Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Dodge7]

I've admittedly only been here for 3 years or so, but it seems that the desire to learn English is starting to die down. I'm not getting as many privates as before (I am F6) and I just don't see the mothers going crazy for English like they used to to provide English lessons for their kids.
I wonder what this is stemming from. Media or economic reasons? I don't think it's the latter because a crisis really hasn't hit the peninsula in quite some time--at least since I've been here.

[detonate]

The craze has died, you should probably head home. It is the fault of the media, not your own.

[Dodge7]

[eventually]

don't leave him stranded, all alone. he's confused, throw him a bone.

(chorus)

[Dodge7]

[tideout]

[Julius]

I agree the market is slipping a little.

This is because:

a) Fewer kids each year (birth rate).
b) Aging population. Old folks do not spend money learning a new language.
c) The economy. The cost of living has risen and people have less income to spend on English education.
d) Increasing popularity of Chinese. Ten years ago little minsu went to 5 english classes a week. Now she goes to only 3, and learns chinese for the other 2.
e) Bad press. The media has taught Koreans to be wary of or at least resent foreign esl teachers. There is also a campaign to teach yourself english via various other techniques- tapes, foreign TV, whatever.
f) Faltering American economy. America is in deep trouble. Koreans do not want to learn the language of a fading empire.
g) Flodded market. There are too many waeguks in town. That means less work for everyone.

[big_fella1]

I think economics are a big factor, kids who used to go to several English hagwons only go to one or two.

Further tightening finances are bringing a lot of Korean students home and they are tutoring English. Ten percent of the university students I teach have studied abroad for middle school and high school and they all tutor part time.

Finally Korean's are becoming less focused on English, the good speakers don't need classes and the bad are still doing okay so why study English.

[eventually]

[Who's Your Daddy?]

I don't think the demand has dropped, it's the increase in supply of teachers, so there is less demand for any given teacher.

Please go home if you are under 30:)

[redaxe]

Go to China.

[furtakk]

Don't laugh...

But I genuinely feel like hagwons are doing a better job. I'm always impressed by the level of English from some of my students. There's less of a need for expensive 1-on-1 lessons if they're getting decent results at the hagwon.

[Dodge7]

[cj1976]

I don't know about you, but I am as busy as I have ever been here. In fact, I have turned down a number of potential jobs because I don't have the time.

[nero]