I work at a small, private English academy (a hagwon) called Raffles in Hakdong, in the city of Gwangju. Overall I have had a good experience at Raffles. Of course no job is perfect. There are always upsides and downsides. Sometimes the same exact job is good for one person but isn't a good fit for someone else.
Looking for a job in Korea can be very stressful, especially when you decide to do private instead of public school. The top things most people worry about when signing a contract with a hagwon are:
- Stability--hagwons are businesses and businesses can run out of money and close down, leaving you without a job in a foreign country
- Pay--there are hagwons that are unreliable when it comes to paying teachers
- Living conditions--the majority of hagwons place foreign teachers in an apartment and pay for the rent. Some of these apartments aren't pretty.
Fortunately, I have been hired by a good school in these respects. Raffles is small but does not run the risk of closing down anytime soon. I have always been paid fairly and in a timely manner. The living conditions were so-so at first but that has been resolved. I did an apartment tour post when I first moved in where I mentioned the old wallpaper and mold in my room. After my coworker and I complained to our boss about the condition, she hired cleaners and had the wallpaper replaced.
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| Raffle's entrance |
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| The library center |
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| The office |
One of the perks that comes with my job is the wonderful location! The school is next door so I don't have to take public transportation to work. Also I am a half hour walk away from downtown Gwangju and a 45 minute walk away from some great mountain trails. The bus and subway are easy to figure out too, if you want to get there quicker.
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| Hiking Mudeung Mountain |
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| There are a couple Buddhist temples up there too |
As I mentioned before, Raffles is a small school. My largest class has 8 students and my smallest has only 2.
I have a degree in Elementary Education and was a substitute teacher before coming to Korea so I worked in many U.S. public schools, all with large class sizes. Being at a small school is such a nice change and all my students are great kids.
Being a teacher at Raffles is also unique in that I do not just teach English conversation all day! Other foreign teachers I meet are surprised when they hear I am a science and math teacher. My emphasis for my Elementary Education degree is Earth Science so I have an opportunity to teach what I am passionate about. The other foreign teacher teaches geography, history, and some English conversation. From what I hear, this is not a common position in the world of hagwons.
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| Building a diorama for science |
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| Playing a math game |
Not everything is perfect at Raffles. My schedule is not terrible by any means but some days I do not like it much. Even though I do not pay rent, my electricity bill is more expensive than I anticipated. Sometimes it is difficult to communicate clearly with coworkers.
Each hagwon is so, so different. For anyone who wants to teach in Korea, do your research by talking to a current or previous teacher. That is the best way to know all the positives and negatives about the job. Remember that not everyone will experience a job the same way-- this all has to do with personal attitude. You get out what you put in.
To family and friends reading, I hope this gives you a little more insight about my job at Raffles.
To anyone interested in teaching in Korea, feel free to contact me if you have any questions about hagwons or living in Korea. I know the prospect of accepting a hagwon job can be a little nerve wracking and I would love to talk about any concerns you may have, even if you don't plan on living near Gwangju. Also, please peruse the rest of my blog if you would like to see what your life could be like in Korea! I have written about working a summer camp, food, grocery shopping, vacationing, making friends, restaurants, hiking, etc. Check it out!
Music I listened to while writing this post: Regina Spektor (this song, man...)
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