Korean Job Discussion Forums

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I'm going to work at a fancy foreign language high school soon (NOT a "foreign school" like SFS, SIS, etc.), full time, with what appears to be a very satisfactory contract (I've been in Korea for years and know the usual pitfalls). Hours are low, pay is high, schedule/calendar is very clearly defined.

Anybody have any advice / warnings / experience / knowledge either firsthand or single-hearsay for me?

[gsxr750r]

Don't give out your phone number, and instruct the staff not to, either. Mine was secret for about 3 months. Then one of the teachers GAVE my phone number to the newspaper students. After that, everyone had it.

Over a year after leaving the school, I still get text messages from random students just saying, "hi" and whatnot. Kind of cute now, but became annoying when I was there.

[christinajou]

I worked in one that was brand new- I mean it was their first year, and there was so much work involved. I suggest that you pick one that has been around for at least 5 years, so the weight of establising the school isn't on your shoulders. Make sure that you are not "creating" a whole new curriculum...The school that I worked for wanted me to prepare the students to enter colleges in the States and I had to teach them everthing from scratch. From picking out the AP and SAT textbook to creating a first year curriculum, it was up to me. I would have liked a bit of guidance not knowing what I was expected to teach. Also because the level of students was not up to the standards of students in the States, I had to start from the beginning....literary/poetic elements and writing a good essay.

It was hard and I ask the administration to switch me to part-time because I could not handle the load they were piling on me. They expected me to do the teaching as well as other administrative duties that Korean teachers had to do such as coming to school on Saturdays...or on holidays to stay in the office to answer phone calls. I was put into a department and I had to do departmental duties as well.
After one semester of over-loading and underpay, I demanded to be swtiched to part-time or I would quit, all I had to do was teach and I performed better. I was able to concentrate on teaching and coming up with lessons.

Just make sure the school has been around for a while...so you know you are working for a reputable and stable school.

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gsxr750r
Thanks for the advice.

christinajou
It's not a new school at all, and curriculum is well-developed (although I write my own syllabi and work with other teachers to determine reading lists). But thanks for those comments; in a different situation they'd surely be valuable.

Anybody else? Bueller? Bueller?

[Adam Rawn]

Hey, if you are XXXX applying to Anyang Foreign Language High School then we may be co-workers! Cool! I just got in there and it sounds awesome compared to the early morning split shift nine hours on saturdays stuff I'm doin' now.

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hehe, nah, that's not me

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Update:

Been at my FLHS since Feb., and it's been fantastic. I haven't any complaints, and am actually pretty thoroughly impressed by the school, the administration, the students, and especially my teaching colleagues.

[Yu_Bum_suk]

Just make sure you don't end up in a student dormatory. You're not by chance working at Hanguk U. of Foreign Studies' high school, are you?

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No and no