Korean Job Discussion Forums

[boogiet]

Hi guys,
I have no teaching experience, never mind teaching in Korea, so i'm hoping you can help me:
I have recently been offered a job in a public school in Seoul. Up until now I've only seen Hagwons, so I don't know what to think.
Someone told me that they work you harder in public schools. Is this true?
Thanks alot,
Boogie

[jinju]

Yes, they work us hard. I TEACH 16 hours, had all of january and february off and will have all of august off as well. Im overworked. On wednesdaysand thursdays I teach from 9 to 11 am, then Im done.

[laogaiguk]

If you have absolutely no teaching experience, maybe you should try for a good hagwon (I know, that is not easy). Public school jobs are much better, but the large classes are horrible if you don't know what to do with them.
Then again, my school only has 82 students, so I lucked out. Maybe you can find a public school like that (though it would most likely be out in the country)

[peppermint]

Jinju, your job is far from standard at a public school. The norm is rapidly becoming 22 hours of regular classes, with optional special classes, and only 2 weeks vacation.

[SOOHWA101]

How about the benefits offered by private schools vs. public schools?

ie. computer, air fare, single housing, overtime

[UncleAlex]

The only things harder about working at public schools are the 8:30am
start and having to draw up lesson plans by a certain date, if one has no
idea of how to put a standard lesson plan together. Also, the public school
environment is far less laid back than at a hagwon and far more regiment-
al. The large classes, of about 35 students, can be strenuous too at times.
The worst thing about teaching at a public school, in my experience, is having
to tolerate some annoying Korean co-teachers, who have a tendency to bother
the native English teacher in class and conspire against him behind his back
when rambling off silly grievances in the principal's office because of pent up
petty jealousies. The hagwon is far more flexible in the daily work hours, but
normally one has to teach too many classes a day - up to 8 or 10 40 minute
sessions sometimes- with mixed levels and ages spread out through the day.
But the hagwon is a less alien place to work, I find. The foreign teacher may
feel less like an outsider and part of the family working with Koreans who are not
so conservative, critical, and closed-minded towards Western mannerisms.
But, for all that, I still prefer teaching at a public school because of the much
lighter workload and steady schedule.

[jacl]

Look for a hagwon with a set schedule and no split shifts. The best is something that starts early afternoon and finishes not too late. My shift is 2 to 9. You don't want to spend any more than 7 or 7.5 contracted hours/day there. I think that 8 contracted hours is too much. Make sure your hours are 50-minute hours. If you have something that starts at 1 and ends at 8 then there is plenty of room for overtime after your shift ends. Overtime is good. Pads your salary.

You also don't want to be teaching more than 10 students per class. Don't work for a public school. That's just a pain in the a$$. You have to spend your whole day there, start early and the classes that you do teach have too many students. There's too much politics and that's not the thing you want when your living in a foreign country. Hagwons are more relaxed, but you have to make sure your contract is properly written up.

Anyway, I hope what I wrote above helps. Maybe help you narrow your search. Any contracts you come across, run them by this site.

[peppermint]

Single housing and paid air fare is pretty much standard across the board. If you work at a public school you'll get a computer in the classroom or staff room, but there's a 50% chance it's running windows 95 or is full of viruses.

Not worth worrying about computers anyway, since you can't walk out the door without seeing signs for an internet cafe charging 1000W/ hour and probably giving you coffee to boot.

Overtime at a hagwon is a given at least during school holidays, so around 4 months a year. At a public school it will either be nonexistent, or continous for the whole school year.

I'd recommend a good hagwon just because they're much better set up to deal with foreigners. Someone there knows how to get to the immigration office, they can help you set up phone service etc ( the kind of things that newbies need help with) At a public school you'd probably have to figure it all out for yourself.

[BigBuds]

[jacl]

Applying for a job here is definitely hit and miss. The best thing you can do is limit your search and then once you get here make sure everything is done legit. You have to be somewhat agressive in the beginning as far as hagwons are concerned. Make sure you get pay slips, or some sort of proof of payment, to ease your mind. Also make sure your taxes, pension, etc. are deducted properly. Don't give them an inch or they'll take you a mile.

I'd look for a hagwon owner who speaks decent English. I wouldn't work for a foreigner in Korea.

I work in the country somewhat (small town). It took me a long time to get used to it. Still is a little hard, but your job security is good because not many people want to work too far from anything. The pay is also better.