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Chris.Quigley
Joined: 20 Apr 2009
Location: Belfast. N Ireland
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 Posted: Fri Aug 15, 2014 12:19 am Post subject: What does Hagwon mean to you? |
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I think we all know what the word Hagwon means in a literal sense. To Koreans the word probably envokes a lot more feeling than just "academy" or "school." To my students it is hell, it is a lot of things. To my adult friends it is often a painful memory, or a necessary evil that got them to where they are today.
Everyone is different.
To me, hagwon represents:
*amazing kids, many of whom are wise beyond their years
*non-sensical almost manic decision making on a comical scale
*a motley crew of compatriots and yet backstabbing by a few fellow English teachers just to win points with the boss which are worth less than a "like" on Facebook
*an atmosphere completely lacking in any trust
*an atmosphere of fear created by the owner to "motivate" staff
*needless drama, often manufactured purposely by teachers... pathetic...
*Idiotic HR practices (thus all the needless drama)... just because someone can tie their shoes doesn't mean they should be the head teacher...
*CCTV watching, always
*A boss who would seem prefers to see her staff fail than succeed
*Fighting just to get what you are owed by law
*daily misery
*no appreciation
*And yet... there is never really a dull moment!
As someone who is teaching at a Hagwon, or has taught at one in the past, what does the word "hagwon" mean to you? |
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duhweecher
Joined: 06 Nov 2013
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| Posted: Fri Aug 15, 2014 1:18 am Post subject: |
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...pay check.  |
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3DR
Joined: 24 May 2009
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| Posted: Fri Aug 15, 2014 2:49 am Post subject: |
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- Nightmare
- Hell
- Dark pit
- Misery
- etc etc |
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sligo
Joined: 15 Oct 2008
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| Posted: Fri Aug 15, 2014 5:04 am Post subject: |
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| Stepping stone. |
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ChrisPK
Joined: 07 Aug 2014
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| Posted: Fri Aug 15, 2014 5:44 am Post subject: |
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| Walmart |
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Joe Boxer
Joined: 25 Dec 2007
Location: Bundang, South Korea
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| Posted: Fri Aug 15, 2014 5:18 pm Post subject: Re: What does Hagwon mean to you? |
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| Chris.Quigley wrote: |
I think we all know what the word Hagwon means in a literal sense. To Koreans the word probably envokes a lot more feeling than just "academy" or "school." To my students it is hell, it is a lot of things. To my adult friends it is often a painful memory, or a necessary evil that got them to where they are today.
Everyone is different.
To me, hagwon represents:
*amazing kids, many of whom are wise beyond their years
*non-sensical almost manic decision making on a comical scale
*a motley crew of compatriots and yet backstabbing by a few fellow English teachers just to win points with the boss which are worth less than a "like" on Facebook
*an atmosphere completely lacking in any trust
*an atmosphere of fear created by the owner to "motivate" staff
*needless drama, often manufactured purposely by teachers... pathetic...
*Idiotic HR practices (thus all the needless drama)... just because someone can tie their shoes doesn't mean they should be the head teacher...
*CCTV watching, always
*A boss who would seem prefers to see her staff fail than succeed
*Fighting just to get what you are owed by law
*daily misery
*no appreciation
*And yet... there is never really a dull moment!
As someone who is teaching at a Hagwon, or has taught at one in the past, what does the word "hagwon" mean to you? |
Did you really type that one first? Or jam it in at the top, afterward.
Anyway, yeah, a lot of the kids are great, but for every "wise beyond their years" bespeckled student there are plenty of ADHD Tony's and Harry's. |
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tob55
Joined: 29 Apr 2007
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| Posted: Fri Aug 15, 2014 5:37 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| As someone who is teaching at a Hagwon, or has taught at one in the past, what does the word "hagwon" mean to you? |
A misunderstood area of education, which depending on your own personal view is either good or bad. Having worked in a hagwon 10 years ago, my definition would be very different than today as an owner of a hagwon.
As an educator with more than 35 years of teaching as a licensed and State certified public school teacher my definition would be different than that of an entrepreneur who is providing educational services to the community in which I live.
As a business owner my definition would be different than that of a 20-something year old coming to Korea because they want to spend a year abroad making money to pay off the student loans back home, regarding the importance of what I am doing with my time.
No clear answer, but I just posted three very real situations focusing on why the definition would be different to different people. |
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nicwr2002
Joined: 17 Aug 2011
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| Posted: Sat Aug 16, 2014 7:10 am Post subject: |
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| Indentured servant |
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yodanole
Joined: 02 Mar 2003
Location: La Florida
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| Posted: Sat Aug 16, 2014 9:23 am Post subject: |
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| It doesn't fall into the category of "It's good to be the King", but if you work for a good boss and have reasonable to good co-workers, then it is much, much better that a more "prestigious" position position with a meglomaniac boss & spiteful and/or uncooperative co-workers. Not everyone is evil, although capitalism might just be. |
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talentedcrayon
Joined: 27 Aug 2013
Location: Why do you even care?
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| Posted: Sat Aug 16, 2014 12:55 pm Post subject: |
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I put it on top purposely yes. However, it is part of what working at a hagwon really means to me.
I love working with kids and its the only part of the job that I liked. Most of my kids were really great. |
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PRagic
Joined: 24 Feb 2006
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| Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2014 8:37 pm Post subject: |
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Free ticket over
Figure out if you like teaching
Chance to get the lay of the land
Springboard to other opportunities |
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