Korean Job Discussion Forums

[cubanlord]

alright, here is my top pic:

Private elementary schools

Why? In private elementary schools, you have more control over how the contract and its contents are implemented and you have more say in what goes on in the classroom. In a private elementary school, there is more of a possibility to have better cohesiveness among employees and administration than you would in other places of work.

What is your preferred place of employment and why? (keep in mind I am talking about the overall package e.g. pay, vacation, people you work with, etc.).

[Yu_Bum_suk]

[Saxiif]

[insam]

I've only worked in a private international school (although it was E-7) and in a SAT prep institute. Both were good in their respective ways.

[Gamecock]

[cubanlord]

[latinthrilla]

A private elementary school is funded mostly by the parents of the students. It acts independtly with it's own board and decision makers. It submits to government regulations but not to the public school board. In almost all cases the children who attend these schools come from higher income families (as tutions range from 1-10 million a month, yes that is not a typo). When you see kids going to school with really nice uniforms they usually attend one of these schools.

The OP is correct. You do have almost total control in your class. The programs are very important (since parents are paying for it) but the implementation is usually up to you. When the school plans the program the teachers have a lot of input in it but in the end it is their call.

Contracts are usually strictly followed as the school has a reputation to maintain and doesn't want any bad press. In most cases the schools will go above and beyond in terms of more vacation time and better living conditions, accomdating personal situations . Since it is an elementary school there are also a million random days/classes off. Generally, people who work here are held in higher regard than public school teachers but not as high as uni teachers.


I know of some schools that are very cheap in terms of monetary compensation but working conditions and hours rock. Lowest pay I've seen is 1.8 (keep in mind they work just a few hours a day). Highest pay is about 2.4 (keep in mind 2-3 months vacations, great working life, nice apartments, no worries etc.).

Workings hours end around 1, 2, 3 and max 4pm and start at 8 or 9. There isn't a lot of overtime at these places though since kids have to attend their hogwons, or orchestra and other things.

There are also private middle schools and high schools but I don't know much about them. If someone does feel free to post.

[The_Conservative]

[Gamecock]

That's a really cool situation cuban. I haven't encountered these private elementary schools before. There can't be an abundance of them. It sounds ideal.

[latinthrilla]

I've lived with my gf for over a year now (who is Korean). She also is the owner of her own hogwon. I also have my own business sending Korean students to Canada for homestay and deal with Korean parents a lot. I spend more time with Koreans than with English speakers here even though I live in Seoul. So, yes I do know how most people view us here, at least in Seoul. I can't say anything outside of Seoul.

You are right, we we are walking about no one knows what we do and they view us in their own way. But when you tell them where you work you are judged accordingly and it goes something like this for teachers:

Hogwon
public
private
uni

Having said that, this is not the case for for every school but in general that is it. How do I know this? Like I said, my gf owns a hogwon, deals with parents everyday. I deal with parents constently as well. Why do you think people pay so much money every month to send their kids to a private school if the school isn't better in all respects (check out the schools in Gangnams that charge the crazy tutions, my gf attended one of these growing up).

Everything is about connections here if you attend one of these schools you get your kids connected from the start. Because of this teachers who work at these places are seen in a higher regard. So that is it. If you still disagree feel free to post your reasons why.

I'm not putting anybody down, sorry if you took it like that. But where you work does affect how Korean people judge you. The more reputable your employer, the better you look in their eyes. That is a fact.

[cranura]

As far as I can ascertain, private school teachers have not passed the government teacher exam, whereas public school teachers must pass it (at least that's how my co-teacher in a private high school explained the difference).

[latinthrilla]

Yes, that is true but for Korean teachers only. The reason is that if you pass that exam you become a civil servant and get those comfy benefits. Private schools operate on their own schemes so Korean teachers prefer civil servant jobs. Many of those who don't pass the exams go to private schools.

However, the reputation of the school is what people care about (reputation assumes higher education even if it isn't true). There are also public schools with higher reputations than private schools but in general that is not that case.

Oh and working at a high school is usually seen in better light than working at an elementary school private or public.

[The_Conservative]

[The_Conservative]

[The_Conservative]