Korean Job Discussion Forums

[MollyBloom]

Aside from the perks, why would you/did you choose to work in a PS?

[sojourner1]

Possibly a public school would provide classroom materials such as visual aids, DVD player, a working set of 2 printers/copiers for the teachers office room, co-teacher team support, and possibly an overhead projector. I taught in a kindergarten hagwon and they wouldn't even provide pencils (cheap arses) as no kindergarten student normally brings school supplies like they begin doing in elementary such as the ones that came to me from 3 to 6PM after kindergarten lets out. In Korea, most elementary also fail to bring pencils and supplies, but will often bring a silly looking empty pencil case. LOL I bought many pencils, paper, supplementary books, music, and art supplies while maximizing my directors bonus in the process as her bonus is based on profits and losses. If in hagwon, my advice is don't waste your money as it's not going to matter in the long run those schools are only about making money.

I like the idea of not having to worry about a director screwing you out of money such as with pay, pension, taxes, and bills like how I experienced. The only way there would be an issue like this in public school is if you have a corrupt principal who is out to take the English program funds for himself out of greed like hagwon directors which I am sure happens in some schools. Like signing up for a hagwon position, it is a crap shoot, though I believe you have more of a chance at getting a good job that will not present a huge headache and strain on your health such as causing insomnia, anxiety, fear, irregular heart rhythm, and high blood pressure.

You will get more vacation or at least down time in a public school even if it says 14 working days in the contract. It will not be burnout like a hagwon though you probably will have a greater communication challenge than in a hagwon to accomplish what you will. Hagwon communication issues are intentionally brought by the director in most cases just to make you lose face and look irresponsible to get over on you.

As long as they set up the apartment and enlighten you on what all bills you have and how to pay them, it's all good. As long as you have transportation to a public school that wants you, it's all good. As long as you have some curriculum and materials or are allowed to take a trip Seoul or online to shop in putting it together, it's all good.

Downside, it's boring and you're the only English speaker or only foreigner and in many public schools, you are not allowed to leave on personal time for banking, physical fitness workouts at lunch, and such could prove problematic.

[aalais]

[MollyBloom]

Good responses, but what about the students? How are they compared to those that go to hagwons? The MS students I taught last year at a hagwon were really smart, and pretty fluent at English. By "fluency" I mean they could speak very well, but needed help on grammar and learning more advanced vocab. Most of the time you'd never think Korean was their first language.

[Atavistic]

I chose public school because I was sick of bullshit hogwon owners fucking me over.

And look, I've always gotten paid ON time and unlike my last hogwon, I haven't been evicted or screwed out of more than 2 million.

Oh, sorry. That's money BS, isn't it?

[Easter Clark]

I can focus on teaching and not have to worry about keeping enrollment up.

I never have to participate in marketing activities where my boss uses their token white faces to promote their school.

The freedom to create my own curriculum. If it fails I can learn from my mistakes and become a better teacher in the process. Being spoonfed what to teach (like at a hagwon) will stifle your ability to plan creative lessons on your own.

IME, the friends I've made at my PS (all Korean) are more fun than the other waeguks I've met here.

Working at PS will improve your Korean much faster than working somewhere that has several other foreigners working with you.

The free time (but that's just because I'm lazy!). I'm starting (finishing) my Masters degree soon, and I think the teaching load at a hagwon wouldn't allow me to do that.

OT gets me an extra 200k/month and I'm still home by 5:15.

[MollyBloom]

[Gamecock]

Why work in a hogwan? (no BS about smaller classes and higher level students please!)

Sorry, my BS beats your BS.

[Toju]

PS - money on time.
PS - O/T paid at good rate.
PS - No BS students.
PS - Respect from students and school alike.
PS - Good hours.
PS - Good vacations.
PS - Your choice of what to teach.
PS - Awesome facilities, with support.
PS - No fear of closure.
PS - Curriculum that is easy to teach.
PS - Lots of days when they have tests, PE days, trips, revision.
PS - 20 classes over 5 days rather than more than 30 per week.
PS - Free rein to discipline where needed.
PS - No report cards or evaluations needed.
PS - HS? Awesome students.
PS - GHS? Even better students.
PS - FLHS? Fantastic, motivated students.
PS - Cheap lunch.

[Gamecock]

Actually, I enjoyed teaching higher level students in hogwanland, however I grew VERY tired of the seeming multitude of mini-tyrants who I worked under who knew little (or really cared less) about education. All they really cared about was making more Won. So they controlled and changed everything on the whim of popular trends and adjummah pressure. Constantly being reminded that we must "keep enrollment up" made me feel more like an economic commodity than a real teacher. Without a doubt, my work atmosphere now is FAR less stressful. Not going home exhausted every day from teaching an excessive schedule as well as dealing with the emotional BS of hogwanland, I find that I have the energy to put the extra effort into my class preparations to make them fantastic, and not just adequate.

Working in the public school, the classes are larger (although only slightly in my more rural area), and the English ability of the students is lower. Yet I have the opportunity to teach students who otherwise cannot afford hogwans, which is very rewarding. And though their level is lower, they are in no less need of a good teacher. Working in the same school for a 2nd year, I see great improvement in their English ability. As well, my schools offer extra English classes for kids who really want to grow and learn, which provides a more intensive and smaller class atmosphere. I don't want to mention all the extra OT pay this provides as well...

[Adventurer]

The trick is to get a good public school job, because many of them are also not so good. Generally, public schools are better than hagwons, but sometimes you can end up in a bad situation at a public school that would remind you of a hagwon. I would ask many questions before taking a PS job like the size of the apartment, talk to a former teacher who worked there, if possible. I have known people who went to both good and bad situations in the public sector. You generally do have more freedom and less pressure at a public school, I would think.

[Yu_Bum_suk]

[Toju]

Anyone could work in a FLHS and see why teaching that level is such a good, rewarding job. My school rocks.....

[Easter Clark]

[MollyBloom]

Well, if you are trying to get a job with SMOE, how do you talk to FT's and find out how the school is if you have no idea where you will be placed?

It seems you can't find out with SMOE, so you just cross your fingers and hope for the best.