Korean Job Discussion Forums

[zarathustra]

Hey. Newbie here.

I am going to Korea in August through the recruiters Reach To Teach. I'll be teaching at a public school. I thought public was the best option because I've heard the contracts aren't as shady as hagwon contracts can be, and I would have a Korean assistant teacher. I also thought it was a good idea to go through a recruiter.
But then I randomly scrolled back 600 pages and was reading posts that said good schools don't use recruiters, and that hagwons are the best option.

So my questions are three:
1) Has anyone else done Reach To Teach?
2) Pros and cons of using a recruiter?
3) What's the better choice: public or hagwon?

[mzeno]

As to number 3, from what I've heard and experienced, it mostly depends on you. Public schools start in the morning with larger classes. Hagwons typically start in the afternoon, with much smaller classes. Public schools typically offer more vacation time and are less likely to play games with your paycheck/contract, but nothing is set in stone. There are great public school jobs, and there are terrible public school jobs. Similarly with hagwons. However, I would say that, on the whole, a public school position is probably a safer bet, if you are worried about things like being paid properly, return flight home, paid vacation, etc.

[zarathustra]

Thanks. Thats mostly what I gathered from my research. It just seems like I'm one of the few going with public schools.

How did you decide where you to teach?

[kinerry]

the kids learn more and you have more freedom in the classroom in hagwons

I would never teach at a public unless I had to

[mzeno]

[zarathustra]

[kelhal08]

[binjibadgy]

Public vs Hagwon

In simple-to-grasp terms either positive or negative (it's subjective)...

It the difference between:

> 3-4 classes or 8-10 classes per day
> 4-6 weeks or 10 days vacation
> 10-15 or 2-3 days sick days
> stable or unstable pay, bonus, etc.
> un-established or established teaching materials
> co-teacher or no co-teacher
> mornings or afternoons
> you pay flights or they pay fligths
> sole foreinger or many foreingers
> 18-22 or 8 - 12 students per class
> minimal english in office or more english in office
> Staying until 4/5pm or leave 1min after last class each day*
> Monday-Friday or Monday to Saturday*

*experiences may vary.

Hagwon I'm guessing should and probably are more prepared with teaching material, where as Publics can be hit or miss in that regard, just from my experience.

I have never worked a Hagwon job, going by what i have read and what friends have said regarding them, many of them work Publics now and wonder why they didn't get a public job sooner...

Its a personal perference either way.

My personal opinion on it, is that, the positives out weigh the negatives of a publics school position.

[zarathustra]

Thanks, that clarifies things. I think public suits me best.

[jcm87]

Zarathusra, how did you get a job for the next EPIK intake already? I want to apply to the September EPIK but all of the recruiters told me it was too early to start the application process.

[zarathustra]

I just applied online through Reach To Teach. I had the interview, and they told me they would contact me in April with the rest of the paperwork.

So I don't really know why.

[mzeno]

In my experience, public school environments are also way more strict and formal than hagwons, which often tranlates into an unfriendly, cold, and stressful atmosphere. In a sense, working at a public school is a lot like working at any other big company or business, with the students seen as the 'product', and the teachers seen as the employees to be managed. Employees(and students) are expected to behave, think and dress in a very similar way. There is very rigid hierarchy of power and control concerning curriculum, scheduling, and procedures, not to mention the blowback from raging office politics that you are usually completely unaware of, but that can still negatively impact your effectiveness and job satisfaction. And, just based on the sheer number of students that you see each day, public schools can oftentimes feel like your in an educational factory, with little or no opportunity to interact with students in any meaningful or significant way.
Hagwons, of course, are not immune to these things, but, in my opinion, are far, far less susceptible to them.

[southernman]