Korean Job Discussion Forums

CP · Joined: 18 Jan 2007

Not sure why there is such a debate on this topic. It just comes down to a person's preferences. I have worked in both public and private schools in Korea. Basically for me it came down to my preferences, as should be for everyone else. However, my concerns may differ from others of course. I turned down the public schools this time around and will return to the hagwon I worked at over a year ago. The reasons:

1. You are in the office 10 hours more a week in a public school than a private school. You may not be teaching but you still have to be there sitting around.

2. You will actually teach more hours in a hagwon, but your salary should be a fair amount higher than the public school. Salary is not everything however. If you are not making more than a public school teacher in a hagwon then you should not be in that hagwon.

3. I trust the owner I worked for before. No B.S. - I get everything I want and need.

4. Holidays - public schools seem to vary on this policy. I get enough holidays given to me in a year to satisfy me.

Just decide what is best for you. That's all it comes down to, but do not work in a hagwon for less money than a public school, that is if you get an offer to work in a public school.

TheUrbanMyth · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Location: Retired

frankly speaking · Joined: 23 Oct 2005

The other crucial factor that many overlook is what you can actually accomplish as a teacher. In a private school, you will have more autonomy. The smaller class size allows for more individual time with each student. I have taught at both and totally prefer Hagwons.

VanIslander · Posted: Thu Feb 22, 2007 9:59 pm Post subject: Re: Public vs. Private Schools???

bosintang · Posted: Thu Feb 22, 2007 10:53 pm Post subject:

I've worked in both hagwons and public schools (one here, one in Japan). I have to say *if* -- and it's a big if -- the hagwon world was more stable, I'd prefer it. Small frequent classes, streamed levels, motivated students, you just accomplish so much more than you do in a public school! I think the public school programs are dubious. Not as individual teachers, but overall, I think the program might be causing more harm than good. Some schools have over 50 students a class and over 50 classes. What good is a foreign teacher going to do in those schools? What kind of confidence builder is it going to be for low-level students who don't have the frequency and individual attention necessary to accomplish anything?

Anyways, working in a hagwon would be better if it wasn't such a corrupt, shady world. The hours are better (you might teach more hours but there is a lot less "doing nothing" hours); your social life is definitely better; it's just more fun.