Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Snowkr]

I apologize if there is/are or have been other threads specific to this question recently... I haven't found them...

Those of you who are really into teaching EFL/ESL as a career... which is better.. high school or university..?

Perhaps it's a vague question and can't really be answered as every school/experience is different, but which demographic makes you feel more like an educator and less like an entertainer?

I like working in my high school for now... I'm still new.
It's going to get old really fast though. I'm tired of trying to put on a show for 40 students but I'm not so sure that university is really any better. In fact, it may be worse.

I have an M.A. in TESOL and a few years experience but I've never taught in a public school before taking this position.

Anyone who has taught in both, please comment!

[soju pizza]

the problem is that there are many different kinds of university jobs and you'll have to be more specific. Is there a university you have in mind? If the minimum contract offers 2.5 million for 12 hours a week and gives you 4 months of vacation at least, then chances are the university is a better option. Usually class size ranges from 25 to 35 students.

[butlerian]

I've worked at both, and I'd say a university route is generally the best option, though of course it depends on your level of ambition. If your current qualifications aren't too great, consider working at one of the universities that don't offer the best in terms of conditions. After some experience, you'll be able to move to the better university jobs.

[Medic]

I taught in both, but my public school stint though was in a boys middle school. I don't think they are any different however as you are teaching the same stuff to both groups of students.
University students can be a pain in the arse sometimes, because a lot of them just aren't interested in English, and nor will they ever be. Then again you can get the odd class where everybody shines like say "Buisness English" or special "Social Welfare Classes" with extra bright students especially selected from the province where you live, or classes with all English majors ( sometimes those English major classes have worse speaking English students than other majors). Anyway you have to find what you can use to keep them in line should they play up.
Good thing about a university are the holidays and the fact that you can go and make extra money at English camps during the vacations. Another good thing about a university are the cute female students. They sometimes smile at you sweetly through out the class periods.

Public schools are fun in a different way. Kids are kinda fresher and more alert, not at the burn't out stage as yet.

[Snowkr]

Kids are definitely burned out in my high school.

Poor things... some of them are in school from 7:30am till 1am the next day between high school and hogwans. I feel awful for them.

I would like to teach in a much more academic program than I am in now. I am guessing English majors at a university would probably be best for me.

Can anyone recommend a certain uni?

I'm interested in Yonsei or Hankuk University of Foreign Language Studies...

[Yu_Bum_suk]

My friend went from a decent HS gig to a decent uni gig. He still can't decide which is / was better. If you're a newbie to Korea a uni gig would probably be a lot easier to start, but make sure it's actually a uni gig and not a unigwon job.