Korean Job Discussion Forums

[irwinpryce]

Hey, I have been offered a position in a hagwon, this would be teaching all kindergarden. Can anyone help me out by giving me more information as to pros and cons of this?
Thanks

[Zaria32]

Teaching kindy means earlier hours. The hogwon could be very good to very bad...there's a HUGE range.

At some, what you're expected to do will be laid out well, you'll be treated well, and Korean law (paying taxes, pension, National Health Insurance) will be followed.

In others you will be viewed as a piece of meat from which the Korean director/owner may be able to create some advantages for himself, ie pocketing the taxes he withholds, blaming you for every student who leaves, refusing pension, refusing health insurance and generally making you question your sanity in terms of coming to Korea.

The best way to try and determine which is which is to carefully read the contract. That's not a sure fire way, but it's pretty good. The contract should be very specific. Read the contract sticky on here until your eyes bleed, so that you can instantly identify potential problems with it.

[Yu_Bum_suk]

Be very sure you know what you're getting yourself into. Teaching ECE is not like teaching elementary or secondary. A few principles may be the same but it involves a different set of skills entirely. Among EFL teachers there are a few who really like it, a number who can tolerate it, and many who hate it. And even if you like it, life at work can be heaven or hell depending on your employer.

[Tokki1]

It's babysitting, plain and simple. 12 4-year old Korean children should not be forced to sit in chairs and learn English; they barely have the coordination to use a pencil

[esetters21]

It's a walk in the park compared to teaching that age group anything in the States. I does all depend on your demographics of couse.

[tomato]

[Biblethumper]

Kindergarten is the best teaching situation.

The children have no bad language habits yet. The teacher can actually improve their pronunciation and grammar. Not just their knowledge, but their actual habitual usage in practical conversation.

A kindergarten class will be yours for an entire year, five days a week, a couple of hours every day (including play time, lunch time): the teacher can see real long-term progress.

Kindergarten classes are small. Ten or twelve at most, compared to public school classes.

Kindergarten mothers are the most fanatical about English education. If the teacher works hard, he will receive much support, understanding and forgiveness.

The children love adults, and with love from the teacher, they will accept every word and follow every rule. Of course, they are still young and lacking in self-control, but they want to please the teacher.

They can be easily coaxed with stickers and other small rewards, as well as the model of good peers, and they can easily be threatened with the most minor punishments.

They are easily entertained. They enjoy songs and activities which would bore jaded older students.

[tomato]

In case you need some guidance on teaching kindergarten,
there is plenty of it right here on this board:

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[Milwaukiedave]

At least from my experience in Korea, kindergarten was 6-7 year olds and preschool was 4-6 years old.

I agree kindergarten is kind of a mixed bag. I taught that age my first year here and one thing about them is that they are energetic and ready to learn. On the other hand, they can be like a pack of wild animals that can't be controled. Of course kids can be...well kids and they do a lot of whining an complaining about who did what to whom.

The next year I went to teach 4-6th grades and even they were exhausting at times.

In terms of teaching kids, two words come to mind: never again