Korean Job Discussion Forums

[osangrl]

I too say go with the Canadian Foreign School. Don't worry about the contract you signed as long as you haven't started the visa process on ur side, its all good.

[justagirl]

Miss L--
I know I PMed this to you, but after thinking about it, perhaps it would be of benefit to someone else following this post. So....here are some more thoughts from justagirl:

(disclaimer...I KNOW some of these things aren't 100% true all the time for every single hakwon in Korea, so please don't go flaming away. They are specifically what I have experienced and heard from close friends I've known for the last 3 1/2 years. This is advice, not a fact book. ).


I think your flexibility and creativity will be extremely helpful assets...and not just for the students. They will help you even more than them at times!

I hope I didn't come off too harsh about hakwons in the post on this site. I know there are some great schools out there; I was just thinking of all my friends that actually had degrees in Education and how frustrated they were in Korea. The teaching style is very different here (though all of us know that, it's hard to really KNOW, as in experience, this without coming to Korea). This is one of the biggest frustrations they had.

The methods in teaching are very different, and Western methods often didn't work well. Combine that with a comprehension level of 25% or less in a majority of classes, and you have an hour to teach children who have problems responding to Western student-based learning and can't understand you anyway!

Now that I think of it, that is something that wasn't mentioned yet. If you teach at an International school, the children should all be able to speak English. I imagine they have testing requirements before being allowed into the school. At a hakwon, you may have children who don't know anything, maybe not even their ABC's. How does one teach ABC's and phonics to a child that doesn't understand English? Of course it is possible (I've done it), but it's not easy to repeat day after day, month after month. This is one reason there is such a huge burn-out among hakwon teachers.

Another issue is management. A hakwon is a business. If that means that Johnny Kim's mother thinks he should be in level 5 instead of level 2 (which is where he REALLY belongs) guess where he ends up? Yep. Level 5...or his mom would pull him out of the school. Then the school would lose money and perhaps even more business if his mom started talking to the other moms about how horrible her little Johnny was treated. Of course, this is not always true, but it is very common. As a teacher, this is very frustrating. How can you teach a class when 6 students can read and answer simple questions, but one student needs to go back to phonics? Well, you're the teacher, deal with it.

I don't know if the school systems are like that at home. You have experience in accredited schools in Canada, so perhaps it's similar. And also, perhaps you are more patient than I am and would spend lots of extra time with Johnny. I tend to focus on the other 6 kids, as I can't spend the majority of time on one student (who doesn't understand me anyway). These are things I'll have to figure out more when I go home for my MA in Teaching.

You did ask if I was a "real" teacher, and I'm not. I have taken 3 credit hours for my MA in ESL...didn't get to do more before coming to Korea. I've worked in a university here, and 2 different hakwons. It's generally been a good experience, though I know I need more training to be a more effective teacher. That's why it's time to go home.

Ok, this is incredibly long!

I think that the foreign schools are more work, but it's more of a "real" job. For me, that would be good, because the higher expectations drive me to better performance. You would have the normal semesters, tests, grades homework, etc as back home.

A hakwon is an academy. It's an after-school class that kids go to, hopefully to learn something. It's not on par with school, or on par with an academy back home. It would be like music class at school compared to a piano lesson. One you have to go to, and work hard to get an A in. The other you pay for (which means one should work hard at, since you're paying, but it's not always the case) and if you forget to practice, your teacher just says something like, "Well, try harder next time, Miss L." She doesn't give you an F or anything.

Like I mentioned before, working at the International school should give you credit for teaching experience back home (it does in the U.S.), which would definitely be good for your career. On the other hand, you can always say you worked for a private academy in Korea when you go home. (It sounds much more prestigious back home than it actually is here).

I would say the International school would be less stressful because it's a normal classroom situation, it's taught Western-style, the students will have commmand of the English language, and the faculty will be Western (at least in part) making the management much easier to communicate with. It is also more professional, and the behavior of the students will be much better. You're also guaranteed no problem with paychecks, as the schools are government accredited.

Well, if you have any more questions, I'd be glad to give a thought or answer. Regardless of your choice, your attitude and willingness to be flexible and positive-minded will help you SO much!

Oh! One last thought--does the International school have more vacation time? One of the best things about Korea is the access you have to travel in Asia. I remember you said it paid less, but if you have a couple months off in the summer...wow! That would be so worth it! I didn't plan on going anywhere else during my time here, but I've ended up in China, Thailand, and the Philippines and they have been some of the best experiences. If you have a chance, go!

[justagirl]

dude. that's the longest post I've ever written. wow.

[Jensen]

[Miss L]

Thanks for all of the posts.

Att: justagirl

Your advice was helpful and I have conversed with numerour people. I am still very optimistic about the situation. To be honest, I don't really know if I want to be working in a school that is just like the schools in Canada. They are great and I l ove how things are run. However, that is the environment that I will be working in for the next 10-30 years. Change is good and everything happens for a reason. I am up for the challenge and believe that this adventure will make me a stronger teacher but also a stronger person. I'll keep you posted.

PS: The vacation at the other job was only 2 weeks as well-- no diff.

[Grotto]

As a qualified teacher I was deeply disappointed with my current hogwan....no real tests....cheating was allowed and if a student did not do well they bumped up the marks.

They switch students between classes and levels like its some game of musical chairs. They place students depending on the time they can come instead of their level of proficiency.

There is no curriculum...the owner changes her mind depending on which scarf she wears any particular day. No tests...no writing....tests yes...diary good.....diary is too stressful...why no diary? and the list goes on.

Oh you should use flashcards....could you order us in some please....I would like these 3 series, relatively cheap and a good variety...numbers and colors....animals...foods....etc. A go fish picture card set, also useful for mix and match. Oh thats a good idea...and the weeks go by..the weeks turn into months and nothing is ever done about it. Took 4 months of constant bitching to get them to buy a scrabble board. Sad.

Oh well 3 weeks and I am free

[justagirl]

Hey Miss L,

Seems very strange that an International School has only 2 weeks of vacation....perhaps this school is not truly an accredited International school, because I'm pretty sure they get the winter/Christmas break and the summer break as well. It's not uncommon for a Korean school to infringe upon trademarked names.

Best of luck to you!

justagirl

[Miss L]

Yes as I have found out...this Foreign school is just a really good hogwan. Interesting. However, I have applied in the past for another International job but they were not hiring until early July and my time was running out. We will see what the future brings.

[peppermint]

It looks like you made the right decision. If the "foreign school" is lying t you about what they actually are- what else will they lie to you about.

[Alias]

I've already said it several times on this board but I'm going to say it again. Hagwons are businesses and not schools. It is all about keeping the parents happy and has nothing to do with teaching.

[hellofaniceguy]

It's NOT the hakwons that are bad, it's the person running the joint that usually sucks. Two way street at times but it's mostly the owner that is screwed up. Ask the owners and they will say it's the teachers that are the problem! My question is: how can it be the teachers when they are from all over the world, not just one country! It can't be the teachers that are wrong! Or can it?

[Miss L]

I think there is some validity in what you say. I guess it's the luck of the draw.