Korean Job Discussion Forums

some waygug-in · Joined: 25 Jan 2003

I went for my interview and was a bit surprised at the attitude of the interviewer.
He seemed to be saying,

"you are just a hagwan boy, why should we let you work in a public school?"

"You won't be able to handle big classes. The problems you faced in hagwans are nothing compared to what you'll face in a real school."

While I agree with him in part, I have no formal training to be a public school teacher, most of the foreign teachers they've hired have been hagwan boys or girls. I think only 2 are actually certified teachers.

I was told that I would be co-teaching with a Korean teacher in the classroom at all times, but by the sound of the questions, I may be asked to teach on my own (at least part of the time). Not that I have a problem with that, it just seems a bit confusining at the moment.

Anyway, they wouldn't tell me if I got the job or not, so my question is:

When will they tell me for sure? They told me they are desparate for teachers, but the guy's attitude has me worried.

Will they have me waiting around for 3 months and then ...not hire me?

Anyone got an educated guess as to what's going on?

Thanks.

Yu_Bum_suk · Joined: 25 Dec 2004

That does sound a bit odd. I never got any comments like that when I quit my hogwan and was looking for a PS position (and I had four PS interviews) and never got the just-a-hogwan-teacher feeling from anyone. I have an MA and can claim to have given lectures to classes of 100+, so maybe that worked as a counter-balance.

I'd just stress that you have lots of experience teaching Koreans, far more than a newbie with any amount of qualifications would have.

As for the co-teaching bit, save your opinions on that. You may or may not have them and you may or may not want them.

hubba bubba · Joined: 24 Oct 2006

This brought a smile to my face.

You think you're comfused now? Wait till you start working there!

When will you know when you have the job?

You'll know when someone calls you up and asks why you are late.

pest2 · Joined: 01 Jun 2005 Location: Vancouver, Canada

hubba bubba · Joined: 24 Oct 2006

Seriously. It wouldn't surprise me at all if they hired you, but forgot to tell you about it.

Bibbitybop · Joined: 22 Feb 2006 Location: Seoul

When I get tough questions like that, I come back with tough answers. If you do a bit of pre-interview preparation and know how to express your strengths and victories, you can look someone straight in the eye and convince him/her of almost anything.

some waygug-in · Joined: 25 Jan 2003

Well, I certainly would have done that. I asked what I should be prepared for in the interview and was told that it was just a personal get-to-know-you kind of thing.

The questions weren't that tough really, I just had no time to think about them.

I suppose the guy figures I have no clue now. Confused

ilovebdt · Joined: 03 Jun 2005 Location: Nr Seoul

I guess he was trying to see if you would be able to make the transformation from hagwon to public school.

I worked at a hagwon before I moved to my public school. Classes of 12 max to 45 max students can be a bit of a shock for some people, plus you might be the only foreigner there.

Would you be working with this interviewer if you got the job there?

Would you take the job if you were offered it?

As loing as you feel you did your best that is all the matters.

ilovebdt

some waygug-in · Joined: 25 Jan 2003

No, I wouldn't be working with the interviewer. He's just some city hall beaurocrat, trying to justify his existence.

I've talked to a lot of the foreign teachers in this city. They tell me that it really depends on which school you get sent to, but most of them agree that it is pretty simple compared to hagwan teaching. A lot more administrative BS to deal with though.