Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Captain Marlow]

i've been working at a english academy for the past year... i know about all the crap things that you may have to deal with at academies...

i know very little about public schools and the crap that you have to deal with other than a)koteachers, and b)slightly lower pay... what are the other potential hassles of teaching at a public school? should i make the change, or is staying with at the same gig a safer bet?

[sojourner1]

Public school is more like a real school in a traditional sense. It's a real school, but you will have many communication challenges though they tend to be a kinder and gentler bunch to work with and for. I really have not been given a hard time nor antagonized one bit like I was in a hagwon academy. I'm in a really small town teaching in some of the smallest public schools. This situation is a much lower financial risk and much better for my health, but boring as can be. I'd go nuts without a computer since there's no social life nor anyone to chat with in your everyday living. You meet people on occassion during your weekends trips and get in on some weekend outings. I'm not sure what teaching in PS in the city is like.

I'd say the real drawback to PS is you're alone; all alone with no one you can really relate with such as other foreign teachers, but it's more good than bad. Even in hagwon, you're still alone as teaching is a very lonesome profession as it's just you on the hotplate rather than being a part of a team of peers. If in a high school, you may have co-teachers with a very high level of English who are a lot of fun to work with and do things like hike mountains, but elementary teaching will bring you to work with women with small children who speak very limited, if any, English nor any outside of work invitations such as dinners and hiking trips. It's a huge divide being a dude(tte) from the West who only knows several women who go home each night to their children and husband, but they are kind and gentle people who are not too difficult to tolerate. They're husbands may ask their wives to invite you for soju, but it's not mandatory nor important as they can't speak English nor relate much with you. It's a lonesome journey, uh, I mean, sojourn.

[Draz]