Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Omkara]

Hey all,

I'm looking at two possible jobs. One is in Seongnam, the other in Busan. Busan is the public school (middle school).

The pay in the "English Town" would be better, but my room would be shared. I'm the kind of guy who needs a measure of solitude, though I enjoy (sane) people.

I'm also wondering about the actual work experience. Which environment would you prefer?

Also, I'd prefer to be in an environment which, while enjoyable, is an actual teaching environment.

Any insights would be helpful.

[Col.Brandon]

If you do a search around this board you'll find that most of the immersion villages are badly run hell-holes that treat their staff like crap. You'd be much better at an elementary school.

[Omkara]

I've been searching around; but I hadn't the term "immersion village."

Elementary over a middle school?

[Smee]

Is the English Town in Seongnam? That one got a lot of press a while back when a teacher (or teachers) were molesting children.


I was contracted to work at an English Town, but the opening has been delayed for a year so I'm at a public elementary school. From what I've read on here, and from what I've heard from people involved with these towns, they're to be avoided. Get yourself set up in a public school . . . that'ts my advice. Hell, you might even get farmed out to an English Town a few times a week. A lot of folks in Jeollanam-do do a few shifts at the English Town.

[Omkara]

Yeah, that's the one. I found that bad press.

I'm sure that has more to do with that individual teacher and student than with the village itself.

But, thanks for the advice.

Everyone seems to loath all of the free time sitting around in a public school. But, as I see it, if I get stuck with a lot of "free time," I've got quite a reading list.

Also, it seems to me that working in an English village, there is less opportunity to advance in the Korean language, since there are so many native English speakers around.

Having one's own pad's a big factor, too.

[Smee]

Yeah, I've got a light schedule at my school. Sometimes I do dislike being so inactive. It's hard to stay sharp as a teacher. But it's really nice to not be bogged down with paperwork. I have a lot of time to study Korean, prep for my TEFL course, prep for classes, and pretty much do anything else. Not all schools are like that (other teachers in my town are teaching near 30 hours a week). But it's also nice to have my evenings and weekends free. No mandatory overtime, no mandatory team-building, and no living in a dorm on campus.

[Omkara]

...and no grading papers! (I'm a composition teacher here in America! Every Saturday, it's down to the cafe to fight the good ol' fight.)

Having weekends and evenings is a great advantage. Also, having a regular schedule is nice.