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Scarlet13
Joined: 10 Apr 2007
Location: Changwon
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 Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2007 3:08 am Post subject: Public or Private???? |
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Hello,
I was just wondering Public or Private...? Which is the safest bet? I am getting the impression that going private is a bit more risky...? Advice is very welcome at this point...also should I use a Recruiter (Planet ESL) or just go it alone??? |
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Mark7
Joined: 22 May 2006
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| Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2007 6:02 pm Post subject: Hey |
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This is my first teaching gig, and I am blessed to land a public school job.
The main differences that I know of:
Public school job:
1. Set hours (usually 8-4 or 9-5)
2. Set pay rate, and a better guarentee of on-time pay (government baked)
3. Less teaching hours (I teach 22+)
4. Flexible teaching style (even though most ask you to follow a book)
Private Hagwons:
1. More flexible hours (like some might require you teach from midday to night)
2. Sometimes better pay
3. More stress because your performance determines the business
4. Tougher demands on teaching material and structure
As for recruiters, the main thing is they are too are to help, but they are running a business. Some recruiters don't paint the whole picture when it comes to your job, and some are slow when it comes to response time and issues. However, they are just the middle man who facilitate the information from the school to you. My advice? Try using a recruiter, but make sure of their reputation before usage.
Good luck with your search.
Mark |
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Bibbitybop
Joined: 22 Feb 2006
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2007 6:21 pm Post subject: |
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| I have been told if you plan on teaching in the US later in life (may apply to other countries), US schools won't honor your time teaching in private schools. Even if they are more respected in Korea, they don't follow the recognized standards of public schools. |
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white tiger
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2007 4:43 am Post subject: |
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after three years in private, and now in public, i shake my head for staying in private so long.
for shame.
for shame. |
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Bibbitybop
Joined: 22 Feb 2006
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2007 5:11 am Post subject: |
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| white tiger wrote: |
after three years in private, and now in public, i shake my head for staying in private so long.
for shame.
for shame. |
why? was the money not good? |
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white tiger
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2007 5:40 am Post subject: |
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money? about the same. but the rollercoaster ride privates put you through...poorly managed...definitely less trustworthy...
it seems every time a private school (hogwan) offers something good, it quickly changes a couple of months into the contract. it was never bad enough for me to leave, but since working for a public, i can't believe i put up with the crap for so long! friends that made the switch earlier than i always told me it would be a big change, but i had NO IDEA!!
but perhaps to appreciate the public, you should try the private first! |
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yingwenlaoshi
Joined: 12 Feb 2007
Location: ... location, location!
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| Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2007 5:41 am Post subject: |
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Hagwons:
Days go by faster
Pay is higher
Teaching skills increase at a much higher rate
Student's abilities increases at a much higher rate
Much, much smaller class sizes
Relaxed atmosphere
No office politics
Your classroom is your kingdom
No need for admistrative work
The better you, the more they need you |
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white tiger
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2007 5:50 am Post subject: |
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| yingwenlaoshi wrote: |
Hagwons:
Days go by faster (random extra classes? winter/summer intensives?)
Pay is higher (monthly, perhaps, but not when it is worked out considering the crazy hours you put into it)
Teaching skills increase at a much higher rate (yes, definitely, especially if you are a first-year; i was dumped into my class with no support, therefore had to rapidly learn!)
Student's abilities increases at a much higher rate (because you have to work like a dog)
Much, much smaller class sizes (hogwans generally 10-12 max; publics sometimes 30, but i currently have several classes under 10)
Relaxed atmosphere (completely the opposite for me)
No office politics (hogwan: koreans versus foreigners; public: you are the only foreigner, so there is not a lot of conflict)
Your classroom is your kingdom (my hogwans had video cams, and random moms popping in. my public is very private.)
No need for admistrative work (tonnes of reviews, tests, course material prep at hogwan. very little at public...)
The better you, the more they need you |
(dont kid yourself. you are easily replaceable.)
these are my opinions from my experience, and of course do not apply to all, but it seems like you much prefer the hogwan system, and im very surprised. you must have found a really sweet deal. |
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yingwenlaoshi
Joined: 12 Feb 2007
Location: ... location, location!
