Korean Job Discussion Forums

[UncleAlex]

Well, it depends. The nation-wide or province-wide programs that are
advertised by recruitment agencies usually offer disgracefully low salaries
and often provide poor housing conditions. One can argue that the foreign
teacher may have to teach only 15 to 20 classes a week, but all the same,
one has to be at his assigned school for 8 hours a day. If he steps off the
premises to mail a letter during school hours, he could be reprimanded, or
at least tacitly resented. Ask yourself, if you're considering a public school
position, what your hourly wage would be at 1.7 million won a month with
a 40 hour a week schedule. The amount isn't very flattering. One can earn
more money waiting on tables in North America. The government offers
start as low as this monthly figure for candidates who have only a degree
but less than one or two years experience. If one has to be at school for 8
hours a day, he may at least teach 5 or 6 classes like at a hagwon for 2.2
a month, although the number of daily classes often exceed the rational
limit at private institutes. If one must work at a mainstream school, he can
expect a better salary, better housing, and benefits employed by one that
is privately owned, not government subsidized. Foreign language secondary
schools are ideal places to work at, but are scarce and usually require a
degree in Education or teacher's certificate. Finally, at a Korean public
school, the foreign teacher plays second fiddle. Although he is the one who
does all the lesson planning, material development, and teaching, it's the
idle - if not naiive Korean co-teacher - who critically assesses and opines
whether the native English teacher should have his contract renewed. In
most cases I've heard about, foreign teachers are unhappy about their
public school position because of "co-teacher woes". Korean English teachers
at Hagwons are more open-minded, friendlier, less condescending, and more
adept at speaking in English. The xenephobia one encounters at public schools
can be somewhat discomforting at times. The insider-outsider mentality of
the Korean staff, their insulated disposition, wariness, and aloofness are there
with one in the classroom , lunchroom, or office; although a superficial and
somewhat insincere effort is made to welcome him. If you don't mind being
the main topic on the public school teacher's grapevine within your school or
among a host of schools, then be my guest, work at a Korean public school.
Meanwhile, expect to teach more classes - intense ones at that - a
day than the Korean teachers do for less pay because you don't have a
Korean teacher's licence but actually plan lessons as a teacher should.
When it's time to celebrate Chusok or the Lunar New Year, don't feel too
bad when the Korean teachers get their fat holiday bonuses, but you don't
get yours; that includes the winter and summer holidays when, if you're
asked to conduct a vacation program for 3 to 4 weeks, you are denied the
overtime pay of 25,000 won (?) per hour that the Korean staff are entitled
to. The general public school positions are really thankless ones. If any
bureaucrat, principal, or supervisor is grateful to you, it's for the chance to
have taken advantage of you.

[Yu_Bum_suk]

It all depends. I make 2.2. Have minimum 28 days holiday. My students are great. Today I taught three lessons and then went to go mail a letter giving my VP a nod on my way out. I feel really valued here and get heaps of compliments. I have one middle school co-teacher who can be annoying at times but at high school I've arranged it so I only have co-teachers in the classes where I want them.

There are cases like what you describe, but I honestly don't think that all of those problems all at once are the norm. Where they are, FTs should walk away just like at a bad hogwan; however, I think there are more cases like mine.

[Yu_Bum_suk]

PS do you, or have you, taught public school, and what was your experience?

[Ya-ta Boy]

[Kimchieluver]

I have to agree with Bum suk and Ya-ta.

I'have two days off this week because of tests and I don't even have to show up. If you have taught here two or more years or have a teaching certificate or TEFL/TESOL the pay is fine. You can make more at a hogkwan I suppose but they will most likely try to get the max 30 hours out of you and this year is a particularly bad year for holidays (for hogkwans). Furthermore, not worrying about getting paid/ paid late, end of year scams, paying taxes only to the director, and really crap vacation... more than makes up for the hogkwan hell in some cases.

On the other hand, Hogkwans are great for first time teachers with no experience. You have smaller classes and you can get to know your students better. Can't think of any better reasons right now.. because my first hogkwan raked me so bad....and the last showed no aprreciation for me staying there two years in a row and tried to stiff me on my severance even though they were begging me to stay.

There is two sides to every coin.

Oh, if you are a night person I would choose a hogkwan.

[schwa]

All else being equal (or not) having a public school job strikes most Koreans as more legitimate & respect-worthy than a hagwon position.

[Corporal]

[quote="Ya-ta Boy"]

[JacktheCat]

[Col.Brandon]

Wow. The world's largest paragraph. Good job.

[Ya-ta Boy]