Korean Job Discussion Forums

[jamie]

When I call and speak with current teachers at schools that I may potentially be working at, what are some key questions to ask them? Said otherwise, what are the questions that you (if you're a teacher in Korea) wish you would have asked the current teacher about the position? Is there any way to tell if they are lying? probably not....hmmm.....anyway, if anyone can provide questions, I'd be grateful!

[igotthisguitar]

Realistically, the Hagwon's "BIG" Cheese will never put someone on the phone they figure is gonna knock their beloved academy

Whoever you're speaking with will of course simply be trying to $ell you on the school

[Rand Al Thor]

[Harvard Material]

Put a question here - on this board. Something like "Can anybody tell me anything about this school?" Don't ask only the people you are allowed to speak with at the institute. Try to contact the people who have worked there, and find out why they didn't stay. That is who you need to gain true information from...

[Homer]

That depends harvard material,

some of those people who "didn't stay" did not always leave because of bad conditions.
At one of my former schools in Busan we had 2 girls do a midnight run after a month because they were freaked out about Korea. The rest of the staff were either long-timers like myself or people who had resigned at this school.
Now, one of these 2 runners posted on here before and bashed the school to no end...she had no basis to do so except her sense of failure.
This school was top notch, they well and on time, gave single occupation appartments, had great support for the foreign staff, yet she left because she couldn't hack it and screwed the school out of a return ticket, yes the hakwon hadd bought her an open return ticket and she used it.
So, if a potential teacher ends up calling or emailing her will he or she get the "thruth" Harvard?

[Busanchick]

The question I always ask is "If you had to do this all over again knowing everything you know today about your hogwan--would you choose it again?" I think all hogwans are basically the same except for the really crappy ones which can be avoided if you're in Korea and can check out the jobs yourself.

[kylehawkins2000]

Try doing a search of these forums for any info on the school you are looking for. you'll find a search Icon at the top of the page. Sometimes somthing will come up. You can also look into some of the Black / Grey / White lists. THey are not always the best source for info however.

Perhaps in the end it's best to go with your instincts.

Good Luck!

[jamie]

Thanks for your help everybody! I'm really appreciative! I'm speaking with a teacher tonight so I'll be sure to bring up some of the aforementioned suggestions.