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NohopeSeriously
Joined: 17 Jan 2011
Location: The Christian Right-Wing Educational Republic of Korea
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 Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2011 8:59 pm Post subject: |
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| shostahoosier wrote: |
| NohopeSeriously wrote: |
| So far, public schools in Korea (elementary, middle, high schools funded by the gov't or private universities) are becoming increasingly irrelevant. |
What do you mean? |
| oldtrafford wrote: |
See very long post about GEPIK 'teachers' are getting AXED!!!  |
The government wants to neglect public schools.
1. The government has started a plan to make private universities financially and academically competent.
2. Hagweon franchises and private tutoring are becoming wealthier and more popular compare to 3 years ago and they're taking down public schools.
3. Too many old teachers in public schools don't want to retire early. They want to keep running the public school system intact and inefficient for their benefits.
I don't see how public schools will become relevant in the near future. I'm not only talking about GEPIK/EPIK teachers and EFL in the public scene. I'm also talking about the whole system.
Last edited by NohopeSeriously on Mon Aug 01, 2011 9:05 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Modernist
Joined: 23 Mar 2011
Location: The 90s
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| Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2011 9:05 pm Post subject: |
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So far, public schools in Korea (elementary, middle, high schools funded by the gov't or private universities) are becoming increasingly irrelevant.
What do you mean?
Ignore the guy.
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Yes, please do.
I mean, do you really care in any particular way about the aggregate state of Korean education? Or do you only care about a few million KRW in your bank account every month?
Why spend precious mental energy speculating about what they are going to do or why, when it should be obvious to all from the GEPIK situation that we foreigners have NO CLUE WHATSOEVER about Korean policies and motivations [except ttompatz of course]. Half the time they don't seem to have a clue themselves.
Maybe my PS is 'irrelevent.' Maybe I too am 'irrelevent' except insofar as I fill up a box on their provincial staff form. It matters not at all to me. As long as my little program gives me 1 renewal next year, then all is well in my world. If they don't then there's always the hgwons...and the blessed day I leave FT education forever.
For the OP, I suggest not getting too wound up about 'better.' What is better for you may not be better for me or northway or shostahoosier or PatrickGBusan or even marsavalanche. Some of us like younger learners, some hate them. Some can't be outside the big cities, some are fine in smaller ones, some prefer quiet places like camps or Gangwon. Some love the flexibility of good hagwons, some take the stability of PS. Some are here for the $$ or a break from the local recession, some are committed educators, and some people, apparently, actually like Korean culture.
My observation is the satisfaction comes most of all from picking the right place. Figure out what kind of place you can be happiest, and sift the school types and jobs from there. If your place is bad, you will not enjoy it here regardless of job type selected. |
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NohopeSeriously
Joined: 17 Jan 2011
Location: The Christian Right-Wing Educational Republic of Korea
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| Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2011 9:14 pm Post subject: |
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| jvalmer wrote: |
| Ignore they guy. |
You can ignore my words all you want. This doesn't change the fact that the PS system keeps getting crappier by the minute.
good public school system = good NET programs
crappy public school system = ?
You do the math. |
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northway
Joined: 05 Jul 2010
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| Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2011 9:19 pm Post subject: |
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| Modernist wrote: |
| For the OP, I suggest not getting too wound up about 'better.' What is better for you may not be better for me or northway or shostahoosier or PatrickGBusan or even marsavalanche. Some of us like younger learners, some hate them. Some can't be outside the big cities, some are fine in smaller ones, some prefer quiet places like camps or Gangwon. Some love the flexibility of good hagwons, some take the stability of PS. Some are here for the $$ or a break from the local recession, some are committed educators, and some people, apparently, actually like Korean culture. |
This is quite true, and I do try to flavor my posts with "this is what I like, it's not for everyone", considering that there's a general vibe here against teaching at the type of school I teach at (kindy hagwon).
