Korean Job Discussion Forums

Snowkr · Joined: 03 Jun 2005

Is anyone else working in a school where you have lost a large number of kids in the last 2 months? I was told this was normal for this time of year. My school has lost over 10 kids in a very short amount of time which is quite a lot for a small school.

I heard parents are really "shopping around" for different hogwons during these months if they're not totally 100 percent satisfied with the one they're paying... which is probably NEVER.

On a brighter note, my preschool class is much easier to teach now that the nightmare kids are out. I have to applaud the parents for realizing that they were wasting their money and our time and making the change.

Big T · Joined: 04 Jan 2006

Around this time of year kids tend to have test.....it seems numbers always fall at this time of year as head-strong Korean ajjuma change their priorities....

don't worry - numbers will pick up come summer time

Dan The Chainsawman · Joined: 05 May 2005

Enjoy your free time I know I have.

Snowkr · Joined: 03 Jun 2005

I'm out of here in the summer. Bring on the kids!

CoolTeach · Joined: 19 Apr 2006 Location: Back in the USSR

VanIslander · Posted: Sun Apr 30, 2006 3:49 am Post subject:

Were most of the students just finished grade six?

It's standard practice for parents to withdraw their kid from the English hagwon once elementary school ends, and put them in a hagwon designed to teach every subject, including English.

I've lost so many good students to this, yet the director has spoken with pride of the few exceptions who stick around into their first and second year of middle school because they either really like the hagwon, parents are satisfied with their progress, or extra hagwon load is desired.

Son Deureo! · Joined: 30 Apr 2003

It's probably because you're a bad teacher. Wink

Seriously, winter and summer tend to be peak enrollment seasons, when the kids are on vacation from school, while fall and spring have lower enrollment. It's just the nature of the hogwon beast.

Snowkr · Joined: 03 Jun 2005

thanks to everyone who responded.

I have noticed groups of parents taking their kids out at the same time. We do see kids come and go but never in this volume. Over 10 kids in just 2 weeks is more than my director has ever lost.

The excuses are basically the same... time, students losing interest, the program is too hard because we don't allow Korean to be spoken, our hours aren't good, we finish at 6pm every day... etc

I am actually glad to see some of them go but I feel bad for my boss. He's a good guy and I know that this has stressed him out.