Korean Job Discussion Forums

[oxfordstu]

Alright, so I'm about to give up on trying to acquire a uni gig. Don't have a masters, so they don't seem to care. As a result, I'm looking into teaching high school. I'm a credentialed high school English teacher, so getting hired is probably going to be easier at a HS rather than a uni.

But I've heard mixed reports. Sure, you get decent vacation, have time to teach privates and thus will make more money. But I've also heard that there's a lot of beurocracy in the public school system here (even more so than in the US) and that these places should be avoided. So.....is it worth it? Any HS teachers out there?

[FUBAR]

It all depends on the school. The high school where I work right now is pretty good. It's devoid of alot of the politics. Well, actually I doubt that, but i don't see any of that. I would be staying here for another year, but they want me to go through the EPIK program which would drastically reduce my vacation. However, it is a pretty good gig, if you don't mind sitting on your butt for long periods of time.

[deessell]

I agree with Fubar, it depends on the school. I also think it depends on your MOE. My school has been very good so far. I only teach 16 classes a week. They have let me have half days this week during exams and I also get extra vacation. They are also very good at communicating things like timetable changes etc in advance, which is very unusual for Korea and Koreans.

The down sides are that 40 students with very low speaking skills and generally low motivation can be a problem at times. I don't have a co-teacher and you probably won't either because you are a certified teacher.

I have worked in a hagwon before and I definately prefer a high school. It's not all roses but it beats the "business" aspect of teaching. I also notice an increase in all students speaking abilities (even if that means being more confident in saying Hi, how are you?). I would say give it a go. All my friends that work in universities in Korea have been through the public system. Good luck.

[Mr. Pink]

I suggest you try private high schools.

Honestly I wouldnt teach in a public high school unless those jobs paid 5mil a month. The quality of student is just so unpredictable.

At private high schools they almost all have tests to get in. Tests means weeding out the bad kids.

Chances are my high school will be hiring at the end of the year for next March, as well probably a lot of other private high schools.

[fidel]

Mr Pink,
Forgive me if I'm wrong but there is really no such thing as a private high school in korea, in terms of what we understand the 'private school' means back in the west. ALL are government funded and as such they set the policies and procedures the schools have to follow. While the students sit a test before entering their alloted school, whether they pass or fail is irregardless. ALL schools are forced to accept them from the ballot results.

The exceptions are of course international schools which you aren't, I think, talking about.

[Derrek]

[fidel]

[FUBAR]

[Hater Depot]

The following will be true in any public middle or high school:

1. You will have huge classes (36 -- 45).

2. Your students will have ability levels all over the map. Some will be unable (or unwilling) to say 'Hello'; most will be satisfied to be able to give one or two-word answers to questions; a few will be ready to discuss ancient Egyptian history or read "Little Women". They will all be thrown into the same classroom, and they will all be socially graduated at the end of the year regardless of their actual achievement.

3. The Korean teachers will be teaching to the state exams, with little deviation, and likely doing so almost entirely in Korean. Your job will be teaching conversation classes, and many students won't be too interested in anything that isn't a) funny, or b) able to get them higher test scores. Conversation classes will not get them higher test scores. Unfortunate but true, it's just not how the tests are written. So if your students don't think just speaking in English is fun (actually quite a few will) then you'll need to be something of a comedian.

4. "Tall poppy syndrome" will be in effect. Higher-ability kids will be less likely to try to talk to you and may actively conceal their conversation skills so other kids don't tease them or something. One of my least-attentive kids, who never tries to talk to me outside of class, is actually nearly fluent.

Despite all this I can say that it is a great job if you have the right temperament and good co-teachers. Your students will like you and be excited about you, a foreigner, being in their midst every day. That just doesn't mean they'll hang on to your every word.

My advice to someone about to start a public school job--

1. Dress nice. As a man, a polo shirt or tucked-in button-down is the way to go. Good-looking jeans or slacks. Stand up straight and don't slouch. Looking scruffy and unkempt will not get you anywhere.

2. Carry a whuppin' stick, back scratcher, something. Even if you never use it, this will make you look more like a 'real' teacher to the kids. We have Korean teachers who would never hit their kids, but they carry sticks regardless.

3. Communicate the rules of your class immediately, and make sure they understand. No horseplay, no talking to your friends (especially when teacher is talking to you!), etc. Give them a sheet with those rules, and put them up on the classroom walls. (Assuming you have your own room.) Review those rules regularly.

4. Have a carrot-and-stick system. For example, when they behave well and do good work, put stickers in their books or something. Enough stickers and there's some reward. When they behave badly or don't try hard, take something away--game time, maybe.

5. Make sure they take notes. In my experience they won't, even when you are explaining a new word or grammar point, unless you specifically tell them to. Give them time at least every other class to write their own sentences and use what you've taught them. I like to make worksheets, give them 15-20 minutes to write 6 -- 8 sentences, and collect the results. This gives them the chance to write creatively, which few of them get much chance to do, and you another opportunity to reward good work.

6. Don't forget how hard they get worked in their other classes. Especially in high school they are studying until at least midnight and often living on just four or five hours of sleep a night.

[Derrek]

[fidel]

[FUBAR]

It is true that once you get tenure it's hard to get fired at the private schools. There is this one teacher who should have been fired along time ago. Among the things that he has done (or so I have been told)

-Shown up drunk or smelling of alcohol quite often
-Fought with another teacher
-On a MT, got drunk and went into the girls tents to 'sleep'
-Beratied and beat some students so badly that the priincipal walked up two floors to see what the problem was
-Openly smokes in the hallway
-Can't speak English even though he is an English teacher. Even the students laugh at his Konglishee pronunciation

I am not sure who likes this guy or what he has done to keep his job, but this man definately should not be working at the school.

[Derrek]

Yes, the new teachers were definately on 1-year contracts. I haven't asked how long it is before someone can be considered for tenure at my school.

In all honesty, from this angle, tenure doesn't seem like a good thing, sometimes. At least not from the quality of education standpoint.

Yes, I believe private high schools are better. My school has one teacher hired by GEPIK money, but without absolute GEPIK control. Our other teacher is payed by the parents (each parent pays and extra $X per month somehow. The best jobs to get are the ones that are paid with money from the parents.

With that said, the gov't is desperately trying to make certain things standard in regards to foreign teachers -- such as only 2 weeks of vacation per year. Just ask JackTheCat. It has reached a level where schools receive nasty "don't you dare" letters from the gov't stating not to allow teachers more than 2 weeks of vacation per year.

A new trend seems to be schools hiring foreign teachers to work PT, but on visa sponsorship. So you would work from 1 to 4, for example, but for about 1.8 to 2.0 -- but no housing included. It makes sense, because it saves the school money (housing) and the teaching hours are not a lot less. The school just has to be more organized about setting the classes up in a smaller block. This very well may be the future of many of these jobs. It certainly would be a boon for workers who intend to work two jobs and double their income quickly -- legally or otherwise.

I very well might take one of these jobs next year, as I may attend Seoul National to study Korean FT in the morning. I plan to visit several schools in that area of Seoul to see if I can convince them to hire me on during such hours.

This way, I can study Korean without having to eat ramyen every day and live in a goshiwan.

[Captain Corea]

[FUBAR]