Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Rteacher]

I'm in a bit of a quandary regarding where to teach next year (end of February...)

I'm nearly finished with my second year at a technical high school. I had decided to try teaching at the university level mainly for the extra vacation time but also to experience a new (more-or-less) professional challenge.

So, I applied to about a dozen ads listed on Dave's, but as of last week I had gotten no replies. My high school also asked me to decide by the end of last week whether-or-not I would re-sign there. Not wanting to be left in a position where I would have to scramble to come up with something that may be much worse than where I'm at now, I told them I would stay on.

Sure enough, one college rep called this morning offering me a job at Suwon Science College. I told him thanks, but I decided to stay on with my present job. He probably called the next person on his list and by now has found someone to fill the position so it may already be a moot point. But do you think I made the right decision?

My weakest point in terms of employability is my age: 57. Extra vacation time would be a big plus for me for various personal and business (art) reasons. Where I'm at, I manage to get about two weeks in the summer and two weeks in the winter.

Salarywise, I've made 2.2 million won the past two years (plus overtime classes at least two evenings a week...) and was told by a Korean teacher that I would probably be offered 2.4 million won if I re-signed...

The college gig offers 2.2 million won, but no housing subsidy or key money. They give four weeks vacation time in the summer and four in the winter...

The workloads are probably similar, but I haven't had to do any grading or evaluations at my high school. The only real pressures are the two presentations a year that the education ministry has required. (Although I usually do well at these, the last one I did was a dud because I had been sick for over a week leading up to it...)

Based on the money factor alone it would appear to be a no-brainer, but the college position could be seen as an entry-level position that would set me up for a better university job next time (though I probably only have a couple good years left in Korea...)

I also have some messages on my new cell phone I haven't checked out yet because I'm not sure how to retrieve them...

[PRagic]

Depends on your qualifications. With just a BA, it might be better to stay where you are, or look for a different public school job with better conditions. If you have higher degrees, or know someone at a univeristy that is hiring, go for a better university job than that one. Just my 2 cents.

[rothkowitz]

How much do you like your HS and how much better/different will a College/Uni ACTUALLY be?

[Rteacher]

I basically like working where I'm at, but I think that I've kind of stagnated as a teacher during my second year. I stopped giving and checking homework assignments when I realized that only a couple students in each class would actually do them, and most everyone else was just copying...

I also don't have to do any grading or evaluating. I work with four different Korean teachers, and none of them seem to mind that I've cut my teaching time down to about twenty minutes a class and fill in the rest of the time with DVDs with no particular teaching aim other than controlling the class with entertainment...

Not having a Master's degree is definitely a minus for a uni job, but I'm still paying off my Bachelor's degree so I can't see going for one in my old age... Anyway, according to the Peter Principle, I've probably already reached my level of incompetence - so I guess I'll just hang on where I'm at (and my father taught high school math for about 40 years...)

[ajuma]

It sounds like if you stay where you are, you're going to be pretty unhappy by the end of the year unless you find a way to re-motivate yourself. If YOU'RE bored with what your doing, imagine how the students are feeling!!

Since you've already promised your school that you'd stay, I think you should only look for something else if you can find someone else to take your place.

While you're on your break from your classes, see if you can find a whole new way of teaching. Find some new games, new ways of teaching the same ol' grammar points...whatever it takes to re-motivate yourself. Your students will thank you....well, maybe not, but YOU'LL feel better about yourself!!

[Ya-ta Boy]

[Rteacher]

Thanks for the advice... Well, I'm gonna revamp my repertoire, get better organized, and rely less on my library of (mostly copied) DVDs...

I've had no problem amusing myself because I often use a karaoke website (that I pay for...) and I'm a very good singer. When students request songs that I don't particularly like (eg: "I Believe I Can Fly"...) I sing parody versions ala Weird Al Yankovic (that usually breaks 'em up...) I've even played "Freebird" to convey the expressions "guitar solo", and "Southern rock".

Among music DVDs that I've used as time fillers (or to illustrate personal qualities or various musical genres...) are the Beatles First Visit to the U.S., Simon and Garfunkle's Concert in Central Park, Bruce Springsteen's Greatest Hits, Paul McCartney's U.S. Tour, Eric Clapton in Hyde Park and the Carpenter's Close To You...

So, I may not have been a very good teacher, but at least I've provided some good music that I enjoy...

[Ya-ta Boy]

[Pak Yu Man]

If you don't have to grade then stay at the HS. You you are lazy you don't need to grade much at the uni level, but I usually have a bit of grading to do.
(especially if I leave it all for the final week:))

[the_beaver]

Wherever you'll feel happiest. I suspect, based on what you've said about wanting free time, that a university gig would be your best bet. Once you're in the university system it's a lot easier to move up.

[ajuma]

Since you're into music, check out this site so you can add some grammar (with already-provided worksheets and ideas) to your class. You AND the students can still be happy, and maybe the odd student or two will learn something!

http://www.musicalenglishlessons.org/music-index.htm

[Rteacher]

Thanks again. I'll probably stick it out one more year and try to improve my act. Then I'll at least have over five years teaching experience in Korea - three at the high school level - and I'll try to land a university job after that (though I may have to initially lie about my age ...)

I was never a Carpenter's fan - they were way overplayed on radio - but the DVD produced by her brother, Richard, who has considerable creative talent, is well done. For English purposes, Karen's singing style is good because she clearly enunciates with her distinctive voice, and the DVD has some appeal to Koreans because of its emotional family-oriented story-line (from their happy childhood, hard struggle to get to the top, the exhilaration of winning a Grammy, their dysfunctional relationships, the shock of her parents seeing the effects of Karen's anorexia, her coffin being carried by tearful pall bearers, a touching eulogy by friend, Petula Clark, and a stirring memorial speech by her brother at the Hollywood Walk-of-Fame star ceremony...) Of course, some students just slept through it....

[JeJuJitsu]

[gweilo_farang]

[Ya-ta Boy]