Korean Education
In Korea, education is highly valued. This has created an extremely competitive society, with competition heavy for college admissions and for positions within prestigious companies. For these reasons, Korean parents do everything they can to ensure a good future for their children.
Cram schools or “Hagwons” are very popular in Korea. A child in elementary school may attend public school during the day, the head off to one or more cram schools after. Sometimes children are enrolled in multiple schools for different subjects. For example, a Korean child may go to English school on Monday, piano on Tuesday and then science school on Wednesday. Hagwons exist for all sorts of subjects, including English of course.
As far as English Hagwons are considered, there are three general types, catering to different age groups and have different hours: |
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1. Kindergarten/Elementary: These hagwons have English language kindergarten programs for young learners. Kindergarten typically runs in the morning, then elementary students arrive as soon as public school lets out. Work hours are around 9:30am – 5 or 6pm.
2. Elementary/Middle: These hagwons develop English language skills for kids already in public school. Ages range from 7 years-old to 16 or 17 years-old. Work hours for these are typically from 2pm – 9pm.
3. Adults: These hagwons serve working professionals who want to learn English. Hours are in the morning from 7 – 11am, then in the evening from 5 – 9pm. You’ll have the afternoons free.
