Korean Job Discussion Forums

[J.B. Clamence]

I've never worked for a hagwon here, but I've worked in hagwon-type schools in other countries, and I have to say, I love my uni job here so much better. I don't think I'll work in another hagwon again. Of course the short hours and vacation are great (as already mentioned), but I also love the freedom and the lack of burden.

By freedom, I mean that I can basically do what I want and no one really tells me what to do. (I'm not sure how common this is at other universities). Also, if I need to cancel some classes to go to the dentist or something important, I can just tell the students not to show up that day. No university student will ever complain about having a class cancelled, and the Korean profs don't mind because they do it, too (in fact, they do it for even less important reasons).

And by "lack of burden": When I worked at hagwons, I taught adults, and the philosophy there was that the students (read: customers) were always right. They often didn't do their homework, didn't study, didn't pay attention, talked in class, answered their cell phones, and basically did whatever they pleased ("Oh no teacher, we don't want to do that today. We're tired.) and it made my job difficult because I was still expected to keep the students "happy" by teaching them things even though they often wouldn't help me by doing their part. At the uni, I don't have that problem anymore! I never get upset, never get angry, never stress out, and never take it personally. My attitude is: My students are not children. As adults, they are responsible for their education and the grade that they receive. Therefore, if they're not doing what they should be doing, their grade will suffer, and there is no reason for me to give a damn. No homework? No problem. You get a 0. No stress on my part. Missed half of the lectures and never even bothered to bring the book to the ones you did attend? No problem. You get an F. Congratulations. Again, no stress on my part. At my hagwons, students would complain about teachers who told them off for using their cell phones in class and being disruptive (and even teachers who didn't pass them to the next level because they never showed up). Of course, in the face of such complaints, the customers were always right. As a result, the teachers had no control over their classes. Now, I'm the boss. You didn't show up this semester? You fail. Use your cell phone in class one more time and you can leave. You got a problem with that? File it in my complaint department. I'll turn around and bend over so you can see where it is. Go back to a hagwon?? *%@& no!! Not after I've tasted freedom, baby!!

Now before you get the impression that I'm just a b*%$#@^ who doesn't give a damn, let me say that a lot of my students are well behaved and do their part, and I believe they benefit from my lessons. And I go out of my way for them as well. The point of my tirade was not to say that I don't care, but to express the feeling of the liberation that comes with being in complete control of the class and to not have to put up with crap from customer-students. I've never met a hagwon teacher who enjoyed that freedom.

[mslaoshi]

I just got a job that pays 2.6 mil a month to start. 30 hours a week teaching kids in an arts camp. 40 hours total. Paid housing, transportation provided.

This is a govt. sponsered job. How does it sound?
This is my first time going out of the country to work.

I am a bit nervous. I will sign the contract in the next week.

Let me know what ya'll think.

mslaoshi

[kangnamdragon]

In this economy, 2.6 sounds good for a teacher. congrats.