Korean Job Discussion Forums

[ScrewWhiteDay]

I'll be very, brutally honest when I say that I couldn't do this for more than a year or two.

The erratic schedule, catering to unruly teenagers, and constant monitoring by the boss behind the glass door ...I'll probably go insane if this becomes a permanent fixture in my life.

Mind you, it's not like I don't take the occupation seriously- part of the reason why I feel so stressed out is precisely over my constant worrying. "Am I doing this right? Is there a way I can do this better?" It evolves around my head and man, it gets intense sometimes.

I thought I loved kids enough to overcome all this, but I now realize that those darlings account for only half of the students. I hate discipline with anger and I hate the brats who manipulate me because they know they are technically, my "clients". (I work with only 2 or 3 kids at a time so yes, their opinion does matter. A lot) I'm usually a temperamental person, but the worst feeling is the insulting, used feeling.

Sometimes those children comment on the fact that I'm only a "hagwon teacher" and not a "real" one. And I'm not naive enough to bypass all that cold reality. It strikes me and I'm left with a biting realization of daunting futility- "My job makes no freaking difference."

Perhaps I am being overly dramatic-I certainly hope so.

If anything, it seems that my all my past jobs- intern at law office, hospital worker, and now-teacher...all tells me what NOT to pursue later. I am seriously pondering going back to school if this is my limit.

[mastrwik]

They aren't your clients. Their parents are - and if their parents want them to learn how to speak english then they should understand that you need to take whatever measures necessary to do so. If their parents are just looking for a place to dump them off to be babysat, then it appears you have a untenable situation.

That being said, I don't think that anyone views teaching at a hagwon as a career. It's usually a place where young, inexperienced teachers gain that needed time "in the trenches" before they move onto something else. There are exceptions, however. I'd like to think that some hagwons actually care about teaching the children - the primary way to discern this is by noting whether your boss is an educator or a businessman. If he doesn't teach any classes himself and simply lords over the foreign teachers, it's likely that you've landed at a "bad" hagwon. I don't know if there are many hagwon owners that teach classes themselves, but that's the way it is where I work, and it's a great situation for me.

The main problem with a career in teaching (at a hagwon or otherwise) is a relative lack of upward mobility in salary and prestige. I'd say probably 99% of hagwon teachers do a year or two, possibly even three, before they move on to further education or a position at a university. If they don't do that, then usually they go back to whatever it is they were doing before or they move on to a new career. Hagwons are not destinations, they are merely stops along the way.

[Tiger Beer]

[Zyzyfer]

If ANYBODY sees teaching at a hakwon as a permanent gig, they're not quite right upstairs.

[jajdude]

Agreed. And if anyone thinks OB is a good beer, same.

[Bozo Yoroshiku]

[Summer Wine]

And we wonder why english doesn't improve here. The Kids must always be learning from newbies. They must always be having to learn about themselves and Korea at the same time trying to teach english.

I teach at a Hagwon, I like it!! It depends on whether you are at a good one and I have been teaching 4 years. I have freedom here, go to interesting places and I do have fun with the kids. They are great at times. Will that mean if I end up at a bad hagwon, that I won't be happy probably. But I am daily becoming a better childrens teacher and that is what I enjoy. Public school now seems to offer the same conditions as a Hagwon plus 40 kids, so I enjoy teaching small groups, seeing the improvement.

No I am not screwed in the Head. Should I go to a Uni job, maybe. But if I like teaching children and hope that one day they will make it to Uni because of the little that I have done here, then GREAT!!! I TEACH AT HAGWONS AND I ENJOY IT (SOMEDAYS ).

[eamo]

It's a question of 'ifs'.

Hagwons don't have to be seen as a one or two year endurance test if....

.........you are at a good hagwon where you are valued as a real teacher.

..........Your pay and conditions are generous.

..........it's in a good location where you enjoy living.

..........you don't have this weird mindset that teaching kids is somehow "beneath" teaching older people. Teaching ESL to kids, properly, is a high-level skill which not everyone can do well.

If your gig meets these criteria then it would seem you have a good job. Teachers back home work at the same level for 5-10 years before they start bucking for some kind of higher-level job withing education. If at all.

I think private academy teaching in Korea can be a 'real' job.

[Yu_Bum_suk]

It sounds like your hogwan is even worse than mine - at least I have some classes I just love teaching. Just quit. I did and have had so many job offers I can't keep track of them all. Let your money-grubbing wonjongnim-babo know exactly why you're leaving.

