Korea Teach to Learn #0: Getting Started

Welcome to my blog series "Korea Teach to Learn," dedicated to my teaching plans at a hagwon (private after school program) in Korea. The first few posts will outline my background, motivations, and pre-hagwon processes. 

There are so many resources that will help you make a decision if you're on the fence about teaching in Korea. My blog will be a little different because my reasoning is obscure, and I'll talk mostly about my day to day life with updates on my own learning experiences. Hopefully, you'll enjoy a thing or two during my journey as I live in a completely new environment overseas!

Who Am I?

Hello! My name is Sora and I decided to pursue an opportunity to teach in Korea a few weeks ago. A month later, here I am, signed on to teach at a hagwon for a year. Don't get me wrong, the idea has been brewing at the back of my mind for a couple years, but I never took full reign over the thought until now.

What makes me different than most teachers is my motivation to go abroad. ​I will be teaching at a hagwon to learn at a hagwon. A majority of people choose Korea for reasons like saving money, experiencing life abroad, the culture and food, career change, having the time of your life, and so on. I'm here to be a student by day and teacher at night. 

Hagwon or Public Schools

One of the biggest debates if you're contemplating on teaching English in Korea is to decide where to teach. There are two main types of education in Korea. The first is called a hagwon (a private for-profit institutional education program), and the other is your typical public school (schools funded by the government). There are a lot of things to weigh when you decide one or the other, such as benefits, location, salary, students, class sizes, etc.

Truth be told, I chose a hagwon because 1) you can choose your own location, and 2) I sort of decided this on a tiny whim, so it was difficult to nab a recommendation letter on short notice. Only public schools require LOR.

Which one would be best for you? It differs by person.

• Public School: If you're brand new to the culture, don't know a lick of Korean, or you need someone else to help you with transitioning, public schools are probably the way to go. They're usually easier for people who may be more prone to culture shock.
• Hagwon: If you prefer teaching at night, want to be surrounded by fellow foreign teachers like yourself, or enjoy smaller classrooms, hagwons may be better. Just be warned: 99% of the time, working conditions are much harsher.

I recommend doing a quick Google search on the pros and cons of teaching at either types of schools. Here's a couple: The Pros & Cons of Working at a Hagwon and ​Private vs. Public Schools, What's Better?

Where to Start

There are lots of things to consider when teaching in Korea. The next few blog posts will go over the following topics specifically for hagwons. Because I knew that a hagwon would best fit my needs, all my research is based around them.
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1. Motivations & Circumstances
2. How to Research
3. The "Korean" Job Hunting Process
4. Visa Types
5. Recruiters
6. Interviews & Contracts
7. Taxes & Living Costs
8. Preparing for the Move

Blog #1: The Basics