Job Discussion Forums

[naturegirl321]

I've found a couple job adverts for Korean schools on Dave's. I'm thinking that this is the way to go. Get a Korean salary, but have the low cost of living of China. Working in a school has its benefits as well, summer's off, no weekend or night classes.
The downside seems to be the application process, some ask for uni transcripts, which is always a pain, but I think that the salary makes up for it.

[caius celestius]

Thou aszkest 2 many kweshtians about jobs in Jina; I says thou tryest one and tellest us how it goeth.

Korean employers are much noted for their abusive working styles. Your salary may be better than elsewhere but, but you will age more quickly than is normal. Some Korean bosses in China-based factories are reported to occasionally slap their workers. (Such incidents have repeatedly been settled in Chiense courts).

[cj750s]

there are international schools that hire FTs and who's student body is made up of mostly Koreans....but the pay in not on the par with other internationals...The Ausse school is one and Beanstalk also takes in a number of Koreans..as does Kinstar..all in Beijing

The Aussie school is run by a singapore manager and Beanstalk, I heard that the principal from Canada left (got to watch them though as they will take you leg in a game of mumbly-peg.....Kinstar, who's ruling American couple managed but who has also left, is run by a chinese manager...

[william wallace]

I worked at 2 Korean schools in Beijing, but strangely enough, paid in Chinese salaries, with Chinese money.

[7969]

i had some of my strangest experiences working in a korean school. kids trying to stick their fingers up my ass, young girls jumping into my lap, being allowed to punish kids in different ways.... that was in a korean school in korea though.

[HunanForeignGuy]

As a previous poster wrote, the Korean International Schools have a less-than-savory reputation here in China, but as to location, here' s what I know:

1. one Korean International School in Shenzhen;

2. one Korean International School in Shanghai;

3. one Korean International School in Kushan (near Shanghai);

4. one Korean International School in Qingdao;

5. one Korean International School in or near Dalian;
6. one Korean International School elsewhere in Shangdong but I don't
remember exactly where now;

7. one Korean International School in Beijing;

8. one School of the Minorities in Harbin.

As Caius wrote, the Korean schools here do not pay South Korean wages at all.

Might I ask where this thought came from?


HFG

[naturegirl321]

Thanks for all your opinions. I thought teaching at a Korean school would be different than a USA; UK, etc International School in the since that you wouldn't be with people from your home country so much as the other ones. Even though they don't pay as well as other international schools, they seem to pay more than the average teaching English job.

[HunanForeignGuy]

Dear NatureGirl,

Cuando venga el momento deciso y Ud. y su marido estaran seriamente listos para transmudarse hasta aca, favor de impartirmelo. Hare lo necesario para ayudarles a Uds. De buen trabjao no hace falta y en cuanto al marido, haremos lo que tendremos que hacer.

Saludos y abrazos desde la China lontana,


HFG

[naturegirl321]

[HunanForeignGuy]

[jg]

Try the Shanghai Korean School. If it's a "Korean" experience and salary you want, you can't go wrong. They've moved to a new campus since I left but there was a shuttle that picked up teachers to transport them to school, as well as school busses that stopped in the Korean apartment complexes in the area.

Salary was about $1700 US or so per month for non-contract teachers (2005) teachers under contract got paid a bit more and also got paid for Summer and Xmas vacation.

Students weren't allowed to fail - direct orders from the top. At grade time any teachers giving failing grades were forced to change the grade. The students in jr high were fairly unruly, but some actually tried. The high schoolers were almost completely apathetic. About half the class slept through class, the other half applied makeup or groomed each other. Boys brought comic books to read during class, and many had mp3 players to pass the time (in class). To be fair, they were tired as heck from going to night school in preparation for trying to enter Korean Universities. Still though, I'd have to say they were far and away worse than any Chinese students I encountered while in China.

It shouldn't be hard to find work there: at the end of Spring 2005 every foreign teacher quit, maybe 8 or so in total? There may have been one guy who stayed, but I don't think so. From what I heard the next batch of foreigners wasn't faring very well either.

Korean. Hardcore Korean. Even the juice and chips were imported from Korea. The Principal put the wood to the backsides of boys who misbehaved too badly. Lots of bowing and hierarchy stuff going on. Think the Chinese are concerned about face???

Korean food for lunch, Korean administrative staff to do basic accounting - I guess they didn't trust the Chinese to add and subtract properly? Heavy dislike for all things Chinese. But the students weren't shy by any means and much more socially confident than the Chinese students at that age. I don't know about getting poked in the rump but some girl did give mine a good squeeze. Testing it for firmness maybe?

Its a good job for anyone who doesn't want to teach, they'll chat about sports or anything - as long as you keep them awake.

[John Nesbitt]

I teach at KIS International School in ShenZhen and I love it.

I just posted a response a question about our school at 8:30 this morning. Take a look at it and it might change your mind about Korean schools -- at least KIS anyway.

See: KIS International School.

John.

[naturegirl321]

Thanks a lot. I read your post and it was very helpful.

[james s]

In Korea one can expect to earn about 2500USd per month and work a normal esl workwek-my friend was doing 22 total per for this.

In China at a Korean school, one can expect to work double the hours on the same pay.

In my experience, if you are doing a job at a Chinese school, you can pick up p/t gigs and earn more, much more, while teaching less with Chinese students.

These Korean schols do not even interest me a little anymore. They pay less than 70 per hour, and some as low at 5USD per hr.

[John Nesbitt]

KIS International School in Shenzhen pays above average compared to Chinese schools.

Compensation includes:

* monthly base salary (including paid holidays).
* teaching allowance per class -- 22 to 24 periods per week
* housing allowance

My compensation works out to be almost double what I was making at my previous school.

John Nesbitt