This is what my idiot boss got last week:



Notice of Resignation 18 May, 2005

This is my written notice that I wish to leave my position as English Instructor at Ding Ding Dang in one month.
In exactly thirty (30) days, by 18 June, 2005 I will no longer be working for this institution. I appreciate that this
institution has paid my salary on time and that management has been reasonably polite. However, I will not
work at an institute where children are allowed openly to disrespect and defy teachers. I expect to receive my
letter of release within the next 30 days or legal action will be taken. I hope that we can part on good terms. Best
wishes in finding a replacement.


Sincerely,

[Badmojo]

I can't see hagwon teaching as a permanent teaching career with 10 vacation days a year. Hagwon teaching, if done properly, is every bit as taxing as other teaching jobs that give around three months vacation. Unless I got that, I'd take a pass on making it my career.

This question really only applies to the lifers anyway. I'll take a pass on that too.

[Homer]

I think this question is all a question of perspective. In this case this means what your situation is and what your goals are.

Hakwon teaching can be a fulfilling job (or even career) if you do your job prior and find a good school with solid educational objectives (there are more of these schools then you think).

The basic element here is not necessarily the hakwon (unless it is a hole in the ground type of school) but the person who choses to work there. I think that teaching is teaching where ever you go. It is a job that requires some common skill sets and a certain level of commitment. If you do not have this, you will be unhappy teaching in any element or be a bad teacher.

Some in here have said teaching hakwons can be a career. I agree.

I can also not fit your needs. There are many other opportunities here in Korea (public schools, universities, companies...) it is really up to you to chose the one that is best for you and the one where your skill sets will fit in best.

As far as the old upwards mobility and prestige thing. That is a really a personal issue. In my family there are many teachers (family gig I suppose!). My father was a high school teacher for 30 years (now retired) he loved his job and never craved more prestige or upwards mobility. He even dreaded the 'management' type jobs within education. That was because his true love was to be in the classroom and to teach. To him that was enough. This is a decent example of one perspective.

If, for example, a hakwon teacher is working in a school he likes and enjoys teaching there then that is the important factor. I say to each his or her own. Just because the hakwon shoe does not fit you it does not mean it is automatically bad or worthless.

That reasoning follows the same futile path as that of new grads who come here to teach and say they are taking a 'break' from their real careers

[captain kirk]

Well said, Homer. I resent that comment, Zyz. And I like the poster's comment about how kids don't get really good haggie teachers. Because they leave on to 'bigger and better things', like Uni teaching.

It's a personal preference. Some people like teaching in haggies. The OP doesn't, and hates it so much that his post is in big, black, bold type.

I had a haggie job with a jerk boss who didn't really give a damn about the educational quality of the classes. Dirty rooms, stupid textbook. The boss, supposedly, was 'laid back'. Or so thought the other two foreigners working there at their first year of haggie teaching.

I found that if I'm gonna keep at haggie-ing then I need a respectable boss, good curiculum, etc. Otherwise it's just mucking around throwing pearls before a swine boss.

[Badmojo]

I've said it here before, and I'll say it again.

I think hagwon teaching is the place where you can make the most difference. On the average, you can do more for your hagwon students than you can for public school students or university students. I've worked in a university and in a hagwon and I know for a fact that I did more good at the hagwon. It had everything to do with having 10 in a class I saw everyday as opposed to 20 I saw once a week. I'll take the Pepsi Challange with anyone working in a uni or a public school.

So I personally don't see any "prestige" factor in people that work in a university or a public school. The problems with hagwons, however, are that there aren't enough good ones, the hours are usually too long, and the vacation stinks. 10 days a year is ludicrous. Five hours a day is ludicrous. There's just no other word for it.

In the end, hagwons eat their own.

So Kirk and Homer, assuming your hagwon is good and the hours are reasonable, how do you get around the vacation?

[eamo]

[Tiger Beer]

I 100% agree with Badmojo here.

What kind of career has holidays equalling your vacation for the year. Meaning you don't really even have vacation even. Well, I've worked at some without any vacation for an entire year - maybe some of you others were able to get it somehow.

If a person really loved teaching kids.. I would highly suggest a time or two in Korea confirming that fact.. and then going back to their home country and teaching kids with the 3-4 months of vacation added to it. Plus also having a mother and brother into teaching, they have some damn good retirement packages from the State of Michigan, not to mention incrimental raises which put your salary quite high after 10-15 or especially 20 years in the business.

My brother started teaching at 22.. and will be finished by 47 with a retirement package where he'll never work another day in his life - monthly income for the rest of his life. Plus the 3-4 months vacation a year throughout his 25-year career. Significantly better career than hogwans with no vacation with the package of save or die.