Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Snowkr]

Not sure that I am taking this job but I just got the chance to actually speak with the co-teacher for a public high school I am considering working for this fall.

I'm guessing this is highly unusual? This woman was very impressive.

My main issue with this job is the location...
I've been told that it's great and I've also been told it's a "hellhole". Of course, people say that about the nicest places on earth... such as San Diego, CA (my biased opinion).

My delimma is.. I have at least 3 if not 4 very good offers in Korea all with schools requiring experienced teachers with higher certification. Do I take the one where I actually don't have to go through a provincial contract such as GEPIK, SMOE or DMOE even if it might be in an area that is less than desirable?

I feel fairly confident that this school is perfect for me. I'm just not sure about the location...

any helpful input would be appreciated!

[Yu_Bum_suk]

[hubba bubba]

might help to tell us what the location you are considering is.

[KYC]

I talked to a co teacher at one of the public schools I interviewed with...so I dont think it's unusually. Her english was not...impressive. I barely understood her

[jinks]

Although I have no personal experience in public schools, I have heard that the GEPIC/EPIC etc. boards are remote and difficult to deal with. In my experience, the best method of dealing with administrative bureaucracy is through extensive face to face contact. It is great - as with the English speaking co-teacher you spoke to on the phone - that you can already have a contact at your school. Try and spend time being helpful and friendly to administrators and co-teachers and problems do seem to become "less difficult" to solve or ignore; easier to do with in-house colleagues, rather than a remote board.

[Snowkr]

I think this is a GEPIK contract but I'm dealing directly with the school.

I was given another option to work in another public school in a better location but I would not be able to speak to anyone until after I arrive.

The woman I spoke to who is supposed to be my co-teacher had a decent command of English but I could tell she hadn't really studied outside of Korea. She was very enthusiastic and I got an offer from them almost immediately after I spoke to her and so I'm feeling pretty encouraged about working with them but I'm just not sure about the location...

Namyangju City. Does anyone else out there have anything good (or bad) to say about this place?

Thanks to everyone who responded!

[ilovebdt]