Korean Job Discussion Forums

[some waygug-in]

I've been offered a job teaching in the public school system, I'm not sure how that would work, perhaps part of the EPIK program.

I am just a hagwan/private school teacher with a BA, do you think I should even consider this?

There has been much debate on this forum about what makes a "real" teacher, so here I am, a self confessed wannabe at best being offered a quasi "real" teaching job. OMG

What do you think? Should I touch this with a 10 foot slide rule, or should I run as fast as my short hairy legs can carry me?

[rapier]

I think I may be in a similar position in a few months...These are the downsides, so I gather:
* Large classes.
*Lack of rapport with the kids.
*Lack of discipline or control, not actually that different to hagwons.

This is the upside:
* higher pay possible
*paid holidays

Its hard to decide of course. But If you've already had 2 years of hagwon hell like me, It can't hurt to try something new and unknown. If you don't like it, you can always go back to hagwons....

[some waygug-in]

Thank you all for the positive advice and feedback.

I think I'll give it a shot.


What's the worst that can happen?


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[just because]

Wooh ooh ooh oh oh
Wooh ooh ooh ohh
Wooh ooh ooh oh oh

You got the right stuff

[Mr. Pink]

Why do you think a public school job has no support from other teachers?

If you go in there acting a n00b and a dumbass, that is how they will treat you.

If you go in acting like you know what you are doing, they will treat you like a professional.

Don't skip out early or show up late. Prepare well for your classes.

If you have problems with a student, don't back down...kick them out or tell them to go see their homeroom teacher.

Seriously, there is a lot of support, as schools don't want any student disrespecting teachers.

[Paddycakes]

you'll have a co-teacher with you (probably) and it'll be team teaching.

it's generally better than hagwons. discipline, let the korean co-teacher deal with that. you'll probably follow a text-book, which makes lesson plans very simple. you get paid on time which is really good too.

however for the bad:

1. you're the only foreigner there, so it can feel socially isolating. korean teachers are generally ok, but after a while the "hello, how are you conversation" get tedious. your co-teachers english will range from horrible to not bad for someone whose first language is not english. but you'll probably never be able to have a real natural conversation with any of them.

2. you'll probably be required to be on-site even when you're not teaching, so if you don't mind spending hours and hours and hours putting in 'face' time, you'll have a good time. i once spent four days at school with no classes, but i had to be there 8 hours a day.

i've read on previous dave's posts that some people left the program because they couldn't stand the sitting around part.

3. you'll have 1000 students and you won't really get to know any of them. again, it adds to the feeling of social isolation. there is only so far you go with someone who doesn't speak english.

4. you may get an angry, uptight korean co-teacher who is more interested in scaring her students than teaching english. i've been fortunate to only have one of these, and they're not very fun to work with. the funniest moment with her was when i was playing some board game with the students. if the students got too excited, she'd go around and hit them with her bamboo stick. it was surreal. most korean teachers are ok though.