Chris Teacher!!!
So, my name is Chris Teacher at the hagwon (hagwon means private language school…I think). I have now completed my first week of school! I went into the whole ordeal knowing I did not like children and did not like helping/teaching people. So, I thought I would have HATED my first week at work, when I actually thought it was okay. 90% of the students are well behaved and actually are interested in learning, while the other 10 % are little bastards!
Teaching in a Hagwon
Teaching in my hagwon isn’t very stressful at all. I follow whichever book is for that level of class and simply wing it from there! My daily lesson plan takes 1 hour for ALL of my classes each day, which I do before class. I understand and can answer any questions students have with my very basic/limited knowledge of the English language. Correct pronunciation is key, but I am okay with that.
I teach six 50 min classes 3 days a week and five 50 min classes 2 days a week. So I am only teaching for 23.33 hours a week! Some of the older classes are awesome where I can just talk to them about their lives and time flies!!!
I teach kids from age 6 to 16….so I HATE most of the smaller ones, but it is SO freaking cute when they read! I mean, they have the Asian accent which makes it adorable!
Me as a Teacher
In my first week, I have been called a variety of names from a large spectrum. I have been called: dirty, hairy, handsome, cute, tall, old, ugly, criminal, burnt (freckles on arms?), weird, genius, and the list goes on! I have had a LOT of my boy students latch on to my arms because of my arm hair. The girls think it is gross, but the boys think it is pretty cool and like to pet my arms. Funny thing is I don’t have very hairy arms, but compared to Koreans….I am a gorilla because Koreans DON’T have any hair on their arms!
I showed most of my students my drivers license and they got a kick out of it. I also showed my Blackberry and they thought it was awesome….even though most of the students cell phones are actually better. They just think it is unique because it has a full qwerty keyboard. Oh ya!…EVERY student I have has a cell phone! It is crazy!
Me becoming too much of a teacher
Most things are bootlegged in Korea. English workbooks in Korea are not exempt from this norm. The books I teach from have a lot of errors and mistakes regarding the English language. I tried to bring up the mistakes to my head teacher, but it turned out confusing and useless. So, I teach incorrect grammar sometimes….BUT I do not teach incorrect pronunciation! Although, my hagwon does! The pronunciation is being taught incorrectly from the first class all the way through the final class. It is actually quite horrible and I have to change my pronunciation and kind of dumb down my English so I don’t get in trouble from my head teacher.
Life in a hagwon….I kind of like it!
Tags: changwon south korea ESL, ESL South Korea, hagwon teaching, south korea teaching hours, teaching english in south korea
Hi Chris,
Just to let you know that I received your email, although it seems to have come really late (its dated Febuary the 4th and this is August). Are you, or the other native teacher, still leaving in October? I’m still interested in teaching in changwon and I have all the relevant documents ready.
I also wanted to ask you if get any vacation paid or unpaid and what your flat is like?
Feel free to email me again. Hope to hear from you soon.
Harry
Harry,
Yes, we are both leaving in October and currently the director is looking for our replacements. I don’t know why the email would have said that….
Yes, 10 days paid vacation and roughly 7-10 days of paid national holiday vacation (depending on if the holiday falls on a weekend). I think I have a post with a video of my flat, if not there is one on youtube, just search for my videos travelingtolive is my youtube name.
I just emailed you again.
Hey Chris!
I stumbled upon your blog while looking up info for the hagwon “English Friends” Academy in Changwon. Any word on this?
Also since my boyfriend and I are looking to go in October…has your school found any replacements for you and the other native speaker?
It would be amazing to get into a hagwon we can trust as reputable!!
Best
Joanna
Hey Joanna,
I sent you an email to the address you provided. Please let me know if that address is legit or not and if not let me know the correct address.
Hello,
I am looking to start working at a Hagwon this October.. I am doing a TEFL course this week. I would love to start out in Korea.
How can I get in touch a a Hagwon?
Zara,
I sent you an email to the address you provided in your comment. Please let me know if that is the correct address or not and feel free to email me back.
Hi Chris
I want to teach at a Hagwon in Changwon but I’m terrified of landing in a bad one. I read about yours on Travelling to Live and it sounds ok. Could you tell me the name of this Hagwon and if they’re looking for any teachers?
kind regards,
Harry Vander
Harry,
Yes, there are many horror stories about Hagwon positions. My hagwon, which is EWHA, is a well known academy in my area. They are not looking for any teachers, unless you are wanting to come here in October, in which you might be able to replace me or the other native teacher I work with. My best advice is to talk to the current native teacher at the hagwon to find out what the place is like. Let me know if you have any questions.