Korean Job Discussion Forums

[PolyChronic Time Girl]

I dont' like teaching young Korean children....period (yes, flame on)....so I would avoid children hagwons like the plague. There's nothing wrong with teaching children for other teachers...it's just not for me. I'm not a kiddie teacher by all means and if I have to use bingo or sing "Peaches, Apples, and Plums" one more time, I'd pull my fingernails out. My high school gig was better than teaching kids...at least conversation, curriculum, and discipline was better for me. I was much happier teaching 40+ high school boys at one time than I was teaching six screeching brats at one time. I'm starting at an adult hagwon and the split shifts seem worth it not to teach kids.
For me, I pick the type of students I want to work with...that's the most important. Adults/college students first...children last...that's just my preference. Each to his/her own.

[Daechidong Waygookin]

1. You are MUCH MUCH less likely to get screwed over by a public school than a hagwon. You will get paid, ON TIME, IN FULL and you will not get fired at the 11th month so the school can save on your flight and bonus. They have a LOT more money than a hagwon does, and dont need to worry.

2. In bad economic times, guess what, your job is safe. A public school wont tank because of falling enrollment and you in turn will keep your job and wont get screwed over on pay.

3. Yes, you "work" more. Im officially supposed to be at school from 9 to 4:40. Thats an 8 hour day. But what about hagwons? usully you do the 3-9 or 2-9 or 3-10 or 4-10 thing, which is 6 or 7 hours a day. Wow, a whole hour or two a day less! Then again, at a haggie you end up teaching 7 classes straight with a 5 minute break in between! WOW! At my school I teach at most 5 classes a day. Sometimes 4 and once a week 3 classes a day. 10 minute breaks, a lunch break. Its FAR less work.

4. Vacations. Mine is up. Im all ready to go after my 6 weeks. That was fun. When is YOUR 6 week vacation? I have a long vacation coming in a few months. SUMMER BREAK!

5. Money. So you made 2.3 but had no apartment? And you had to pay 300 thousand a month? That sucks. 2.5 a month here, the apartment rent is about a million a month. The money doesnt come out of my pocket. I think you can imagine the difference between YOUR place and mine.

6. Discipline. 40 kids at a school behave much better than 10 kids at a hagwon. They are not allowed to disrespect you, they know there are actual consequences to their actions, they know this is a REAL school and a haggie isnt. And they behave accordingly. Plus they are full of energy and ready for some work. Your haggie kids are exhausted by the time 7 or 8 pm rolls around.

Those are just some of the reasons why public school is better than hagwons.

[guangho]

I have to agree. I'm at a hakwon now. 40 kids or not per class, I am ready to go public. 40 kids a class is easier than 4, because you can use peer pressure more effectively. Plus, your students are there because they have to be- they are not clients so they don't rule over the principal.

[Rather_Dashing]

Daechidog Waygookin', if you find those kinds of working conditions that are open opportunities, let me know - seems all the schools are bringing their vacations down to 2 weeks, require TEFL/TESL/CELTA degrees, and pay down to under 2 million

[Ihavenolips]

A good director at a hagwon makes it worth it. The public schools sound more secure, but I wouldn't rule out a hagwon if it provides positive references by former teachers. I don't have any complaints about my school. It is a typical hagwon; but my director is honest, she honors our contract, and she treats me with respect. That is all I ask.

The larger issue for me is student age. I prefer to teach adults. My training focuses on students at the college level. I like my hagwon children overall, and can have a lot of fun with them in class. However, I look forward to teaching college students once again. Next round, it will be neither a hagwon or a public grade school.