Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Miss L]

Hello-- I am a Canadian teacher who is interested in teaching for Indianhead International School in Uijeongbu City. Are Korean International schools as demanding as North American Elementary schools? I want to teach in Korea for a year but I also want to travel and enjoy my stay. I am still confused about which type of school I would like to teach for...hogwan or international Any useful advice? I'm trying to make a decision within the next week. Thanks!

[Dawn]

In some ways, international schools can be less demanding than their western counterparts. Thankfully, No Child Left Unscathed hasn't made it to this hemisphere. In other ways, international schools can be even tougher. For starters, students' English levels run the gammet from native to extremely limited. Two, materials can be harder to come by. Three, parents can be even more "challenging" to deal with because they're paying a pretty penny for their children's educations and believe (with some justification) that at that price, they ought to be able to have a fair amount of say in school issues. Four, special education services are often limited to non-existent, so you've got to be able to handle a wide range of abilites in the classroom.

All that said, if you want to go the international school route, I'd advise you to contact numerous teachers, both past and present, before signing with Indianhead. I won't say too much, as I don't know anyone who is currently employed there. But the school does have a somewhat colorful history, and most of the former teachers I've met were quite happy to be "former."

[Miss L]

Dawn-- Thanks for the info. That is definately something to think about. Recently I have been offered another position at Yes Youngjae English School in Bumgae....heard of it? It's a Hogwan.

How long have you taught in Korea?

Have you only taught at Hogwans?

[Dawn]

[Ryst Helmut]