Korean Job Discussion Forums

BRcouple · Joined: 08 Nov 2008 Location: Baton Rouge, LA

My wife and I are considering teaching together, but one of our main concerns at this point is our 7-year-old daughter's education.

Can we enroll her in a regular public elementary school? If so, what is this experience likely to be like for her? I'd appreciate any advice. Obviously, if we go this route, I would like for at least one of us to teach at the same school she attends.

I can't see how we could afford to put her into an international school, but I am a certified teacher with three years teaching experience, so I might be able to teach at an international school and negotiate a free or almost free tuition for her. The problem with this is that we wouldn't be able to go until August, and I don't want to wait that long.

Thanks in advance for all replies.

omma · Joined: 07 May 2008

Hi BRcouple
Our 7yr old daughter is currently in Grade 1 at a local school. We'd been here for 9month's before she started, so her Korean wasn't much past the greeting stage.

Initially she was treated like a superstar being the only foreigner at the school -we live out in the countryside. These days she feels more less like an outsider. Her class teacher fortunately speaks English & has been able to communicate with me regarding any issues. It hasn't been easy for, but she's quite eager to be at a school with other kids her age.

The school day only starts at 8:40 & ands at 12:30. We supplement her Korean schooling by teaching her Maths & English at home.

Hope this helps a bit.

laogaiguk · Joined: 06 Dec 2005 Location: somewhere in Korea

Don't. Spend enough for a good international school, or suck it up and go home to whatever job you can.

drunkenfud · Joined: 08 Mar 2007

Introduce her to M-Su. Not only is he the best teacher in the world, but when she's older he and his harem can school her in the...

...OK, I'll stop there. I'm so, so sorry

Embarassed

Seriously, if you do take the option of schooling her here, get the hell out before middle school at the latest. My experience of teaching at a rural middle school tells me this is the point where they turn normal healthy children into robots. Avoid at all costs.

BRcouple · Joined: 08 Nov 2008 Location: Baton Rouge, LA

BRcouple · Joined: 08 Nov 2008 Location: Baton Rouge, LA

ttompatz · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea

BRcouple · Joined: 08 Nov 2008 Location: Baton Rouge, LA

Mr. Pink · Joined: 21 Oct 2003 Location: China

The problem in Korea is kids don't go to school long enough in grade 1...so it is sort of a waste. IMO a 6-7yr old would learn Korean pretty fast, especially if you paid for extra lessons in the afternoon. Kids pick stuff up fast!

The thing is, for people who aren't Korean, it is such a useless language outside Korea!

Cheonmunka · Joined: 04 Jun 2004

I'd be more worried what she is going to do in the afternoon (and into the evening) while mum and dad are at work ...
What will she do from 1pm onwards? How will she get there, what if there is a small problem? You need friends in the neighborhoood with kids of the same age - so that the kids all atttend these places together.
There is taekwondo, crafts and reading, swimming perhaps, some other schooling academy. Do you want her to attend all of these everyday for for four or five hours - possibly walking by herself from place to place?

You could get her a cellphone however, one with GPS locator built in, easily enough ... but being an E2 you are only allowed one contract phone registered in your name so someone has to have a pre pay phone.

There are many things that you will have to work out.

BRcouple · Joined: 08 Nov 2008 Location: Baton Rouge, LA

Faunaki · Joined: 15 Jun 2007

Countrygirl · Joined: 19 Nov 2007 Location: in the classroom

I brought both my kids to Korea as well and they go to the same public school that I work at. So far, it's worked out well (1 1/2 years). My kids' Korean is fluent in as much as a kid learning a second language could be. The teachers have been great, they have lots of freedom (ie. go to the apartment playground without me having to hang around scoping out pedophiles), they have tons of friends and, except for missing out on Halloween, everything has been just as it was back home. My kids are in both grade 1 and 3. Oh yeah, they get to hang out in my office when they are not in class...the Korean teachers don't get this benefit.

The first 3 months were the worst when my kids were naturally very stressed about being in an all Korean environment. After 3 months everything was fine although they were still not fluent. Another thing that stressed us out were the constant colds that me and my kids kept getting. The first year was the worst for us.

Most of the posters that cry 'child abuse' concerning sending their kids to a Korean school don't have kids. Some posters, like Ttompatz, have good options on what to do other than Korean public schools. For me, it was the best choice. My husband is also Korean so our goal was for the kids to learn perfect Korean because learning Korean wasn't working in Canada.

Like other posters have said, I would probably try to get into an international school before sending my kids to middle or high school here. I would also consider not sending my kids to a rural elementary school as the kids and teachers seem to be more physical. But that is just based on speculation and gossip...I don't know for sure that rural schools are worse.

I have so much I could say about this subject, but I should keep it short. Feel free to PM me if you have any questions at all.

Countrygirl · Joined: 19 Nov 2007 Location: in the classroom

Countrygirl · Joined: 19 Nov 2007 Location: in the classroom