Public vs Private School: Which is better?
by Carissa Peck
There are a number of choices that you’ll have to consider when choosing to work as an English teacher in South Korea. However, one of the biggest options for you as an education work is whether to work in a public school of a private school. You’ve probably heard some funny words get thrown around: GEPIK, EPIK, SOME, hagwons. What are all of these words and what do they mean? The following is a super basic breakdown of public and private schools to give you a better idea of your choices.
Public Schools
GEPIK, EPIK, and SOME are jobs with public schools. While there are variations between these options, the basics are very similar. That applies to the number of hours you will be working in a work week. With public schools, expect to work Monday through Friday starting at 7-8am in the morning and ending in the afternoon around 3-4pm.
Many teachers choose to teach at a public school because they want the security of knowing they are moving to another country for a real job. They want assurance they’ll get a paycheck every month for the amount agreed upon as well as the other stipulations in your contract (vacation time, government holidays, etc.).
You should always have another teacher in the class with you. Depending on the school you may only have one co-teacher, or you may have several. In many cases your relationship with your co-teacher will determine if you enjoy teaching in a public school or not.
Some public schools are very bureaucratic. For example, they may require you to sign out if you leave the school during working hours to go to the bank, doctor, post office, etc. If these hours ever add up to 8 hours, then a day is deducted from your vacation time.
These jobs also have a lot of desk warming. That means that you’ll often have to be at school at your desk doing nothing. Good teachers will use this time to find fun activities for their students. Other teachers will complain about how bored they are.
Private Schools or “Hagwons”
Hagwons are after school centers, so your hours will be much different. Sometimes hagwons have split shifts with teachers working 9-12 (possibly teaching adults) and then again from 4-8. Other teachers teach straight from 3-10. If the idea of working mornings is awful to you, then hagwons may be your ticket!
Another big plus of after-school academies are the pay. Aside from the highly sought-after university gigs, the hagwons draw the top pay for instructors and prime locations in Seoul can land a larger paycheck for teachers than their public counterparts.
Hagwons have very little desk warming, and you will often be teaching on your own. Some teachers prefer this, while others prefer more planning time and a co-teacher.
The biggest drawbacks to hagwons is that they are a business. If your hagwon goes out of business, you lose your job. If your hagwon runs a sketchy business, you may not get your airfare back home, or you may be paid late constantly. If your hagwon runs an amazing business, then you'll be treated well, have a great environment to work in, and really enjoyable staff and students.
The Conclusion
In the end it depends on you AND the school. Most teachers I know loved their time in Korea whether they taught at a hagwon or at a public school. However, I also have those friends who had really bad luck with hagwons as well as those who had bad luck at public schools. Whenever possible, try to find teachers who have taught at your school before you, and good luck making your decision!
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