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| Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2007 5:52 am Post subject: |
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| white tiger wrote: |
| yingwenlaoshi wrote: |
Hagwons:
Days go by faster (random extra classes? winter/summer intensives?)
Pay is higher (monthly, perhaps, but not when it is worked out considering the crazy hours you put into it)
Teaching skills increase at a much higher rate (yes, definitely, especially if you are a first-year; i was dumped into my class with no support, therefore had to rapidly learn!)
Student's abilities increases at a much higher rate (because you have to work like a dog)
Much, much smaller class sizes (hogwans generally 10-12 max; publics sometimes 30, but i currently have several classes under 10)
Relaxed atmosphere (completely the opposite for me)
No office politics (hogwan: koreans versus foreigners; public: you are the only foreigner, so there is not a lot of conflict)
Your classroom is your kingdom (my hogwans had video cams, and random moms popping in. my public is very private.)
No need for admistrative work (tonnes of reviews, tests, course material prep at hogwan. very little at public...)
The better you, the more they need you |
(dont kid yourself. you are easily replaceable.)
these are my opinions from my experience, and of course do not apply to all, but it seems like you much prefer the hogwan system, and im very surprised. you must have found a really sweet deal. |
The better you are at what you do, the more they'll want to keep you. |
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white tiger
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2007 5:56 am Post subject: |
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| i thought so too, but dont you think the kids get shuffled around (to different schools) every 3-6 months regardless of how well the teacher is? |
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yingwenlaoshi
Joined: 12 Feb 2007
Location: ... location, location!
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| Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2007 6:25 am Post subject: |
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| white tiger wrote: |
| i thought so too, but dont you think the kids get shuffled around (to different schools) every 3-6 months regardless of how well the teacher is? |
Hmm. The kid shuffle kind of thing. I don't know about every 3-6 months. That would be strange. Some kids don't belong in that atmosphere. Some don't match what the teacher demands of them. Some have other agendas or can't fit in the time schedule. Maybe sometimes I pizz a kid off. And yes. A big hagwon is opened nearby. Oh no! So what. My attitude is "If you don't like it, there's the door".
I teach my elementaries every day, Mon to Fri. |
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kimchi story
Joined: 23 Nov 2006
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| Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2007 5:15 pm Post subject: |
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| yingwenlaoshi wrote: |
Hagwons:
Days go by faster
Pay is higher
Teaching skills increase at a much higher rate
Student's abilities increases at a much higher rate
Much, much smaller class sizes
Relaxed atmosphere
No office politics
Your classroom is your kingdom
No need for admistrative work
The better you, the more they need you |
This is absurd. I've done both, and only two points above ring true - the days go by faster - because you're either too exhausted or too hungover to notice them going by. Not really a perk, but a fact of hogwan life. Hogwan classes are generally smaller - and FAR less well-behaved. I would never go back to a hogwan - except maybe teaching adults...maybe. Just for a change. |
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yingwenlaoshi
Joined: 12 Feb 2007
Location: ... location, location!
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| Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2007 6:33 pm Post subject: |
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| kimchi story wrote: |
| yingwenlaoshi wrote: |
Hagwons:
Days go by faster
Pay is higher
Teaching skills increase at a much higher rate
Student's abilities increases at a much higher rate
Much, much smaller class sizes
Relaxed atmosphere
No office politics
Your classroom is your kingdom
No need for admistrative work
The better you, the more they need you |
This is absurd. I've done both, and only two points above ring true - the days go by faster - because you're either too exhausted or too hungover to notice them going by. Not really a perk, but a fact of hogwan life. Hogwan classes are generally smaller - and FAR less well-behaved. I would never go back to a hogwan - except maybe teaching adults...maybe. Just for a change. |
No. Not absurd.
Adults? You can have them. I teach them, but I find elementary kids are the best. |
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kimchi story
Joined: 23 Nov 2006
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| Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2007 10:20 pm Post subject: |
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| Anyway, op, I think consensus around here is that public schools are a safer bet in general. I used netkorea and they were good. |
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yingwenlaoshi
Joined: 12 Feb 2007
Location: ... location, location!
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| Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2007 10:30 pm Post subject: |
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| kimchi story wrote: |
| Anyway, op, I think consensus around here is that public schools are a safer bet in general. I used netkorea and they were good. |
That kimchi looks good. |
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