Korean Job Discussion Forums

[wormholes101]

How would you, as a public school teacher (EPIK, GEPIK) rate your teaching job satisfaction on a day-to-day job basis.

The poll does not include factors like teaching hours, pay, holiday time etc.

1 = very unsatisfying
5 = very satisfying

Feel free to elaborate if you like.

[CPT]

[wormholes101]

[aarontendo]

Most my kids (99%) don't give a crap and now I don't either. Just go in do my job and leave. I don't even feel like making good lessons because hell, who's going to pay attention heh.

Put me down for a 1.

[Cornfed]

I'd hover between 1 and 3, with the odd 4 day now and then.

[Yu_Bum_suk]

As long as I remember to think in relative terms my job is very satisfying.

[sojourner1]

I'm kinda neutral as I really am not interested in making a career out of teaching children. I'm finding job satisfaction teaching grades 1,2,3,4, and somewhat 5, but not with my 6th grade classes. I get satisfaction out of students eager to learn who listen and try which leads to results. It helps tremendously to have co-teacher support in promoting a classroom more conducive to learning as they don't listen to foreigners very well due to them not being scared of us or seeing us as authoritative figures like most of their Korean teachers.

With 6th grade, they are rude, talk all the time, mock me by mimicking, and are just downright sour, rotten, and sullen. They have their minds on pop stars and video games; not school which is normal for their age group. I remember 6th grade being a time of tremendous change where we started becoming fashion conscious, listening to teen music, and doing teen stuff while ignoring our teachers because we were too cool for school. 6th grade is a tough one to get any satisfaction out of teaching not to say it's impossible. Their Korean teacher, who they don't listen to, says to just show videos since they're not going to listen so I tried this one time and they still didn't like it as they want Korean and Japanese material. They have no interest in English due to not being able to correlate it with their personal interests. Those kids need to learn the basics early in life before 6th grade so they can have a 6th grade level class or they just get bored and disrespectful. This is a huge problem.

[hari seldon]

[Otherside]

I voted 2.

In all matters except for the actual teaching, I find a public school to be far superior to a hagwon...however the teaching is a serious let down.

Pretty much what Sojourner says applies to me; in addition, a big chunk of my classes are after school classes for grades 1 and 2. This is really just a glorified daycare for kids who are stuck at school. There's a good chunk who are keen, but that is completly ruined by an equally good chunk who either don't want to be there, are bored, or revel in making as much trouble as possible. Not to mention for grade 1 and 2 students, throwing a double english class after the school day makes for a very long day, and 1 very unhappy FT.

[wormholes101]

[Draz]

Voted 1 for public middle school. If there was an option for 0, or negative numbers, I would have taken that. I dreaded teaching classes, and I'm still feeling that a little even though I'd rate my current job (hagwon) as a 4 for the actual teaching part.

[some waygug-in]

A lot depends on my attitude. If I go in thinking it's all crap...then it usually is. On the other hand, if I constantly remind myself to make the best of things... then it's OK.

Does the system suck? In a lot of ways, yes.

Do I feel I could do better with my own materials and methods?


A resounding YES!

But that doesn't mean I should give up and be the worst I can be either.

Try to see the positives.



I am thankful that I don't have to endure the ddong chim gauntlet every day like I did in the hagwans. I'm also glad that over all, the kids are more respectful towards me.

The stability is nice, and very addictive. I really can't see myself ever returning to the nightmarish uncertainties of hagwan jobs.

Were there good things in hagwans? Yes, sometimes...but if I'm really honest about it, there were far more bad days in my hagwan experience.

Hope this helps.

[nomad-ish]

last year my job seemed somewhat satisfying, i was teaching middle school children in a poorer area of the city, lots of problems but i felt like i made a difference in their day. but now i'm teaching rich brats all day where my co-teachers HARDLY EVER discipline the little buggers. i find my job unsatisfying

[Hank the Iconoclast]

I like my public schools. I mostly give it a 4 or a 5. The teachers treat me right, the students are mostly cooperative and I try my best to make good lessons for them.

[Ukon]

Easy 5....I keep waiting for something bad to happen....