Korean Job Discussion Forums

U.S.A. · Joined: 19 Jan 2003

My public school job included housing and it was pretty darn good. Most folks I've known who've worked in a public school also had housing provided or a stipend. Not everyone had this.

Class size: hagwon's by far have the fewest students.
My university classes had the most (50 at times).
Most public school classes are large (30 to 50). However, I now teach in America and have around 25 to 32 students per class. Darn I wish that'd change.

Discipline:
Had the least problems at the hagwon but a higher intensity. Because the classes were smaller and most kids wanted to be there (this was my experience), I didn't have to lay out the law much, but when a kid got testy, he/she got real evil knowing that I couldn't really lay out the law (considering the place was a business so profit and happy customers came first).

University. No real discipline problems there. Still many students with high levels of immaturity. Fair amount of late arrivals. Nothing I didn't see when I was in university.

public school. Just like my current position, hit em hard, hit em fast, and hit em early! (not literally hitting them.) You will have discipline work to do! Middle schoolers have the most but all students are manageable (spell?).

Don't hesitate to send a few student early on to a Korean teacher. Word gets around the school quickly that you don't take crap.

There is no need to be a nazi in the classroom. Just make sure the kids are clear that there are and are not acceptable ways of behavior in class.

None of the above jobs are cakewalks, and each has some type of reward.