After doing enough research about teaching English in Korea you ultimately arrive at one big crossroad: go Public or Private?
This decision leads to ultimately two different lifestyles that you will experience in Korea. You’ll even find that teachers tend to separate themselves into friend groups based on which industry they’re in; public school teachers hang out with other public school teachers and hagwon teachers hang out with other hagwon teachers.
Both industries have their positives and negatives and in this article we’re going to tell you the top 5 reasons for why you should teach English at a public school in Korea.
1. || Always Paid. Always on Time
When you look over a typical public school teaching contract in Korea you’ll find that it’s quite a bit lengthy. That’s because these contracts have had multiple lawyers go through it to make sure it protects both the employer and the employee. Because funding is secured for the entire term of the contract the school offers beforehand, public school teachers don’t have to worry about suddenly being “let go” due to a “lack of revenue”. If you sign on for a 12-month contract, you can expect to work for that full-months uninterrupted.
You can also expect your paycheck to be on time and for the right amount every pay period. With most paydays for public schools in Korea taking place on the 17th of every month, you can expect to have a nice shiny deposit into your account by the end of every payday.
2. || Be Active in the Weeknight Social Scene
Public school teachers are the proactive day-walkers of the English-teaching world in Korea. Their schedules allow them to get off early, beat rush hour traffic, and partake in the activities they want to outside of work.
PS teachers work primarily from about 9 AM until 5 PM each day, leaving them to do whatever they please in the evening and night time, which is when most people tend to socialize, go out to eat, shop in Korea.
Want to join Seoul Toastmasters? Want to take a Korean class? Chances are they’re all going to happen after 6PM when the majority of Koreans get off work.
3. || Feel Sick? Need time away? Can’t Beat Public’s Vacation and Sick Days
Vacation is one of the simple pleasures in work life that can make you have something to look forward to. Also since Korea is somewhat of a central hub for traveling to many different awesome countries in Asia, you’ll want as much vacation time as possible.
On top of national holidays, public school teachers enjoy around 20 days of vacation each year that do not include the weekends, so in the end you’re left with 4 weeks or a month of vacation to do what you please. Compared to Hagwons’ typical allotment of 5 days (or 1 week), it’s hardly something that can be argued about.
Sick days are also a hot issue in Korea. Typically Koreans do not take sick days, and therefore there are no such allotments mentioned in contracts. Public school positions however are the exception, with most public schools stating 11 sick days in their contracts.
4. || Alert & More Focused Students
Imagine that you just finished a full day at school and are forced by your parents to attend another school for 3 hours afterwards everyday. Chances are your attention span would be anywhere else than on learning.
Teaching at a public school allows you a chance to reach the students at an optimal teaching time. While kids will always be kids, not having to fight to hold your student’s attention after they’ve already gone through an entire school day will make life a whole lot easier.
5. || A Sense of Accomplishment: School Events & Functions
You always hear about teaching being a rewarding job in itself. At your school, when your classes are cancelled for the day so that you can attend the school talent show, you’ll realize the truth in that statement. When you’re walking through the halls of your middle school and see a group of young boys jamming on guitars to practice for the school talent show, you’ll realize that these children are doing and going through the same exact thing that made your childhood special and memorable. And at the end of the year when it’s time for your students to graduate, you’ll truly feel like you’ve turned a new page and are ready for the next year.
Therefore one of the best parts about being a public school teacher is all the school events that let you see how your students are growing up, outside of your English class.
This article was written to be informing as well as entertaining. It is not necessarily the opinion of Korvia Consulting or its partners.
Featured images courtesy of Blogspot, JoongangDaily, Adventuresofagoodman, CroatiaWeek, Korea.Net, Blogspot
Updated 10/26/15 – Grammar Correction – Thanks Ashly!
And here comes the inner Grammar Nazi. While reading this article, I noticed this: “based on which industry their in.” This should say, “based on which industry they’re in.” 🙂 Hey, look at that! I’m teaching English and I’m not even in Korea yet.
Hi Ashly! Thank you for the correction! We just fixed it and gave you a shoutout for doing so! You will indeed make a fine teacher in Korea!