Korean Job Discussion Forums

[poetryfoot]

So, because of inflation and a lot of other factors, the enrollment is down and there are more NET's coming over...so do you think that mainly the "richer" kids get sent to English schools then? How important is it these days for (status, or other reasons) for Korean kids to "perfect" their English?

[Weigookin74]

[World Traveler]

Why then does hagwon enrollment keep declining as the world economy improves? Maybe it has to do with public schools upping the workload with unpaid summer camps, more after school classes, etc. Maybe parents are figuring out hagwons aren't the only way to learn English. Maybe there are many, many, many complex and non obvious factors. But there's nothing I can say to make you think otherwise.

[Bollocks]

Does the F-visa mean you can stop with the health checks every year? Last time they drew blood the idiot nurse flicked the needle when she pulled out. I have a red mark on my arm and it still hurts a week later. I never wanted to punch someone more than that girl.

[Weigookin74]

[Weigookin74]

[poetryfoot]

[/quote]

Um, isn't that why you come to Korea? To pay off loans, I mean? You probably would have been in a better financial position if you had of come over here than. I got here at the end of 2006. I had friends who got here in 2003 and 2004ish and they are all now debt free due to better exchange rates and cheaper living costs back then. (I wish I could go back in a time machine and kick my own butt for not getting here sooner.)[/quote]

Yeah, that's what I heard, but I guess I let my insecurity get the best of me. I wanted to go over without any loans and some cash saved up...it's going to take a couple more months, but almost done with that. I guess I just thought if something went wrong, then I would have cash to fall back on. It sounds like it's too bad you couldn't have come slightly sooner It's taken me longer than I thought....in some ways I wish I would have been able to come much sooner, like in 2005 or so....but I did really enjoy my job from 2005-2009 and made some great friends...but it sounds like it would have much smarter to come much sooner...I hope to come next year...who knows what South Korea will be like 5 years

[12ax7]

[Kimchieluver]

It's not just the economy. It also has to do with the demographics. A lot of rural schools are closing and combining with other rural schools. There are simply not as many students as there was 2006ish. Hogwans are feeling the pinch. Many are starting illegal Kindy programs to make up for less students.

[12ax7]

[PatrickGHBusan]

School dynamics are changing from larger hakwons to smaller ones. This is due to demographics but also to a slow switch in educational approach and to a modification in English testing for University entrance.

[ontheway]

I've seen no evidence that enrollment at English hogwans has fallen. Other types of hogwans have seen declines, but the kids still need English - and government schools teach them nothing. What they've dropped are taekwondo, music and art classes, as well as cutting back on subject hogwans where they don't need help.

English hogwans are very competitive, so the poorer ones have faced declines, many of the chains with lower quality have had branches fail, but there are still new schools opening.

The overall quality level is rising due to small, high quality schools, class sizes are being reduced to improve learning, and good hogwans have stable or increasing enrollment. The number of foreign English teachers needed at hogwans seems to be steady or growing. The cutbacks have been concentrated in the government schools, some of the ill conceived English villages and the ineffective after school programs.

[WadRUG'naDoo]

[Weigookin74]

[poetryfoot]

Yeah, but it's taken so long At least it feels like it. I can't wait to actually be able to SAVE some money and not be burdened by it. It's neat that the job market is still open for those who don't have tons (or any) teaching experience.