Korean Job Discussion Forums

[crazylemongirl]

I've worked a year in a hogwon and public school

Public school
In my experience you are treated like a real teacher. The material that I cover in class is tested on. These tests become part of their permanant record. My classes matter, so they've got to be good. Public school is more like a 'real job' than a hogwon. You gotta be at school before 9 home in the afternoon sometime. Not really a job for someone who enjoys partying.

Yes you get paid on time and all that but also remember that you will be dealing with more admin. You have far more levels of admin to deal with. co-teachers, principal, provincial boards of education etc. dealing with admin sucks anyway but korean admin has their own special craziness. You may find that you get conflicting advice, or directives from differenet people.

Non english speaking enviroment. If you work in a public school you should be learning korean because most of your co-workers won't speak much english. I've found my life has been improving as I've learnt more. Also public schools require you to build relationships with your co-workers as otherwise your life will suck if you piss of someone.

You see the students during the best part of their day.

Locations can be a bit further away from the action. Most schools aren't located in nightlife areas and some of them are very isolated. You defiently experience more of the 'real korea' because you're often the only foreign teacher on staff.

You need to prepare more teaching materials. I get to teach from the students text boks about 40% of the time. The rest is stuff I need to come up with.

Hagwons.
Used to dealing with foreigners who don't much about korea nor teaching. Public schools really require you to be able to hit the ground running.

small classes, that aren't so high stakes. Good place to work on your teaching methods.

likely to work with other foreigners.

Less admin bollocks. In the end you are only responsible to one person.

More choice of locations and students. If you teach public, you're going to be teaching one age group.

So for a newbie I would rank job oppurtunities like this:

1. Good hogwon job,
2. Good public scool job.
3. bad public school job (they do exist)
4. bad hogwon job.

If you opt for a public school do your research! I wouldn't have survied my current gig if I hadn't taught in korea before.

[peppermint]

nah, a bad public school job is just as bad as a bad hagwon. You're pretty much assured of getting paid, but there's a lot of other ways for it to become awful.

[brento1138]

I've only worked in a hakwon, and I quite like it. I am quite certain that there truly is a HUGE spectrum of hakwons out there. I've heard alot of complaints about them on these boards, but many of the complaints don't apply to my job. I think I am fortunate having been given the place I've been given: the kids are pretty good (there's always some bad ones), the staff is professional, and the fellow English teachers are very nice, and try hard.

Like others have said. It's such a crap shoot. I don't think you really know what you're getting when you actually get there, teach a few classes, then you'll get an idea... so, a phone call with the director isn't enough to let you know about the school. Talking to a foreigner already working there is a great idea... usually they'll let you know what the situation is. Make sure you get in contact with someone who was worked there or is working there currently, and ask them many many questions! That's my advice.