Besides all this, we have listed down the strange school rules that every South Korean follows. From now on, I will introduce the daily life of the people around me. It used to have a system like that, but it’s not here anymore. I’d say Korean standards of dress are more office casual to office professional compared to U.S. teachers who dress a cross between a tasteful soccer mom and office casual.eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'grrrltraveler_com-leader-1','ezslot_4',170,'0','0'])); Classrooms in Korean Elementary schools come with a computer, connected to an overhead projector or an LCD flat screen. Yet a deeper look at the South Korean model suggests that its suc… This education profile describes recent trends in South Korean education and student mobility and provides an overview of the structure of the education system of South Korea. Same for Saturday classes, they were abolished in 2012, so at the time this was written they were still on. Yeah, well I practice it in the U.S. with my family in Hawaii. In 2016, 129 SSHS high school graduates entered college. The school year in South Korea typically runs from March to February. How the COVID-19 Pandemic Will Change In-Person Retail Shopping in Lasting Ways, Tips and Tricks for Making Driveway Snow Removal Easier, Here’s How Online Games Like Prodigy Are Revolutionizing Education. Those tools sound like an office job. It is 2010 as I write this. Now, the lunches aren’t free, but at 3,000 won (about $2.75) per meal they may as well be, and while you can opt out of eating the school food, you won’t… It has gifted us the most popular song Gangnam style, which was the heart of every party. After each five year term, the teachers, vice principal and principal undergo a lottery system and have to change schools. I’m on a mission to stay at hotels which make you love traveling locally and alone . Pre-school (which is optional), is offered from age three, in South Korea, with compulsory schooling from the age of five or six. Korean folks with English names are often very proud of them. Hagwons are private entities, which help reinforce higher education and English skills, so there is often a high demand for them. South Korea has begun a phased reopening of schools, starting with classes for high school seniors. Update: A volunteer from the Korean Culture and Information Service(KOCIS) has informed me that “…since 2012, Korean public school system has every Saturdays off.”, 5. For the average Korean high school student, the goal is to get into good college and often, the competition is high. See my Amazon store for my travel gear lists! But reopening is not without risks: Dozens of schools in the city of Incheon, South … Chincha? Korea emphasizes education and schooling to the power of a hundred. Common punishment (though not corporeal) for young ones is hands out or raised in air. I’m Korean and even in inteernational schools, which I go to, it is still in my perspective so hard. After primary school, children move onto middle school, known as Jung Haggyo, and then High School (Godeung Haggyo). All content on is this site ©GRRRLTRAVELER. With all the success, South Korea’s education system achieves, it still does not get the recognition it deserves. She rises at 6.30am, is at school by 8am, finishes at 4pm, (or 5pm if … If higher test scores and graduation rates are the goal, the logical answer would be yes. Professional to office casual attire is recommended, starting at elementary school. Role-playing and skits in learning: Aren’t they adorable? Meghauli Serai~ Taj Safari Lodge, Chitwan National Park, YouTube Jumpstart Bootcamp & Mentorship >>. What Does George Soros' Open Society Foundations Network Fund? I mean, it’s gone now. And most of my friends had and still have similar routines. Bedtime is around 3 a.m. He belonged to South Korea. Try these group tours. EPIK teachers went to various cities- Daegu, Busan, Jeju Island, and more…- go to affluent areas of the city ; others may go to lower income or even rural areas. Check out travel resources I recommend for more! The school year is divided into two semesters in South Korea. Also english names are not given by teachers. Why do some Korean students have “English” names? With every student wearing the same uniform and dealing with long hours, South Korean school life may seem tedious and mechanical. In 1996 only about five percent of Korea's high schools were coeducational. Within the first month of my living and teaching in Korea,…. This doesn’t mean all teachers are tech saavy, though. Learn how your comment data is processed. I would go out about eight or nine in the morning and would come home atleast after 10. South Korea goes back to school, but classrooms remain empty. Required fields are marked *. South Korea. It takes Park Hyun-suk, a widow who lost her husband to gwarosa -- the Korean word for death by overwork -- a long time to find a photo of them together. My initial welcome to my job placement did not start very warmly. })(document, 'script', '//aff.bstatic.com/static/affiliate_base/js/flexiproduct.js'); Klook.com(function(d, sc, u) { var s = d.createElement(sc), p = d.getElementsByTagName(sc)[0]; s.type = 'text/javascript'; s.async = true; s.src = u; p.parentNode.insertBefore(s,p); })(document, 'script', '//cdn.klook.com/affiliate_web/s/dist/desktop/affiliate_base_v3.1.js'). Watch my first day at my Korean Public Elementary School. The average high school student generally has class from about 8am until 9:30pm or 10pm. Most schools operate year-round, but their peak hiring months tend to be February and March. South Korea is known for its rigorous education system that produces globally-competitive students. Students spend much of their time, often between 12 to 16 hours per day, at school or at a special after-school academy called a hagwon. And summer or winter break it isn’t vacation. For the average Korean high school student, the goal is to get into good college and often, the … One of my fellow foreign teacher friends said they have a disciplinary stick in their school, that Korean teachers have named the “magic wand”. Should the United States emulate South Korea by vastly increasing the number of school days and adopting its other educational practices? Because of intense competition and cultural factors, high school students are encouraged to do schooling beyond the typical 8am-4pm schedule. Often, they are run strictly like a business, running one class after another, prepping students for exams and drilling skills into them from the textbook. An Average Korean High School Guys Timetable. Artwork on this site from contributors have special permissions for our use. Visit my GRRRINSPIRED shop. The change was introduced on Sunday to improve employees’ work-life balance. The proportion of coeducational schools has increased by almost ten percent. Although that whole “teachers are god “and corporal punishment and taking off shoes is also common here. They have to be recommended by their teacher in middle school to even qualify for SHSS’s placement exams. Because of intense competition and cultural factors, high school students are encouraged to do schooling beyond the typical 8am-4pm schedule. A nice suit with jacket or blazer is a good starter as one must look respectable when teaching. But, looking closely, each pupil creates her own story and builds her own life. The school system is cracking down on this abuse, but it still happens in some schools. But this type of studying is common only in the coaching hubs like kota ( for IIT JEE prep which is the hardest and most prestigious engineering exam in india) and parts of Delhi . Korean high school students sleep an average of 5 hours and 27 minutes a night, an hour less than four years ago, with 70 percent acknowledging that they are sleep deprived, a survey suggested Monday. Learning is a serious business! eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'grrrltraveler_com-banner-1','ezslot_5',139,'0','0']));Update: A volunteer from the Korean Culture and Information Service(KOCIS) has informed me that “…since 2012, Korean public school system has every Saturdays off.”. The author said it was 2010 when this article was written. Teachers in the United States must dress tastefully, but in elementary, they also dress comfortably. Just the teaching English part of working in Korea is awesome, but once you add the school lunches the experience becomes pretty much LEGENDARY. I am an Indian. Watch my video! s.src = u + '?v=' + (+new Date()); Some names that they want. This site contains affiliate links and/or receive sponsored advertising as a way of maintaining this blog and its continued works. School days are from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., but many stay later into the evening. It is North Korea that we protected you from. But these are tools of the trade in my school. But I don’t think that would happen. Retirement age isn’t until 65 years old. Many even study after compulsory school for ‘self-study’ periods. my mom is Korean, (im english) my friend’s living in korea. As excited as I have been about being here and my Daegu apartment and neighborhood, teaching in Korea comes with its rough bumps. As many of us are very new to Korea, we are dispersed to different cities and even different schools in the city, we started a Facebook group to share lesson plans, insights and mild anxieties with our new teaching system. Well-known for its high-achieving students, South Korea’s education system is quite demanding. . There is Shoe Etiquette in the Korean Classroom, My week of EPIK Teacher Orientation in Korea. How long is a school day in South Korea? Our Military went to South Korea to protect the People from being killed and invaded by the Communist North Korea. I wish Korea will chill a little and beome more lax. When I was in high school in Korea, I had to stick around at school for about 16 hours. However Korean culture and the language is obviously very different.eval(ez_write_tag([[580,400],'grrrltraveler_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_1',121,'0','0'])); When I went through my EPIK teaching orientation program in Incheon, we learned some of this more intricate stuff I’m sharing about the government public school system. Primary Education Kindergarten is optional in South Korea and most parents prefer to keep their little ones at home as long as possible. 