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sirius black
Joined: 04 Jun 2010
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 Posted: Sun Jan 02, 2011 4:29 pm Post subject: University Teaching Pros and Cons? |
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From what I hear and understand its the 'easiest' of the teaching jobs (Hogwon v. Public School v. University). The 'pros' are fairly obvious. Less teaching hours, longest vacation of the 3 options, oldest students of the three so presumably more motivated since they are paying for it and want good grades.
However, reading another thread here I didn't know about the students evaluation. Can low or consistently low evualtions result in ones contract not being renewed? Which would be a 'con' that the others don't have. Are there others that I should be aware of?
I assume the pros far outweigh the cons but I would still like to know all the cons so I can get a heads up if I get the job. |
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Draz
Joined: 27 Jun 2007
Location: Land of Morning Clam
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| Posted: Sun Jan 02, 2011 4:38 pm Post subject: Re: University Teaching Pros and Cons? |
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| sirius black wrote: |
| oldest students of the three so presumably more motivated since they are paying for it and want good grades. |
LOL! No. You have found your first con. |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Sun Jan 02, 2011 5:47 pm Post subject: Re: University Teaching Pros and Cons? |
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| sirius black wrote: |
From what I hear and understand its the 'easiest' of the teaching jobs (Hogwon v. Public School v. University). The 'pros' are fairly obvious. Less teaching hours, longest vacation of the 3 options, oldest students of the three so presumably more motivated since they are paying for it and want good grades.
However, reading another thread here I didn't know about the students evaluation. Can low or consistently low evaluations result in ones contract not being renewed? Which would be a 'con' that the others don't have. Are there others that I should be aware of?
I assume the pros far outweigh the cons but I would still like to know all the cons so I can get a heads up if I get the job. |
pros:
=Longer vacations (but not always - often you can end up with "camps" if you are the low man on the totem pole (only a BA + experience))
=better pay per class hour
=low class loads
cons:
=LOWer gross pay (unless you have a PhD or MA + loads of experience)
Your average hagwan teacher makes more in a month.
(typical is 12-16 classes but only 1.8m KRW and no housing or airfare).
=students are NOT more motivated.
=lots of extra pre/post class work (prep, marking, etc).
=Unless you qualify for an E1 you are faced with the same visa hassles as a hagwan teacher.
I'll take the desk warming and assurances of a PS over a hagwan or uni position any day (and I have worked at all 3).
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nathanrutledge
Joined: 01 May 2008
Location: Marakesh
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| Posted: Sun Jan 02, 2011 6:30 pm Post subject: Re: University Teaching Pros and Cons? |
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| ttompatz wrote: |
I'll take the desk warming and assurances of a PS over a hagwan or uni position any day (and I have worked at all 3).
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I'd say there are a lot of individual factors to look at.
I've worked at a couple of different public schools and comparing the last two, it's like night and day. Sure, my last co teacher and I butted heads on a few things, but overall we got along, the students were good, the other teachers were great, the principal and vp were always nice and helpful, we had a huge budget that got me anything and everything I ever asked for. It was a paradise.
Now, I'm at a school where there is zero budget, my coworkers never talk to me about things until the last minute (even more so than the average Korean co worker), my students bring deadly snakes to school (search my posts for that story, if you're interested), I was denied the use of my vacation in a single lump so I could take a CELTA course (I have to do the winter camp, which starts today, which as 2 students in it), etc......
It really comes down to the person and the school. I personally would rather put up with the hassles and headaches that a university provides than the hassles and headaches that my PS job provides, at least at this point in my career. |
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Epik_Teacher
Joined: 28 Apr 2010
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| Posted: Sun Jan 02, 2011 7:17 pm Post subject: Re: University Teaching Pros and Cons? |
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| nathanrutledge wrote: |
| ttompatz wrote: |
I'll take the desk warming and assurances of a PS over a hagwan or uni position any day (and I have worked at all 3).
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I'd say there are a lot of individual factors to look at.
Now, I'm at a school where there is zero budget, my coworkers never talk to me about things until the last minute (even more so than the average Korean co worker), my students bring deadly snakes to school (search my posts for that story, if you're interested), I was denied the use of my vacation in a single lump so I could take a CELTA course (I have to do the winter camp, which starts today, which as 2 students in it), etc......
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The same thing nearly happened to me. I didn't take vacation last summer so I would have time to do the CELTA. Late November, they wanted me to teach a winter camp with about 5 students. Fortunately, I had already talked to the principal in September about doing it, and was OK-ed to go.
The VP still raised hell about it, tho. I could have gone to Thailand or China, but am rather "Asia-ed out." I decided to go to Spain instead, as I've never been to Europe. It's costing me a bit more than $1.3k more to go to Spain than to stay in Asia, but it's a working vacation. I leave Saturday and have been chomping the bit for weeks!
I REALLY need a break from Korea! |
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nathanrutledge
Joined: 01 May 2008
Location: Marakesh
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| Posted: Sun Jan 02, 2011 7:27 pm Post subject: Re: University Teaching Pros and Cons? |
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| Epik_Teacher wrote: |
| nathanrutledge wrote: |
| ttompatz wrote: |
I'll take the desk warming and assurances of a PS over a hagwan or uni position any day (and I have worked at all 3).
