Korean Job Discussion Forums

[R. S. Refugee]

I'm curious to hear from any of you with personal experience at foreign language high schools about their similarities and differences from other public schools.

More prep time?
Giving tests?
Giving homework?
Marking homework?

What kind of things does one have to do at these schools compared to regular public schools?

Thanks.

[fustiancorduroy]

Hi,

I work at Korea's top FLHS. The students are all high-level English speakers and most are hard-working. I enjoy teaching there.

I teach the first and second graders, each with its own textbook and lesson plan. So far, I've been largely going by the book (meaning my prep. time isn't too great) but I plan to start using more of my own material in the coming months. I'd say I spend about an hour each week on prep.

I give pop vocabulary quizzes that I made for each unit. I grade the students' tests thoroughly. The other English teachers and I will be making a final semester exam soon.

I give homework, usually a research and writing assignment, or writing vocabulary. Of course I check and grade their work.

I keep a detailed grade book for every class. Most of the students are so concerned about their grade it's almost ridiculous. But it's nice to have students who pay attention and participate in class.

Other perks include a 9:30 to 3 o'clock schedule (though I usually stay a bit late to grade papers, write lesson plans, etc.), pay over 3 million Won a month, and lots of vacation time.

[R. S. Refugee]

[yakey]

Seems like the FLHS near me, which opened a few years ago, has lost a lot of its foreign staff, if that tells you something.

So I would guess, like universities, hogwans and public schools in Korea, everything is hit and miss.

[Jackofall]

I work at a Foreign Language High School. The facilities are great and the students for the most part are excellent. I mean they have to have a high level of ability to even get into the school. In fact a lot of my students have lived abroad so they speak almost perfectly.

It is a lot more work because I see my students for 4 hrs a week and their levels are so high but in the end i think it is more rewarding. I give no home work since i only teach Oral English.