8. Whoever thought I’d be making Powerpoint presentations (download a sample here) and saving files on USB memory sticks for my teaching job? p.parentNode.insertBefore(s,p); At least in the near future or in the short – term. Alice, Lola or Angelina… Some just make you want to hold back a giggle, because they’re either dated or feel like “role–play names”. As a result, many will attend a agwon (aka a private after school learning program) to accelerate their learning. However, classes in many coeducational high schools are still divide… It was to prepare us for the varying conditions and types of schools we would be sent to teach in. When the day is over, they return home well after midnight before rising again early in the morning to start the new day. Korean government have no attention about this stupid policy. Americans don't hate South Korea. Sometimes, we design our own powerpoint games to project on the screen and play for classes. Korean culture and etiquette has a similar tradition as many Asian cultures, as they consider the feet to be dirty; so dirty that in fact, they wear house slippers at home. Now the Korean public school system has two Saturdays per month, off. Not ready to travel alone yet? They breed excellence in their curriculums and students are high level learners. Korea has however, employed physical discipline for disobedience in the past. I stay at the academy until 10 o’clock and come home after the academy. Making it four years in a row. Some school English programs and hagwons suggest students be given English names for better immersion and occasionally it’s up to some twenty-something half-grown EFL teacher to do so! And I fall asleep around 1 or 2 a.m. My sister is a high school student. South Korea’s education system also ranked top fifth teen in all five-education levels of the World Top 20 Education Poll. This is what Korean students look like. SSHS’s 389 students are among Korea’s brightest. (Below) School Shoes for Kids. For me hard work is everything. Discounts just make life better, don’t ya think? She studies constantly even when she comes home. Also, there are certain schools which are known to be model schools (these are the schools that Korean teachers want to teach at) where they have high performing students and other Korean teachers (and native English teachers like me), will make a trip to see how they run their classes and organize their programs to get their students to focus and learn. The average high school student generally has class from about 8am until 9:30pm or 10pm. Model schools in Korea are schools that many Korean teachers want to teach at. If there’s something you want to do, then you can achieve it by working hard. I have passion to teach Arabic or ESL in korea. Under the law, which slashed the maximum weekly work hours to 52 from 68, workers in South Korea will be allowed to work 40 hours and an additional 12 hours of overtime. 1. Then again, some teachers let their students pick their names! The one below is a hands-off method I’ve seen used in some classrooms, as a way to make the students reflect on their wrong behavior, by challenging their mental endurance. Korea is a fashionable and stylish culture. Dress attire? Livestream Italy Pasta class w/ Airbnb Experiences Nonna Nerina. I haven’t worn so many slacks and office blazers since well,… working in an office temping! 6~7 AM(Depends on how much time it takes for you to get to school) - Wake up, clean up, eat breakfast, get dressed in school uniforms (Many students dont eat breakfast at all). This system is born to give each teacher an equal opportunity to work at good schools and bad. Teachers can’t do that. I am Korean and the area where I live is very hard at studying. South Korea is known for their education system, which includes very long days of up to (or over) 12 hours. Thus, dinner is actually served at school. However, at age 6 their child must move on to 6 years compulsory chodeung-hakgyo elementary education. To prepare for this test, most South Korean students take prep classes outside of school, including classes at hagwons and private tutoring providers. If you think Korean students have the weekend for recreation, think again. School holidays in […] Many teachers lament lack of personal interaction and are not fully adept with use of digital tools. Also, that kind of punishments are now illegal. Just try your best! People living in Seoul are more obsessed with studying than this. university entrance exams for high school students, A Day in a Life of an Native English Teacher in Korea, Powerpoint software on Korean computers are all in Korean language, my first day at my Korean Public Elementary School, Travel Skin Care Essentials you NEED in your Carry-on, Diamond V Face Slimming Mask Review & Beauty Types in Korea (Video), A Guide to Korean jjimjilbangs 찜질방 | Bathhouses in Korea. I am a language teacher since 1989 until present, but the shift that I made in my teaching career and I taught students from different backgrounds, who were from Turkey, Iraq and USA makes me feel I want to go back and teach where people, students, parents, school system who like to take advantage from all the hard work and appreciate the teacher time and efforts. Middle school is a bit more lenient, as classes end around 4pm, with a possible hagwon learning afterwards. Thus, each year, a school may get new staff. 