Teaching in Korea – What Type of School to Choose
Teaching English in Asia can be a very rewarding experience and teaching in Korea is about the best place to make money in all of Asia. When teaching in Korea, you have the option of teaching in either a public or private school. Both offer great incentives, so which one is right for you? Figuring this out can seem like a daunting task, but with a little bit of research you can discover which one is the best situation for you.
Private schools, also known as Hagwons, have the most teaching opportunities available. There are many different Hagwons, ranging from a small rural Hagwon with only one or two teachers, to a large franchised school with many teachers. Hagwons teach students of all ages. Hagwons offer some of the most attractive employment packages for EFL teachers.
They have flexible hours, great salaries, and free return flights and accommodations. Private schools are run like businesses, and so have many different work schedules available and you also have the opportunity for overtime work. So if you want to make as much money as possible and work in a structured system, a private school would be best for you.
Public schools are a bit harder to get into. You may need more experience or the addition of a TEFL course certificate. Public schools offer a more western style teaching schedule, with evenings and weekends off. If you are hired to work at a public school, you will work directly for the Korean Ministry of Education. You will also be the only foreign teacher at the school.
Your class sizes will be a bit larger than in private schools, but you will have a few less teaching hours a week for the same amount of money. Public schools also tend to give more paid vacation, and also give bonuses to teachers who choose to teach in rural areas. If you want a more traditional teaching experience, than working in a public school is probably for you.
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