Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Hyeon Een]

...that they learn English.

I'm sure anyone who's worked in a public school recognizes this. The students who've studied in a Hagwan, despite the worst efforts of the juggling-singing-dancing-hagwan-monkeys is that those kids are head and shoulders above the rest.

We all read horror story after horror story about the crappy-ass education children receive in Hagwans, but the fact of the matter is that children who study English in hagwans are head-and-shoulders above those who don't. Despite the worst efforts those dancing hagwan monkeys do, those kids still learn English.

I've taught lots of kids, and those who've been in any kind of English hagwan are way above those who never have.

English Wonderland, I salute you. ECC I salute you. GnB I salute you. Worst Hagwan in Korea For Whom it Sucks to Work For as a Foreigner, I salute you. No matter how bad the teaching, something seeps into those children who study in a hagwan.

[Ya-ta Boy]

I agree. There is an eerie correlation between a student's English level and the amount of time spent studying. But there is more to it than just time. When students ask me, 'How can I improve my English fast?' I tell them the best way is to study a grammar point and then try like hell to use it in conversation-transfer the book knowledge to speaking. That seems to work best in the hakwons because of the small class size.

[badfish]

the best thing about hagwans is getting paid to hand out blank pieces of paper and daydreaming for 6 hours while they draw pictures

[jlb]

[blaseblasphemener]

Best thing is working at a hagwon where I work 3 1/2 hours a day, and finish before 7. Worst is working at a hagwon in the past where kids finished at 930, and had to stay extra time if they failed their tests that day, every day. Those kids where future mental patients. My students now seem ok, as far as on the Korean scale of stress.

[jdog2050]

[Pa Jan Jo A Hamnida]

When you get the plane ticket home as well as the bonus!

[babtangee]

6-12 kids in a hagwon English class all speaking English-only for 120 minutes per week, opposed to 30-40 kids in an elementary school English class mostly speaking Korean-only for 40 minutes per week. The hagwon students are learning more? Go figure.

How many of you have an English only policy in your public school class? I tried, but found it impossible to enforce - and the co-teachers were no help on that front. That's why I'm staying out of the public schools. Waste of my time.

[TheUrbanMyth]

[Qinella]

[SPINOZA]

I'm sure what Hyeon Eon is saying is generally true, but there are plenty of exceptions in my public school in a poorer area of Seoul. Many kids do not attend hagwons - parents can't afford them presumably - and their ability and enthusiasm for English is great.

[twg]

[eamo]

Hagwons sometimes allow teachers to do what they do best. When you work at a good hagwon, and they do exist, I work at a good hagwon, you can teach English in such a direct and efficient way. It's wonderful to watch beginners become conversational in less than a year. That's why I like working in hagwons. But only good hagwons!!

But the vacations suck!!!

[PimpofKorea]

Best part...usually you can get away with doing little....and the pay can be decent....if you do part time work at one...

[Neil]