7 Types of Academies or Hakwons My Students Attend

This is one of the first things that I learned upon arriving in Korea. The students here never quite stop going to school. I remember my afternoons when I finished elementary school being filled with basketball, tennis, hanging out with friends and other non-educational activities. In Korea, student's days are no where close to being finished when their regular school day ends. Here is a list of different types of after school programs or Hakwons(학원) that some of my students attend.

1. English
This is by far the most popular type of Hakwon children attend. If you look down any street in Korea, you surly will see at least one or two. It seems that everyone and their brother tries to open an English school. Many of these schools don't last long. If you come to Korea as an English teacher, chances are you will be working at one of these establishments.

2. Korean Writing
My students have told me that these are writing classes. They normally go twice a week and have to write an 2 essays a week, if not more. The students have said that the classes are held on structure, form and grammar.

3. Chinese Letters (한자) Hanja
The study of Hanja has become less important, but there are still many students who go to this type of academies. I think they begin studying Hanga in 7th grade in regular school. The link above is to the Wiki entry on Hanja. There is some good information about what students must learn and why they must learn it.

4. Math (수학)
This is another really popular type of school. Almost all of students attend one of these academies. Jaeyoun teaches at one of these hakwons and I can think of nothing more painful than 2 extra hours of math instruction 3 times a week. A good number of high school students attend Math classes after their regular school day on the weekends. I know of a local Math hakwon that finishes high school classes at 1am.

5. Art
Art seems to be very popular all across Korea. Many of my students spend their free time drawing. About 1/4 of my students also go to Art hakwons. They seem to really enjoy them and have good time while studying.

6. All Subject Hakwons
These Hakwons cover most every subject the student studies. English, Math, Science, History, and Korean. It sounds like you attend these classes to review everything else you are learning.

7. Piano/Gumdo/ Taekwondo/Sports
I do have some students that go to piano lessons, Taekwondo lessons, or study Gumdo(검도). I also have a few students that take soccer or tennis lessons, of course the students love these classes.

I am always curious to know at which point to parents same enough is enough and don't enroll their child into the latest new hakwon. It really doesn't seem like the children have any free time. I understand that since most parents now send their children to these schools; Other parents must do the same to keep up with the Joneses or Kims or Parks. I relish my afternoons of freedom and wonder how children that live in America for awhile feel when they come back to the long day of school and then more school.

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