Korean Job Discussion Forums

[tonyvu]

A public school or private/hagwon? I would think it doesn't make a difference for non-teaching jobs.

But what about for the better teaching positions (Uni) in Korea?

How about general teaching positions in China, Taiwan, or Japan? Would either school type make a difference in how you are viewed as a teacher?

[PRagic]

It depends on what you plan on doing in the future. If you have your education degree (and your MA, if you're American), then of course the public school job looks much better.

If you're just here for a year or two to make some coin, see a bit of Asia, and pay off some debt, then I doubt it really matters. I guess that you could angle a crapwon (teaching adults) job description so that it inclined you were privy to the local work force and mindset.

Teaching kids at a crapwon? With any other degree than your BEd? Not going to impress anyone, at least in business. Do your time, pay down your debt, and get back to starting a career you can do long term.

[Paji eh Wong]

I don't think it matters much, but if you spend a couple of years, you probably need to be prepared to talk about your career progression and becoming better as a teacher.

[PRagic]

Oh, and as for university jobs in Korea, adult crapwon experience trumps experience teaching kids. MA TESOL/A.L. or MEd trump all experience, unless you know someone and have a great line of b.s.

[KoreanAmbition]

Pragic,

What about teachers in public school that teacher the higher grades?

I guess I'm surprised you rank Hagwons above public schools for moving into University jobs later on.

I know teaching the adults is closer to teaching the university students, but wouldn't the university care that at public school the teacher was probably more inclined to develop a real curriculum and stick to a routine, rather than at some Hagwons where who knows what the teacher did?

I'm just curious. I always though the public school would be better to get into the uni gigs.

Cheers

[PRagic]

Maybe. Pretty much the highest degree trumps, and then university level experience is considered; next comes type of degree and type of experience. If you had premo qualifications and were looking for a job in a university TESOL program teaching future Korean public school teachers, then the public school job experience might help.

Something that has been discussed on several threads, though, is the fact that in the coming years, there won't be much of a difference between university ESL jobs and public school jobs for those without the very best qualifications, certifications, and experience. The golden days of any degree+a year of experience to get into a full blown, 5-month a year off university job are pretty much at an end.

[icicle]

[KoreanAmbition]

Icicle,

I appreciate your comments. They are both intelligent and informative. Thanks for your input.

Regards,
KA

[PRagic]

I guess I see your point, and I hate to be a wet blanket, but no matter the experience, anything that comes after 'TOSSERS' or 'DING DANG DONG' on a resume, no matter how meticulously worded, will not be taken seriously by a potential employer.

There are loads of unqualified people doing curriculum development at institutes, but that doesn't mean they're doing it correctly. Also, the crapwon program and the public school program are two different animals, as are the objectives and work environments. So I stick by my original assessment: if you're a qualified teacher, go to a public school.

[reimund]

I agree with Icicle on this one. Truth is, experiences across all public schools and hagwons will vary. Some hagwons will be worse or better than typical public school experience. That said, it all comes down to the job description, what you were responsible for, and what, if any, improvements you've made while working at your school.

I've interviewed for some of the higher-end hagwons before, and they know the work involved with the average elementary public school: listen and repeating simple words, phrases, and sentences. And sometimes, it's not what they're looking for in terms of teaching experience.

Regardless of where anyone works, he/she just needs to be prepared to back up their work in the interview.