Job Discussion Forums

[Al Morley]

Hello everyone,

I'm currently in South Korea, and have a great job with great students and and excellent boss. However, I don't save much.

I just left Vietnam, where I made a lot and there were lot's of jobs. However the situation in Vietnam is one of extreme micromanagement, passive aggressive bosses and back-biting. Also there is the case of schools not paying, or making up nonexistent taxes. This seems to hold consistently, as most of the teachers in Vietnam tend to only keep their jobs for a year or less before some local coworker or manager makes things unbearable.

So, I've been looking into China. The pay seems excellent. I know the food is great. I don't mind smog, etc...

But how does one discern whether a school (I'm thinking international, as I have my MFA and teaching certs) is stable and positive? Are there any schools you guys would warn against or recommend? for example I know saint paul has a pretty bad reputation, regardless of the pay.

[rioux]

Hi Al,

How come you aren't able to save much in South Korea? - I also found the food better in SK than in China.

Contact the schools you are looking at here and ask for contact information from current and former teachers - as many as possible.

[Al Morley]

when my Korean wife and I left korea in 2005, and also returned in 2010, there were plenty of privates regardless of visa type. but now theyre cracking down hard on hagwans. no more privates unless you have a certain visa, a marriage visa. my wife went and got her american citizenship back in the states, meaning no marriage visa. also, i have yet to get a bite on any house-to-house privates, which were my mainstay back in the day. since my wife is 50, even with a MEd from the states, she is getting denied good work on the "youre too old and you have an asian face," excuse.

And then there is just the oldness of returning to korea. China is something new and exotic for both of us. We can both teach privates there, and maybe she could even get into a Korean company. But, to be honest, I like working for Koreans.

We did a three-year stint in Vietnam, which paid great and offered great travel opps. But working for the Vietnamese is not pleasant. Bosses rip you off, threaten you regardless of how hard and well you work, and vietnamese coworkers are jealous and will slander you. i never had any of this in korea. and, we may indeed stay in korea to see if things improve, pay-wise, because i really like working for koreans.

i'm just wondering if the chinese as amiable as korean, and if the fast development is hurting the cost of living in china.

ive been through china, and although the smog was thicker than soup, honestly i loved the food.

[LarssonCrew]

Al did you and your wife consider working for a Korean International School? Often they pay around 20,000 [$3000] each plus nice housing, and since half the staff or more will be Korean you might be more sorted.

[Alien abductee]

[Al Morley]

that's a good idea about the korean schools. the teachers are the korean school in saigon are the happiest around.

[Jmbf]

If you are looking for job stability and for everything to be above board I think you are right to be cautious about China. In many ways it is still like the wild west. Anything goes so do your research carefully.

If I were you I'd still be looking into ways to optimise my situation in SK rather than jumping into the potential unknown.

[Al Morley]

something to consider. i appreciate your honesty. thanks!