That said, I can say from experience that going into your first teaching gig, it's very, very difficult to know what will make you happy. Generally speaking, for your first gig I think you're best off looking for a school that will pay your pension, severance, airfare, and health insurance, as I don't think it's easy for someone who isn't certified and hasn't taught before to really know what they're looking for. Away from Dave's, I've generally pushed newbs towards hagwons with a few other teachers, as I think it's a much safer social adjustment if you have other people there with you every day, but I realize this type of teaching really isn't for everyone. |
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oldtrafford
Joined: 12 Jan 2011
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| Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2011 9:21 pm Post subject: |
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ust because they are chopping GEPIK doesn't mean the public system is doomed.
The guy is advocating an education system entirely run by the private sector. If you want to see cuts, the private sector has plenty.
I am in the civil service mouth, it is open policy that the whiteys are to be axed by 2016 at the very latest. The feed back we get is that the cost versus outcome is not justifiable. The province that I am will begin the axe next year until by the end of 2012 there will be no whiteys on the pay role. As a result of this hogwons will be able to reduce salaries, and make them comparable to a 19th century sweatshop. Korea is over for a lot of whiteys, and it is about time tooo!!!! The people I see working (notice I didn't write teaching because 99.9% are unqualified) at public schools equate to nothing more than vagabonds or for the younger ilk amongst us bums!!
To those in public schools: enjoy the ride whilst it lasts, that ride is shortly about to end!!!!  |
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Modernist
Joined: 23 Mar 2011
Location: The 90s
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| Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2011 9:45 pm Post subject: |
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| hagwons with a few other teachers, as I think it's a much safer social adjustment if you have other people there with you every day, but I realize this type of teaching really isn't for everyone. |
Yup, quite a fair point. The only thing I would really change about my PS. It sucks being the only Westerner in school, every day, all the time.
When you think about this, it's the great support from those other foreigners balanced against the horrors of all kindergartners all day...
| Quote: |
| the whiteys are to be axed by 2016 at the very latest. |
It's a good thing I won't be in Korea, or teaching ESL, or care in any way whatsoever about Korea or ESL well before 2016, then. |
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sojusucks
Joined: 31 May 2008
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| Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2011 10:06 pm Post subject: Re: public vs private |
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| ttompatz wrote: |
| mtm216 wrote: |
| Does anyone have any preference between the two? |
Private schools (k-12) are usually best.
Public schools make a close 2nd (in terms of job benefits and security - usually no funny business with your pay and benefits, longer holidays and lower class loads).
Private language academies (hagwans - and they are NOT schools) are at the bottom of the list (as a general class) for any number of reasons not the least of which are: holiday issues, pay and overtime issues, 11 month termination (to avoid severance and return flight), no pension, and no NHIC medical (in spite of what you are told).
| mtm216 wrote: |
| Thanks for the input. I've been in contact with YBM ECC but I also heard you work long hours for lower pay than normal. I would take a lower pay and be happy than making a few extra bucks and being miserable. |
They are NOT a school. They are a language academy and depending on whether you work at a company operation or a franchise, the job conditions vary widely (complete will all the attendant risks common to all hagwans).
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Listen to the man. Hagwons are businesses and only businesses. |
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oldtrafford
Joined: 12 Jan 2011
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| Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2011 10:26 pm Post subject: |
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It's a good thing I won't be in Korea, or teaching ESL, or care in any way whatsoever about Korea or ESL well before 2016, then.
So why are you in it now fool?!!! That's the problem with Korea and Koreans: they allow unsuitable ilk such as yourself to pretend they know the job they are doing!! You shouldn't be in it for the short-term, I wouldn't be a bloody plumber for a couple of years!! I'll be glad to see the back of clowns such as yourself who are here by default, a default that is a result of a close mindedness, ignorance, arrogance that is the Korean race!! If only suitable qualified teachers (I don't mean teachers from back home - see international schools) were allowed to taught then the outcome would be much much better. If you pay peanuts, then you get monkeys such as yourself!!!
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Warhammer820
Joined: 03 Jun 2011
Location: USA
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| Posted: Tue Aug 02, 2011 7:11 am Post subject: |
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A little bit cranky today aren't we?
| oldtrafford wrote: |
It's a good thing I won't be in Korea, or teaching ESL, or care in any way whatsoever about Korea or ESL well before 2016, then.
