Korean Job Discussion Forums

[teatro]

Exploring other schools and was wondering how many classes are too many to teach in a day. I noticed most state 30 hours per week but the class load varies between this time. Some schools I've spoken with require 8 per day while others 6.

What is the "norm" for hogwans in Korea?

Anybody with insight into this is very welcome.

T

[Crois]

If you can try and get paid preparation.
If not you could end up working 35 hours a week which really sucks.
Make sure you are only working at your hogwon. Thats my advice because i hate working at the other schools

Make sure that they class 40 minutes or 50 minutes as 1 hour. Well most of the time depending on class time.

Try and get a job where you have 25 minute lessons. Ie 25 minutes and then swap. But it doesnt matter.

[oneiros]

It all depends on how long the classes are. Some hogwans have 50-60 minute classes, while some have shorter ones.

I worked at a school where I taught eight forty minute classes with three ten minute breaks through the day. It's pretty tough by the time you hit the last class of the night. I much prefer the hour long class scheme. Same amount of teaching time, but it feels like less, without considering prep time, marking etc.

[phaedrus]

Good would be no more than five 40min classes and preferably less. (200min)
You would have to prepare.

At a hagwon expect at least about 360 minutes per day teaching time.

If you are teaching this much you should be able to slack off on preparation and work no more than forty hours per week teaching and other.

[just because]

1 class is 1 too many.

[tokki]

20 would be too many, thats for sure. Unless they were all 10 minutes long.

[hellofaniceguy]

I've been posting just that for years, no one can use you unless YOU let them.
Why oh why, would anyone sign a lousy contract!?!? Common sense ought to come into ones mind! 120 hours? No way! Only agree to "X" amount of classes PER month. I think 5 a day is more than fair at hokwons. 50 minute classes max. Universities? 10-15 hours a week is the average. Hokwons ARE NOT schools, they are a business and the owner could give a rats a$$ about the foreign teachers let alone the korean teachers. Most will use you and work you to death if you let them. True, some fair hokwon owners around. Have not met one but I have read on this site that some teachers are happy with the school and owner where they teach. It is a two way street, some teachers are lousy. Don't prepare, dress shabby, bad hair styles, bad breath, alcoholics, come to work at the last minute and run copies off the copy machine and call it a lesson and so on. Some complain on and on for no reason. If you have a valid reason, I'd complain also! But, use finesse. Contracts ARE
NEGOTIABLE. Get the best deal you can but don't screw over the owner.
No one forces anyone to come to korea. No one forces you to sign a contract.
By law, classes are 40 minutes for middle school students and 50 minutes for high school. Hokwon owners know this but they try and get around it and abuse it.

[TheUrbanMyth]

[Ilsanman]

More than 6, regardless of length, is too much.

[tokki]

[Grotto]

definately specify how many classes a day you want to work.
make sure your contract specifies what a teaching hour is..any time over 40 minutes. I think that doing 1/2 hour of prep time per day is acceptable anything over that should be paid.

Right now I teach from 2-930 mon-fri
classes about 55 a week makes me babo

[Arthur Fonzerelli]

I draw the line at 3 (1 hour) classes per day...

[hereinkorea]

I'm teaching 8-9 forty minute classes a day, ranging from kindergarten to 8th/9th grade. Too much?

[lush72]