Korean Job Discussion Forums

[sconner]

Has anyone heard of Busan International School? Any info would be appreciated. Thanks in advance!

[pest2]

Is this the same as the Busan Foreign School?

[sconner]

I'm not sure, the recruiter said Busan International school. It could be.

[pest2]

[sconner]

I got the contract and it said they would provide housing on campus in the classroom building. I e-mailed them for clarification, but living at the school is a definite deal breaker. That sounds like the guy I talked to. The pay is okay, but it says 35 working hours, 6 classes a day. I also asked if this meant the hours I was at the school. I'm worried it's a way not to pay overtime.

[pest2]

Ask em if they have a website. This place did. See if it's Busan Foreign School.

[sconner]

Thanks pest2, I will. He said it was one of the biggest schools in Busan, they probably have a website. The negotiations on the contract haven't begun yet, if it's the same guy and he won't negotiate, then I'm going to pass on it too. I'm still waiting for an answer on the housing.

[jellobean]

A friend of mine worked at BFS for a year. He didn't resign because they weren't honoring all their benefits clauses. If it's BFS I'd stay away. You can do better in a Korean public school.

[cangel]

sconner - Are you a certified teacher? If so, what's your subject area? I know there are more fish in the sea if you have the correct credentials. I have worked in public schools in the US and am now in Korea.

[sconner]

No, I'm not certified, working on my masters, but not there yet. This time around I've gotten so many bad contracts. The big thing is the hours, they all seem to have high hours and not classes listed, so I wouldn't be able to get overtime. Is the the new way to cheat ft's?

[insam]

There is a reason non-certified teachers get to teach at Busan Foreign School et al. Real international schools have no choice in this matter; to maintain accreditation they must hire certified teachers (many, if not most, also have master's degress). I had a friend who worked there one year. Also, a couple there contacted me about joining the international school where I worked. Most international schools pay $35,000-40,000 with full summer and winter breaks etc. It is a great career, but the qualifications are the same as locally in the US and Canada etc for teachers. That said, some of these schools are looking to become 'real' international schools and you may get grandfathered in if you're lucky. But most are just hagwons owned by a foreigner. Busan Foreign School is in the intitial phases of accreditation, so if you can get in now it might not be a bad thing.