So why are you in it now fool?!!! That's the problem with Korea and Koreans: they allow unsuitable ilk such as yourself to pretend they know the job they are doing!! You shouldn't be in it for the short-term, I wouldn't be a bloody plumber for a couple of years!! I'll be glad to see the back of clowns such as yourself who are here by default, a default that is a result of a close mindedness, ignorance, arrogance that is the Korean race!! If only suitable qualified teachers (I don't mean teachers from back home - see international schools) were allowed to taught then the outcome would be much much better. If you pay peanuts, then you get monkeys such as yourself!!!
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TheUrbanMyth
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Location: Retired
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| Posted: Wed Aug 03, 2011 11:01 pm Post subject: |
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| oldtrafford wrote: |
ust because they are chopping GEPIK doesn't mean the public system is doomed.
The guy is advocating an education system entirely run by the private sector. If you want to see cuts, the private sector has plenty.
I am in the civil service mouth, it is open policy that the whiteys are to be axed by 2016 at the very latest. Tl: |
Yeah sure, sure.
First it was 2006 then it was 2008 then it was 2010, now it's 2012 and after that 2016...
Every 2-3 years as regular as clockwork this comes up and just as regularly goes down.
Every year there is somebody posting on these boards who claims to have the inside track on things. And every time they post a specific date they are proven wrong.
At least yours is a little further in the future...what province do you work at by the way? |
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jvalmer
Joined: 06 Jun 2003
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| Posted: Wed Aug 03, 2011 11:14 pm Post subject: |
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| TheUrbanMyth wrote: |
| oldtrafford wrote: |
ust because they are chopping GEPIK doesn't mean the public system is doomed.
The guy is advocating an education system entirely run by the private sector. If you want to see cuts, the private sector has plenty.
I am in the civil service mouth, it is open policy that the whiteys are to be axed by 2016 at the very latest. Tl: |
Yeah sure, sure.
First it was 2006 then it was 2008 then it was 2010, now it's 2012 and after that 2016...
Every 2-3 years as regular as clockwork this comes up and just as regularly goes down.
Every year there is somebody posting on these boards who claims to have the inside track on things. And every time they post a specific date they are proven wrong.
At least yours is a little further in the future...what province do you work at by the way? |
No, it's going to be 2020... |
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Tamada
Joined: 02 Nov 2008
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| Posted: Sat Aug 06, 2011 1:34 am Post subject: |
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| marsavalanche wrote: |
private schools (hagwons) rock.
take a 9-630 kindy gig and dont look bad. you'll be living the dream. |
Surely this is a joke/troll/windup?
9am-6.30pm Kindy, dream job? Now here's an offer, I'll gladly refuse.
I think I'll stick with my 3 days a week, 5 and a half months paid vacation, private uni gig, thanks all the same.......brah  |
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gem
Joined: 06 Dec 2010
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| Posted: Sun Aug 07, 2011 6:39 am Post subject: |
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In the beginning, choosing either one is like rolling the dice in a game of craps. You can do all the research you want and ask a million questions but until you start, all you can do is hope for the best.
It's unlikely that you won't get paid at a public school. That's about the only thing you can count on. BUT you may have to live in a rathole and deal with xenophobic and disagreeable coworkers. I could name any number of scenarios that you could happen regardless of whether it's a private or public school, but I won't because there's *no* consistency whatsoever when it comes to teaching English in Korea. Some people luck into good positions, some people aren't cut out for teaching, and some people catch a very unlucky break. Each school, apartment, coteacher, education office, boss/principle,etc...is different and just remember that if you go and things don't work out to your satisfaction, Korea doesn't have a bad reputation among ESL teachers for no reason. Hope for the best and brace for the worst. That's about all you can do besides avoiding Korea altogether. |
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sojusucks
Joined: 31 May 2008
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| Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2011 5:04 pm Post subject: |
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| marsavalanche wrote: |
private schools (hagwons) rock.
take a 9-630 kindy gig and dont look bad. you'll be living the dream. |
Recruiter alert! If it's too good to be true ...
I have not heard one good thing about teachers working at a hogwan. I have heard some good things about public schools. |
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