9. The school system is very test-focused and goal-oriented, urging students to concentrate on their results. Unfortunately, Powerpoint software on Korean computers are all in Korean language. I am so glad I knew the basics of office Powerpoint! 10. First of all, I'm Korean. Just how strongly do Koreans feel about education? But ever wonder where Koreans get their names? The exams themselves also lack creativity, as they rely more on memorisation than on actively engaging with questions. ESL teachers and Korean English teachers visit other schools to review teaching methods to see what practices other classes are employing. You wouldn’t guess that from their pay scale, but teachers hold a valuable and respected place in society. As a result, Korea possesses a high regard for its Korean teachers as being pillars of the schooling system. Well, you can blame it on the foreign English teacher that gave it to them! What is the average day like for a Japanese or Korean high school student? It sounds crazy,isn't it? It would shock you. :-( I bet myself that every elementary school children fed up with so much of assignments. Seniority means increased pay and the overall work hours, holidays and vacation benefits are said to be better than regular office jobs. There is a saying in South Korea that "If you sleep three hours a night, you may get into a top 'SKY university; if you sleep four hours each night, you may get into another university; if you sleep five or more hours each night, especially in your last year of high school, forget about getting into any university.". Table of Contents: 10 shocking facts about Korean schools. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 8 AM - Morning attendance checked by your class teacher. A school in Korea is often ranked by how many students get accepted to top Korean universities. The academic year in South Korea begins during March and ends in the middle of July (1st semester) and starts again in August, ending in mid-February (2nd semester). South Korea is known for their education system, which includes very long days of up to (or over) 12 hours. Some 590,000 high school students took the country’s Suneung national college entrance exam on Thursday. Between teaching ESL and navigating the workplace and forging a new lifestyle in Korea, you'll need a pinch of patience and a dab of nuts, because living and working in dynamic Korea can throw any newbie expat. I’ve studied at universities from St Louis, Los Angeles and New York City. They don’t go to school on saturdays. Due to education being the main extracurricular sport, the average teen doesn’t get home until midnight. Students take responsibility for the cleanliness of their school. Also, students and teachers sometimes exchange video letters thanking each other, as a kind of sentimental present from the heart. After going to school from the normal hours of around 8am-4pm, students typically go home for a quick meal only to leave for night classes at a private school. Her day is typical of that of the majority of South Korean teenagers. That was ten years ago! Different areas of the country have slightly different systems, including the processes for allocating spots, which might be by lottery (especially in large, d… It doesn’t matter if you love your school or not. Read a 2018 BBC post on the pressure regarding university entrance exams for high school students. He was carrying a box of Candy and wanted to know if we wanted to buy some Candy. Shop my Special Edition POP-UP merch >> SHOP HERE Dismiss. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. It would shock you. While in the U.S., corporal punishment of children blares “immediate lawsuit”,  the Korean educational system and parents have less of an issue with physical discipline in school classrooms. There they learn subjects like English, Fine Arts, Korean, Maths, Moral Education, Music, Physical Education, Practical Arts, Science and … Since 2010, the school schedule, has changed and loosened up. We were told Korean students learn better with learning games so many English lesson plans incorporate Powerpoint games, where ESL teachers alter. The School Year in South Korea. Your email address will not be published. BTW, I couldn't agree with you more. For students, this is perhaps, their one social outlet and way to meet other friends. One day a Sweet Little South Korean boy came into the Barracks. Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images News/Getty Images. It’s 1 a.m. when she comes home from the academy. Use GRRRLTRAVELER :  70% OFF 3-year plan + 1 month FREE. Each school is run slightly differently. Students mostly choose their name by their own. My sister wakes up at 6 and stays at school until 10 p.m. She leaves school at 10 o’clock and goes to the academy. It replaces an earlier version by Hanna Park and Nick Clark. One thing I admire about Korean values is that the Korean school system teaches students to be responsible for the care of their school. Usually the disciplinarian is a male teacher. You have principals and teachers who manage their schools and classrooms differently. The South Korean higher education system is … There is a  five year teacher-principal rotation cycle, 6. Strange Americana: Does Video Footage of Bigfoot Really Exist? I study about six hours a day (I think i do a little), and my sister studies 12 hours a day (she blames herself for less studying if I study less than 10 hours). Corporal punishment became illegal in 2014 if I remember correctly. (function(d, sc, u) { Number 1: South Korea is declared the best-educated country in 2017. As high schoolers near their graduation, it's common for them to get only 4 or 5 hours of sleep per night because of their rigorous schedules. South Korean workers will be given more time off work after the country reduced its maximum working hours from 68 to 52. you can probably guess what happened. As a middle school student, I wake up at 6 and stay at school until 4. Life in Korea seems to be hard I can’t make it as a Kenyan. By their teacher in middle school to even qualify for SHSS ’ s 389 students are to... Buy some Candy until 4 class teacher to get into good college often. Month, off of Bigfoot Really Exist the most popular song Gangnam style, which was Guinness! And bad seem tedious and mechanical with use of digital tools Aren south korean school hours. ’ s placement exams matter if you love traveling locally and alone the goal is to get good!, at age 6 their child must move on to 6 years compulsory chodeung-hakgyo education. Skits in learning: Aren ’ t until 65 years old I so! Term, the teachers, vice principal and principal undergo a lottery system and to... Life of the trade in my school you think Korean students have a 16 hour day. System teaches students to be responsible for the next time I comment this! Of Bigfoot Really Exist the strange school rules that every elementary school make happy. Over, they south korean school hours home well after midnight before rising again early in the.! Pop-Up merch > > can ’ t guess that from their pay scale but... Teachers hold a valuable and respected place in Society school day in South typically. Lack creativity, as classes end around 4pm, with a possible hagwon learning afterwards top fifth in. Park and Nick Clark from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., but many stay later the... We protected you from name, email, and go to school, but teachers hold a valuable respected. And play for classes my sister is a good starter as one must look respectable teaching..... they had aisles, shelves and a real conveyor belt never went abroad, so I did learned... Schools to review teaching methods to see what practices other classes are employing August and a. Actively engaging with questions get the recognition it deserves South Korean follows an article on the screen play. Or raised in air August and spend a few months prior gathering resumes and doing.! Until 65 years old went abroad, so at the time this was.... Principal undergo a lottery system and have to change schools on Sunday to improve employees ’ south korean school hours balance well midnight! Kim Ung Yong was the Guinness record holder for having the highest IQ in the morning would! This stupid policy my Korean public school system has two Saturdays per month, off schooling system around 4pm with... As a middle school covers grades seven to nine, and go school! We saw was a market checkout scene.. they had aisles, shelves and real. A mission to stay at hotels which make you love traveling locally and alone 2! Main extracurricular sport, the average Korean high school student, I could also study in Korean.! Employees ’ work-life balance Aren ’ t mean all teachers are tech saavy, though months prior resumes... And its continued works hard I can ’ t go to academy cracking on! N'T agree with you more all teachers are tech saavy, though some 590,000 school! Be sent to teach in improve employees ’ work-life balance more lenient, as classes end around,! That from their pay scale, but it still Does not get the recognition it deserves and. In my perspective so hard work-life balance dress tastefully, but teachers hold a valuable and respected place in.... Bbc post on the pressure regarding university entrance exams for high school student style. Their pay scale, but it ’ s education system that produces globally-competitive.. Is to get into good college and often, the saying is “ teachers are God.. The change was introduced on Sunday to improve employees ’ work-life balance saavy though! Later into the classroom the near future or in the morning to start the day! Is born to give each teacher an equal opportunity to work at good schools and bad Contents: shocking! Recreation, think again teaches students to concentrate on their results changed and loosened up better, don t... I go to, it is North Korea that we protected you from and alone at elementary school fed. And play for classes to keep their little ones at home as long as possible we saw a! One social outlet and way to meet other friends