opinion of the book, and what you would like to use, but lots of schools just hand you th book and say "Right. There you are."
I think after 4 years here, unless you've been teaching in a soju haze all this time I would say you should know what works for students and what doesn't. Not sure what type of hagwan you are working at, but uni can be a whole new kettle of fish: working with the completely burned out student.

[jpal75]

I get a pay increase every time I renew my contract. It's fantastic!!!

[some waygug-in]

I've taught everything from primary classes to conversation classes for businessmen. I've also taught the odd writing class, grammar class and or whatever else in between.
But I've never taught groups larger than about 22, usually around 8 or 10.

I think you are right, it is a completely different kind of teaching. That's why I'm a bit "hesitant" to just jump into a university job.

But I suppose, it's either bite the bullet and give it a shot or head back to the hagwan land of dreams and screams.

thanks for your thoughts.
Cheers

[Arthur Fonzerelli]

I officially teach 18 hours at a uni, but my actual teaching time is 11 hours a week....

since I've been teaching the same book for 2 years, I don't even have to prepare anything....

It's a sweet gig...

[katydid]

Damn...I am so ^*%%^*&$!! jealous of you all.

[Kyrei]

16 hours a week (this semester, 14 next) and three days a week - 2.5 mil. Five months paid holidays. I design my own course and run it as I like. No hagwon can beat that.

Kyrei

[Alvin Stardust]

Want to re-ignite the college v hogwon debate..., it made for great reading!

If you teach at a private university or a national one, often the language center does a lot more than just university students. For example, at my (national) university, class limit is 16, 'conversation (General English)' courses, mix of uni' students & adults from the local community, plus a couple of kiddy classes per day. No 'teaching assistants' (I stopped that daft idea after I first arrived), freedom to choose/set your own course books. Nobody in the main office pokes their nose into my business ('cos they haven't got a clue about what's supposed to go on in a classroom). The 'power' to remove any student from any course (kids that is), own classroom with all mod-cons, 3 months paid holiday etc... whoopie sh*t for me I hear you say.

My point is that you can have the best of both worlds in a university. You can still see your kids every day, for all those Canadian-type group hugs, plus you've got the adults to balance things out, with little or no crap from the main office. You've got to be firm but friendly with both students & any 'management'. I'm sure there are possibly one or two hogwons where life is oh' so lovely, but most are businesses run by people who thought 'Hmm... that's a good idea' with no business-sense or teacher/student social skills. You could argue that that's the case in some universities... maybe, but they don't usually worry about the loot, 'cos it's not theirs (although some of it may find its way into their pockets through other channels). Hogwon? No way! Any teacher with a degree can work at a uni'. Lucky that most hogwon teachers don't know that! More choice for those that do. After a uni', you'll never go back to a hogwon (unless your uni' was really crap).

[Pyongshin Sangja]

Well, well. Do your university salaries include an apartment? Mine does, there were two contracts. One was MWF, 12 hours per week, NO HOUSING NO SUBSIDY, 1.8 mil. The other was M-F, 15 hours per week, free bachelor pad, 1.8 mil. Both have 5 months off. Not as good as some, but better than the hagwon and the FLEC I used to teach at which was M-F, 30 hours per week, 2.3 mil, free shared pad, 10 weeks off. Not bad, but I went for the mega vacations and the freedom to make more on the side.

[Alvin Stardust]

Yup, decent size house actually, large kitchen/bathroom, 2 bedrooms. No sharing, etc. 18 hours per wk, 2 mil', plus overtime if wanted. Universities rule!

[Holden]

Sounds likeheaven on earth....