Hagwon Life - Level Up (Ep. 17)

Honest rant about my job at a private English academy (hagwon) in South Korea. In essence, this is the video I wish I'd seen before I took my job. Hagwon life is not terrible, but it has really worn me down in some ways. Hopefully, this helps others to be better prepared before coming to teach in Korea and have more realistic expectations about some of the working conditions here.

Oh, and I forgot, we are stretched so thin at my hagwon, I can't call in sick because there is literally no one who could cover my classes. At a hagwon, there are no sick days!

Please comment with any questions you have or to share your own hagwon story. As always, thanks so much for watching! Cheers!

Links:

A useful site to make ESL evaluations much easier-
http://www.esltool.com/

My video about teaching during the intensive sessions-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWIhfLFeogM

And a great podcast BusanKevin was recently featured on as a panelist where he compares teaching ESL in Korea and Japan-
http://www.seoulpodcast.com/archives/1066

And, do you want to avoid working at a hagwon? Check out Korvia Consulting!!! They are a recruiting agency that deals only with public schools and their website has loads of great information!!!
http://www.korvia.com/

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[furizen]

Hey man, thanks for your insight on hagwon life. Coincidentally, I just had an interview with a small rural hagwon where I might be the only foreigner employed. Nothing official, but I'm really nervous since I'm only 21 and the director may believe I am easy prey for exploitation or something. I'm getting in contact with the current teacher soon though, so maybe my worries will be cleared. Best of luck to you, your videos are awesome!

[GreenEggsAndHamster]

@furizen It's great to hear you are contacting the current teacher. That's the best way to get the inside scoop on your hagwon. And because it's a small rural hagwon, you have a better chance of having a good experience. I wish you the very best in Korea! Thanks for watching!

[SussenRose]

Is there anything you can really do to make sure you have a better chance of getting a good hagwon? I hear EPIK is hard to get into. I have a B.S. in biology and a teaching certificate in my state but have never taught. Jobs are hard to come by in my state, so I have been thinking of going to Korea. I love to travel and have lived in major cities previously. I'm not worried about adapting. But I am worried that I'd get a horrible place that doesn't pay and won't give me a letter of release.

[GreenEggsAndHamster]

@SussenRose Well, your best bet is to get in touch with the teacher you'd be replacing to make sure the place is legit. Request that contact info from your recruiter before you accept any job. That way you're not taking the recruiter's word for it. Other than that, I'm not sure what you can do. Hagwon jobs are a gamble no matter what. From what I hear, public is almost always the way to go. Thanks for watching and for the question!

[dufrhd5]

I have always thought that working in kindergarten may be much easier than teaching in public/private middle/high schools, because it's not intensive and it finishes early. Plus, you never have to work on weekends.

[GreenEggsAndHamster]

@dufrhd5 Yes, those are very good points. I think kindergarten teachers have more fun, too. They get to go on field trips and have lots of activities. Thanks for watching!

[GreenEggsAndHamster]

@demoanachica I agree, unpaid work comes with the territory. That doesn't really bother me. Rather, it is the combination of all the factors (very little vacation, no sick days, constantly changing schedules and class sizes, student attitudes, dishonest grading, etc) I have a problem with.

I made this video not to complain, but to provide a realistic view of what one faces at an academy. It's not an easy ride and there are much better jobs here. That's all. Thank you for being a teacher!

[misterchupps]

Great video Dude, a welcome reality check and much food for thought for those of us thinking about heading East to teach.

[213Clearview]

Well stated... "Poor guy" I sympathize and empathize... : )

[Antiks72]

The wonders of parent entitlement about their children. The U.S. education system is experiencing this now as well.

[Iwishonedayy]

This is really irrelevant, but you and your voice remind me of Ross from Friends. Anyways, I'm rethinking of going to a hagwon now..I think I'll stick with public schools.

[SUpersaiyajinjerkbag]

You mean mean 60 or even 90 percent of hagwons are obvious scum, even if they have good staff?

Thank you captain obvious

[funnytoni]

Just like working in a daycare. Same crap your talking about. I'm from Canada. BTW.

[CamButler]

Wow, where do you work? CDI or something? Did you not research the hagwon enough?

[tokee1234567]

that's why in Korea, people don't have hakwon jobs for life. people usually work there when they're young and do Ingang (internet lectures - concept like hakwon but it's online, like Megastudy). Or people just do private tutoring. hakwons are convenient for people who are desperate for stable jobs. Even native Koreans don't stay there for that long so no wonder it also sucks for the foreigners