Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Lorilou]

I was accepted into the SMOE program because I really wanted to work in a public school in seoul. I also applied to a "private public elementary" located in Hongdae. Does anyone know anything about working for a private public school? It seems almost too good to be true-- public school hours, 4-5 teaching hours per day, 4 weeks vacation time with the small class sizes, more NET teachers, and higher pay you get at hagwons. Is it (too good to be true, that is)?

What appeals to me is that, if I take this job, I'll be living in a great area. If I go through smoe, then who knows where I'll end up in Seoul. The private school job doesn't have an apt for me yet, so I won't see pics of it until after I sign my contract. However, if I do public, I won't see my apt until I arrive (plus, it seems my hagwon friends have much nicer places than the GEPIK friends). I've been given the contact info for the current teacher there, but she hasn't gotten back to me yet. I need to make a decision soon, since I have to send one or the other my fbi background check.

[jvalmer]

Sounds like you're talking about just another hagwon. Public schools and private-public schools are essentially the same thing. And SMOE does cover and send NET's to some private-public schools. The difference is how it's administered behind the scenes, but as NET's we wouldn't notice much of a difference between a public school and a private-public school.