Korean Job Discussion Forums

[jst]

Have you worked at a public school, but are happier working at a hagwon?

If so, then what do you enjoy about working at a hagwon?

[some waygug-in]

If you can find a half decent hagwon (and that's a very big IF),

you can work with smaller groups, see them more often and have a greater sense of watching them progress. Depending on which haggie you end up at, you don't have to co-teach, so you can plan and execute your own lessons.

In some cases, even if the books are chosen for you,

they can be a lot better suited to the students needs than the PS curriculum. (at elementary levels)

If you end up at a bad hagwon........yeeesh.... I don't even want to go there.

good luck.

[HollyLove]

I want to make the switch and I'm wondering this too. Anyone else?

[tomato]

My last job was at three rural 학교's.
The advantage to rural 학교's as opposed to urban 학교's is that the class size is about what it is in a 학원.
Also, if you want to practice Korean on the job, you get to practice Korean with teachers who don't know English.

However, rural 학교's share the greatest disadvantages of urban 학교's.

One is malicious, back-stabbling co-teachers and crooked, politicking administrators.

The other is classroom teachers who reserve the right to barge in, take over the class, and conduct the class in Korean for as long as they want to.

I have problems in my current job in a 학원, but they are few and minor compared with the problems I had in the three 학교's.

Don't accept a job in a 학교 unless you absolutely have to.

[jrwhite82]

They both have advantages.

I think for teachers without training, hagwons are much easier. The kids are much higher level and there is about 75% less of them per class in a worst case scenario. There are usually other NETs to socialize with. The dangers are the shady owners, lack of any support, lots of hours, short vacation, working at night (unless that's your thing).

At public schools, your coteachers really make or break your time. If you get stuck with sucky ones, its going to be rough. You will not be supported and even worse, can be undermined. But you usually have less contact hours, better vacation, guaranteed pay, normal hours. So basically, if your coteachers are half way decent you should be better off at a public school. If they suck, then you'd probably be better off at your standard hagwon.

[Louis VI]

Yes, I have.

Shorter workdays, no wasted time, freedom to teach what I want how I want with no handlers or overseers, my own classroom, no meetings, small class sizes, never work mornings, and the ability to interview in person who I will be working for and where I will be residing BEFORE signing a contract.

I am much happier in hagwons and will never go back to ps bs.

[lifeinkorea]

Not all public schools are created equal.

I found hagwons to be pretty much the same thing. The premise is that you have one hagwon owner employing you, or you have a manager who deals with you and the school is larger. In the end you are affected the same way.

With public schools, you have to take into consideration location of that school. It could be in the city, in rural areas, and then you have to take into account the schools that get more money to fund classes. The economic structure varies, so if you have had bad experiences with a public school you probably didn't find one that matched your interests.

I have been able to work at public schools that didn't require me to attend meetings or teach Saturdays. In fact, the only Saturdays I taught were when we didn't teach the previous Monday in order to have a longer holiday for like Chuseok.

I don't quite understand how bad co-teachers is limited to public schools. All co-teachers I have worked with have been great at public schools. At hagwons, they are less motivated to do more. This means you never organize group projects. The hagwon co-teacher either doesn't care because they know they won't get anything more out of the extra work, or they are already busy getting paperwork/lessons ready which you have no say so in. This may make your job easier, but you are teaching with a "wall" then between you and your students.

With public schools, there is more time you and your co-teacher will be able to discuss future classes. I found this to be important "meetings", even though they weren't officially labeled that. We were able to plan things out. At hagwons, you don't have meetings outside of getting schedules or being told of any special events (which again you can't give any input, it's all decided on by the hagwon owner or manager).

If you apply directly to GEPIK or EPIK, then you may not be able to see the school and visit before signing the contract. If you go through a recruiter, then you can do this. I visited all public schools before signing, and I even came back to sign one after thinking about it.

If you are worried about morning classes, then common sense would tell you not to take a public school job. Based on the title of this thread, why DID you sign up for a public school to begin with if you never wanted morning classes?

Also, if you think you can avoid this by getting a hagwon job, think again. Hagwons like to change their schedule after 2 months or so from the original schedule you used to base your decision as to whether or not to work for them. This might mean a split shift schedule where you work in the morning and now later in the afternoon, or it could mean the hours are shifted to be just like a public school. Hagwons usually do this during the holidays since students are not going to their public school.

I am not saying hagwons are better, simply saying they are one side of the coin. Some coins are good, some are bad. Don't just look at the shiny hagwon side of life.

[Zackback]

Neitrher one is perfect but I have worked at both and I prefer the hagwon I am working at now. My boss is really great. No problems. I was low on money paying some bills back home so she advanced me half my check halfway through the month. She let me decide when I want to take my winter vacation so I tacked it on to the end of the February Lunar New Year so I have that much more time to go the Philippines. I, along with the other teachers, get a free dinner every day of the work week provided for by the school. I am supposed to be here at 3pm but since my first class doesn't start until 4pm I am allowed to show up at 3:45pm.
------------
At the public school it was a mess. A bitter co-teacher - no co-teacher problems now. 2 English department heads who wouldn't inform me of my vacation until a few days before it was to be and then changed it the next day...so much for any serious trip planning. The list goes on and on - believe me it does.

In fact, I have taught at several universities and I even prefer the hagwan I am at now.

[cmr]

[Globutron]

I've not tried public... I dunno.

I think I'm not yet confident to have a co-teacher skulking around looming over me and judging my performance all day every day.
Not that I think I'm doing anything wrong - the new teachers tend to observe me for 3 days straight and the K-teachers sometimes come in to check details about the lessons in my place on occasion.

But my performance just fails miserably when there is someone else in the room. I was never a good performer. As a musician that shouldn't be the case but I hated it. I HATED it. I couldn't play guitar on stage to even 50% of my ability when alone or with friends, I'd fall over, break a string, choose the wrong strings etc. Same with teaching.

I like to be on my own. Especially if the co-teachers can be as cruel as they suggest they can be here.

To be honest I never imagined I could even be a teacher, with 8 kids looking at me all day, expecting me to take charge. But I got over that so. maybe...

I dunno. What to do... *rubs chin*

[ESL Milk "Everyday]

I hated working in the hagwons.
Public school is 1000000X better.

[tomato]

In response to my last post on this thread,
someone sent me a private message,
asking me how to recognize a good 학원.

I didn't know what to say.
Can someone please help me?

[3DR]

[sojusucks]

A hagwon that actually pays on time and doesn't break the law? You mean a miracle?

[comm]