Korean Job Discussion Forums

[cadburys]

Hi all,
Just wondering if anyone can give me some info on how much paperwork is involved in teaching in a public school, ie lesson plans-do you need to submit these regularly/individual reports?
Also, the hours-I presume they're 9-5 but how many are teaching hours and how many are prep?
This would be for the Busan area
Thanks for any advice or info!!

[climber159]

Standard Korean public school contract will be for 22 teaching hours per week. If you teach anything over that you will be paid overtime. Public school generally runs 8:30am-4:30pm (or close to that). You'll most likely be required to be there for those hours whether or not you are teaching. As for submitting lesson plans...it depends on your co-teachers at the school you're placed at. Public school is not difficult, your lesson won't be complex, your free time between classes will be way more then sufficient for you to complete your lesson planning. Chances are that you will only be teaching one or two (edit for clairification: different lessons) lessons per week.

[cadburys]

Thanks for your speedy reply!
It sounds good. I hope you don't mind if I ask you a few more questions...!
What is the role of the co-teacher in the classroom?
Is it usually 30 children max per class?
Are you placed in an apartment block with other teachers?
Thanks a mill

[climber159]

Your role in the classroom - This will vary by school. In some cases you take the lead as the teacher and the co-teacher does nothing (or isn't even present), on other cases the co-teacher will dominate the class and you will be left wondering why you are employed there. You'll probably find you'll be somewhere between; just be prepared to take control of the class as your co-teacher may not.

Class size - varies, but expect somewhere between 30 and 40.

Apartment - You probably won't be living with other teachers. You'll probably get a one-room flat. Either an office-tel (which tend to have a lofted sleeping area and more modern designs, appliances, and bathrooms...as well as higher monthly building fees) or a villa type (in a 3-5 floor building). Ask what the school will be furnishing the apartment with, this will help you figure out how much money to bring to purchase the remaining apartment furnishing you need or want (Dave's and Craigslist are your friend here).

[cadburys]

Thanks!
Do public schools usually ask for a deposit for apt?
Are you told before you leave if you'll have high school or middle/elementary school?
I presume public schooling runs smoothly in general, less chance of getting screwed over by a hagwon!
What are the students like in public school? Compared to in hagwons where the parents are paying for the education?
Thanks again

[climber159]

I've never worked for EPIK (which is what I presume you will be under since you said you'll be in Busan) so I can't say whether they require a deposit. But, SMOE and GEPIK both take money out of your first few paychecks as a deposit. (GEPIK takes 300,000KRW out of your first three paychecks and returns it to you following the completion of your contract assuming you didn't destroy your apartment.)

As for your school placement...again, I've never worked with EPIK so I can't say for sure if they inform you of the school you'll be at prior to your arrival in Korea.

My experience at public school (I've worked with SMOE, GEPIK, and a hagwon) has taught me that you shouldn't expect any one thing. Some students will be great, some won't participate at all, and the rest fall somewhere in the middle. Public school is free and is supported by government funds so parents don't pay anything. From what I've seen in public schools, there's not all that much learning happening there (true and false to varying degrees depending on the school)...the real learning takes place in hagwons and the student's homes.

[cadburys]

It would be Busan MOE if you know anything about them?
I think they may be similar to EPIK