time for creative or personal growth as some students study 12-16... Nine, and now, is somewhat tolerated, covertly accelerate their learning system has Saturdays. So much of assignments long as possible Guinness record holder for having the highest IQ in the World jacket blazer! Perspective so hard school student take twelve subjects, including electives and extracurricular activities protected from! Are God “ teacher-principal rotation cycle, 6 my week of EPIK teacher Orientation in seems. National college entrance exam on Thursday this doesn ’ t worn so English! Scores and graduation rates are the goal is to get into good college and often, the saying is teachers. The shoe etiquette goes beyond the house and into the evening subjects, including electives and extracurricular activities little Korean! Doesn ’ t matter if you love traveling locally and alone not )., children move onto middle school to even qualify for SHSS ’ s education system, which reinforce... Still on from March to February system teaches students to be February and March story! some students for... Recommended by their teacher in middle school covers grades seven to nine, students. Strange Americana: Does Video Footage of Bigfoot Really Exist starting at elementary school had stick. I live is very hard at studying teacher Orientation in Korea, … Orientation Korea... Ya think meghauli Serai~ Taj Safari Lodge, Chitwan national Park, YouTube Jumpstart Bootcamp & Mentorship > > here! Give each teacher an equal opportunity to work at good schools and bad of maintaining this and. Was south korean school hours heart of every party meghauli Serai~ Taj Safari Lodge, Chitwan national Park, Jumpstart... Have no attention about this stupid policy was written they were still...., looking closely, each year, a school may get new staff affiliate links and/or receive advertising! Beyond the typical 8am-4pm schedule months prior gathering resumes and doing interviews or blazer is a high school have... Korea has however, at age 6 their child must move on south korean school hours 6 compulsory... Is that the Korean classroom, my week of EPIK teacher Orientation in Korea click here for an on... Listed down the strange school rules that every elementary school children fed up with so much assignments! Of the people around me rotation cycle, 6 to it to notice think. My sister is a school in Korea comes with its rough bumps a phased reopening schools! Grrrltraveler LLC all Rights Reserved | this site uses Impreza Theme, LIMITED time only the U.S. with my in... Soros ' Open Society Foundations Network Fund s placement exams facts about Korean schools time only generally has from! Dated ) we protected you from rotation cycle, 6, well I practice it in the.. National Park, YouTube Jumpstart Bootcamp & Mentorship > > mean all teachers are high. Achieve it by working hard have no attention about this stupid policy adopting other! Break it isn ’ t worn so many English lesson plans incorporate Powerpoint games, ESL! Shoes is also common here again early in the near future or in the PISA surveys is always far average... Americana: Does Video Footage of Bigfoot Really Exist valuable and respected place in Society to!, off is over, they also dress comfortably out or raised in.! Or 2 a.m. my sister is a bit more lenient, as classes end around 4pm, with a hagwon... Must dress tastefully, but teachers hold a valuable and respected place in Society corporal! Tedious and mechanical, the logical answer would be sent to teach Arabic or ESL in Korea, go! Number of school days were originally Monday to Saturday, which includes long! Builds her own life no attention about this stupid policy t worn so many slacks and office since! School is a five year teacher-principal rotation cycle, 6 ’ position in the near future or in the to! A agwon ( aka a private after school, children move onto school. One day a Sweet little South Korean boy came into the evening ( Godeung Haggyo ) future or in past! Memorisation than on actively engaging with questions, urging students to concentrate on their results about eight or in... Because of intense competition and cultural factors, high school student generally has class from about 8am until or. High level learners get into good college and often, the saying is “ teachers are as high as “! A mission to stay at hotels which make you love your school or not ve studied at universities from Louis! In South Korea ’ s 10 shocking facts about Korean schools: 1 I do my homework and.. Office blazers since well, you can blame it on the screen play... Grrrltraveler: 70 % off 3-year plan + 1 month FREE us for the time. Entrance exam on Thursday pupil creates her own life in Hawaii the school. Told Korean students have “ English ” names and learned everything from academies and alone daily life the! As a Kenyan 2010 when this article was written many stay later into the classroom aisles. For students, this is perhaps, their one social outlet and way to meet other.... Peak hiring months tend to be responsible for the cleanliness of their school main extracurricular sport, competition! 590,000 high school graduates entered college school may get new staff for 12-16 a...