. |
I'd say there are a lot of individual factors to look at.
Now, I'm at a school where there is zero budget, my coworkers never talk to me about things until the last minute (even more so than the average Korean co worker), my students bring deadly snakes to school (search my posts for that story, if you're interested), I was denied the use of my vacation in a single lump so I could take a CELTA course (I have to do the winter camp, which starts today, which as 2 students in it), etc......
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The same thing nearly happened to me. I didn't take vacation last summer so I would have time to do the CELTA. Late November, they wanted me to teach a winter camp with about 5 students. Fortunately, I had already talked to the principal in September about doing it, and was OK-ed to go.
The VP still raised hell about it, tho. I could have gone to Thailand or China, but am rather "Asia-ed out." I decided to go to Spain instead, as I've never been to Europe. It's costing me a bit more than $1.3k more to go to Spain than to stay in Asia, but it's a working vacation. I leave Saturday and have been chomping the bit for weeks!
I REALLY need a break from Korea! |
You lucky sonuvva......
On the plus side, I am glad that I'm not doing it. I've been accepted to a M.A. program, so I'm going to spend my money on that, and next year I'm going to go to Vietnam to do the CELTA and then spend a week biking across 'nam. So I'm glad it didn't work out this year, I'll be able to wrap it up with a vacation and make it seem a lot cheaper. Have a great time in Spain! |
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Epik_Teacher
Joined: 28 Apr 2010
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| Posted: Sun Jan 02, 2011 7:37 pm Post subject: Re: University Teaching Pros and Cons? |
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| nathanrutledge wrote: |
| Epik_Teacher wrote: |
| nathanrutledge wrote: |
| ttompatz wrote: |
I'll take the desk warming and assurances of a PS over a hagwan or uni position any day (and I have worked at all 3).
. |
I'd say there are a lot of individual factors to look at.
Now, I'm at a school where there is zero budget, my coworkers never talk to me about things until the last minute (even more so than the average Korean co worker), my students bring deadly snakes to school (search my posts for that story, if you're interested), I was denied the use of my vacation in a single lump so I could take a CELTA course (I have to do the winter camp, which starts today, which as 2 students in it), etc......
. |
The same thing nearly happened to me. I didn't take vacation last summer so I would have time to do the CELTA. Late November, they wanted me to teach a winter camp with about 5 students. Fortunately, I had already talked to the principal in September about doing it, and was OK-ed to go.
The VP still raised hell about it, tho. I could have gone to Thailand or China, but am rather "Asia-ed out." I decided to go to Spain instead, as I've never been to Europe. It's costing me a bit more than $1.3k more to go to Spain than to stay in Asia, but it's a working vacation. I leave Saturday and have been chomping the bit for weeks!
I REALLY need a break from Korea! |
You lucky sonuvva......
On the plus side, I am glad that I'm not doing it. I've been accepted to a M.A. program, so I'm going to spend my money on that, and next year I'm going to go to Vietnam to do the CELTA and then spend a week biking across 'nam. So I'm glad it didn't work out this year, I'll be able to wrap it up with a vacation and make it seem a lot cheaper. Have a great time in Spain! |
I have an MS Ed in Online Curriculum Design, I'm not interested in another Masters. I want to get into online teaching as well as Teacher Training, my main goal is the DELTA. I have 15 years experience in ESL, and the CELTA is the entry level cert.
But I haven't been on the student side of the classroom and would probably not be able to do the DELTA without doing CELTA, so I'm off to do it. I plan to do the DELTA as soon as possible as I can afterwards. Even if it's a 2 month in house course. Korea is a dead end and I am moving on from here! |
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sigmundsmith
Joined: 22 Nov 2007
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| Posted: Mon Jan 03, 2011 12:04 am Post subject: Re: University Teaching Pros and Cons? |
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[quote="ttompatz"]
| sirius black wrote: |
I'll take the desk warming and assurances of a PS over a hagwan or uni position any day (and I have worked at all 3).
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Each to their own but I have done all three as well. I am now at my second University gig. (1 year hagwon, 3 years public school, 1 1/2 years University).
Hagwon was not a great experience - some are some aren't - teaching 30 hours a week, 10 days vacation, and paid flights. Public school I worked at was great - good staff, pay was ok, 4 weeks vacation (extra 2 weeks for re-signing, and flights each year). First university job my pay went down quite a lot but I was outside of Seoul, in the country side. 16 hours a week and Fridays off so didn't have the desk warming and left after I taught. Now back in Seoul, and on 3 mill a month 2 1/2 months vacation, 15 hours a week, no flights and the same as above.
The difference between the three is all based on conditions. Hagwon for me was a joke as I was treated as a dummy recorder type person. And whatever I wanted to expand on I was restricted in doing so. THe notion that the Korean way is the right way.
The public school was a good gig but the concept of co-teaching novelty lost interest for me. At many times I didn't feel like a real educator. Just part of the facade of having a native speaker at the school. But I was respected for my abilities. But it just wasn't right for me.
Now university. I feel more personal power in regards to what I teach and how I te | | |
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