Date of Award
5-2016
Culminating Project Type
Thesis
Degree Name
English: Teaching English as a Second Language: M.A.
Department
English
College
College of Liberal Arts
First Advisor
James Robinson
Second Advisor
Kim Choonkyoung
Third Advisor
Monica Devers
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
Keywords and Subject Headings
hagwon, South Korea, native English teachers, careers
Abstract
Few research studies have been published in the Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL) research literature concerning the work environment and career paths for Native English Speaking Teachers (NESTs) in private schools or academies in South Korea. Termed in Korean as “hagwons” these schools, unlike the publicly funded program English Program in Korea (EPIK), operate with profit as their primary goal. Hagwons involve several work place risks, such as contract violations, conflicts with Korean employers and staff, and exhaustingly long teaching hours.
Although at times a difficult work environment, some have spent several years teaching English in a hagwon, and a few have pursued more certified TESL careers. The current research primarily documents the personal and professional experiences of hagwon NESTs who have taught in that system for two years or more, and asks what type(s) of experiences support a continued or discontinued career in TESL.
Qualitative results from 15 demographic surveys and open question interviews indicated that the majority of these teachers discontinued their TESL career after their experiences. Instead, participants either entered other careers within the field of education, or discovered different career goals as a result of their individual experiences. All 15 participants viewed living and working in South Korea as valuable for financial gain, cultural immersion, establishment of close interpersonal relationships, or as a time of self-reflection after graduating from university and before pursuing a career path.
Recommended Citation
Henry, Meagan J., "Hagwons, Future Careers in TESL? A Qualitative Study about the Career Choices of the Multiple Year Private School English Teachers in South Korea" (2016). Culminating Projects in English. 52.
https://repository.stcloudstate.edu/engl_etds/52
