Korean Job Discussion Forums

[darrenjzy]

I'm sure this is on here, but the search engine keeps giving me trouble.

What are the main differences between teaching for public and private schools? Which are more sought after?

I'm looking into entry level work. I have a BA, no cert, and 1 year tutoring adults in ESL.

Thank you

[Nexus11]

Most people on here will tell you that public school is the way to go and will give you their list of reasons. I personally prefer hagwons (private academies) that I have taken the time to research thoroughly. Not vetting your hagwon can result in a really bad experience and conditions could end up being much different from those in my pros and cons.

Anyway, here is a brief list of pros and cons for each. I'm sure I have forgotten some so please feel free to add to my list.

Public school pros:
- guaranteed to be paid on time
- 22 teaching hours per week maximum
- four weeks paid vacation

Public school cons:
- at work for 8 hours a day
- class sizes are quite large (30 plus)
- wide range of English abilities together in one classroom
- Korean co-teachers in the classroom

Hagwon pros:
- usually 6-7 hours spent at work per day
- class sizes are usually only 10-12 students
- students are grouped by ability
- no co-teachers in the room with you
- prepared curriculum so very little lesson planning

Hagwon cons:
- most only give 2 weeks vacation
- outside of the major chains, there is a risk of not getting paid if the school runs into financial trouble
- some directors have no teaching experience and therefore have unreasonable demands or expectations

[Rory_Calhoun27]

co-teachers arent necessarily a negative, but you have to have the right one AND work at being a team... but Im hoping my next one is willing to do that.

Guess I relate to John McCain on that topic.... if I'd done a better job vetting my coteacher in 2008 life would be so different now.

[sheba]

Based on my experience in private school, and my friends experience in public school...

Private
I had a lot of freedom to teach what and how I wanted..
All the other teachers were young, mostly single, could speak English and were interested in spending time with me.
Our staff was a nice little close and supportive unit (mostly).
I could negotiate aything (I didnt always get it, but at least had the option to discuss it).
There was a 'you scratch my back and ill scratch yours', which can be good and bad.
Lots of politics, eg letting the naughty little brats who should have been expelled stay at school cos the boss wants more money.
Sometimes having to play a dancing monkey rather than actually teaching.

Public
My friend had a mixed year.
She had no probs with sick days or holidays (even got more vacation than agreed in the contract).
But all teachers at the school were older, married, and could not speak English and therefore there was no social aspect of the job.
The co teacher caused a lot of probs.
Spent a lot of time prepping for classes.

But Im off to public school this year... decided I wanted a job with a little more professionalism. Plus I found a public school that offers minimum of 8 weeks vacation and higher pay than what private schools were offering.

Heres hoping I can handle a class of 30+.... thats what freaks me out the most!

[Old Gil]

This year I work for a private elementary (not a hagwon an 8:50-3:40 elementary that is privately owned but still overseen by SMOE), last year I worked for a public school.

Plusses at the public school vs the private? Zero, excpet the kids were much more respectful.

12 kids v. 36 kids
4 weeks vacation v. 12
22 classes+ 18 desk hours v. 24 + zero desk
camps v. no camps
high fluency v. no englishee
2.0 v. 2.0 (was worth it for me cuz of the vacation though in retrospect i don't need that much time off and would rather have had the cashee. also i had afternoon gigs with the public school)

Usually private elem. are not available to entry level teachers and require you to already be in country (I came over on a tourist visa). Hagwons, of course, need those warm bodies.

I'm not sure what you were referring to exactly.

[DosEquisXX]

Wait, you mean hagwons (after school academies) or actual private schools?

[darrenjzy]

Maybe I should ask about a third type. I think most the job advertisements I've seen are from hagwons. Is there a way to tell whether they are a hagwon or private school? Perhaps the hours offered?

Thanks for all the info.