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Korean Job Discussion Forums
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jenise
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Location: USA
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 Posted: Wed Jan 15, 2003 4:13 pm Post subject: Help on finding teaching jobs in Korea |
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I am just starting my search to find a teaching job in Korea. I'm new to this and am not sure where to start. Should I go through an agency or contact schools directly? I did find an agency called HBS Consulting, anyone know anything about them? Basically, any information on how to get started or what to look out for would be appreciated.
Thanks! |
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william beckerson
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| Posted: Wed Jan 15, 2003 5:15 pm Post subject: |
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My experience is that most schools do not have the ability to hire you directly, so you have to go through a recruiter. There are a lot of them on the web so a simple Google search should do yah.
As for getting someone who wont screw you over.... thats a roll of the dice.
Pagoda doesnt like to deal with recruiters though. I reccommend sending them an email. They're slow to respond, but it'll be the best job you can get here in Korea if they do. |
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Hotuk
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Wed Jan 15, 2003 5:25 pm Post subject: |
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My experiences are somewhat different from William's. I've a big supporter of the Contact Schools Directly plan, and have had good luck with it for years.
If you're really serious about wanting to come, don't just do e-mails. Also *phone* the schools - this can be done cheaply using a PC-to-phone program. While you might be concerned with language problems when you phone, that's a clue: if they can't handle an English phone call (and remember, they're an *English* school), how will they handle you?
Be sure to also talk to some of the teachers at the school. When I'm contacted by potential colleagues I'm always happy to give them the honest scoop. I think most others here are too. And when I'm looking for jobs, if a teacher tells me a few negative things about their school, I consider that a good sign. If they say "It's all WONDERFUL!" I get worried. I want a realistic picture.
Contacting directly cuts out the middleman, and it's that middle layer where many misunderstandings and issues originate. |
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Lost Seoul
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Thu Jan 16, 2003 12:22 am Post subject: Job searching and Pagoda |
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There a plenty of web sites where institutes post jobs, just do a web search and type in sometihng like 'ESL jobs.' The important point, whether you find your own institute or go through a recruiter, is always to ask lots of questions about the hagwon your thinking of signing with both here and directly to the hagwon, recruiter (if your using one) and the other foreign teachers that work at the institute.
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| Pagoda doesnt like to deal with recruiters though. I reccommend sending them an email. They're slow to respond, but it'll be the best job you can get here in Korea if they do. |
That is a rather moot point, I'm not saying all Pagoda schools are bad but here are some previous experiences people have had with Pagoda franchise, some good some bad.
Posted By: Ian Long <"mailto:[email protected]?subject=Pagoda Foreign Language Inst.">
Date: Thursday, 19 September 2002, at 12:10 p.m.
Just a word to the wise regarding this large and well-established employer of English teachers. This company may change the conditions of your contract, change the expectations stipulated in your contract, fire you without warning or reason, or fail to pay you money they owe you after they decide to fire you. In my case they did all of the above, even though I had worked for them for just under 4 years.
I would not recommend that anyone accept a contract from this company. There is no mutual respect, and no level of trust should be given them. If they were located in another country I would take them to court.
Re: Pagoda Foreign Language Inst.
Posted By: scotty C
Date: Thursday, 19 September 2002, at 9:10 p.m.
In Response To: "http://www.eslcafe.com/korea/index.cgi?noframes;read=132710143270" (Ian Long)
and that's a fact...the Pag is becoming just like all the other 'bad' hogwans, probably end up being much worse if things proceed as they have been over the past short while...that's why they prefer innocent, naive, young teachers who don't know when they're being shafted....or who might know but are afraid to take action.
Re: Pagoda Foreign Language Inst.
Posted By: Sanbon Pagoda Vet <"mailto:[email protected]?subject=Re: Pagoda Foreign Language Inst.">
Date: Friday, 20 September 2002, at 1:53 p.m.
In Response To: "http://www.eslcafe.com/korea/index.cgi?noframes;read=132710143270" (Ian Long)
Hi! Whilst working for the Sanbon Pagoda, I noticed that the woman who ran things, Mrs. Kim, was often quite touchy for no apparant reason at all. She also put us up in a cockroach infested apartment which took more than a couple of days to disinfest. All in all, Sanbon wasn't so bad but you could really do better than this school.
Re: any comments on Pagoda, ESS?
Posted By: "http://www.eslcafe.com/korea/index.cgi?noframes;profile=kiss+it++__x__+"
Date: Wednesday, 25 September 2002, at 9:10 a.m.
In Response To: "http://www.eslcafe.com/korea/index.cgi?noframes;read=132710143672" (Anna)
Anna is wondering about Pagoda:
http://www.eslcafe.com/korea/index.cgi?read=132710143672
Here are some previous posts about Pagoda:
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http://209.204.62.79/korea/index.cgi?read=123587
Re: Circus- burnout- act
Posted By: Johnny Corporate'
Date: Friday, 10 May 2002, at 10:01 a.m.
In Response To: Question on Pagoda (Oregon Duck)
Are you prepared to be a "performer" of sorts? Depending on the students and the day, your expected to have a steady variety of monologues and ample wardrobe once the snooze bar rings at 6AM. Are you a morning person? Can I refill your instant coffee? That's the invariable routine. I became a zombie over the course of my contact at Pagoda. But I left my mark for sure...
In terms of housing, think inside the box so to speak. Because, that's all you will be able to afford in terms of Kangnam. Shoe box. Unless you want to live in Itaewon the foreigner slum high on top of Namsan. Which means, getting up even earlier. It's a trade off. Insanity induced by constant Maxim refills conned off of your amicable students. The housing director, 3rd cousin to the Pagoda chairman is a real gem when it comes to picking real estate for your stay. Ask around, expect to pay five hundred thousand won for a shoe box you can call home.....keep it real hommie.
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http://209.204.62.79/korea/index.cgi?read=123606
Re: Question on Pagoda
Posted By: been there
Date: Friday, 10 May 2002, at 4:01 p.m.
In Response To: Question on Pagoda (Oregon Duck)
You have to take into account that your monthly rent will be about 300,000 - 400,000WON/month after the small key deposit they offer.
So, when looking at jobs, your salary is the same as other jobs posted that offer 300,000-400,000 won less.
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http://209.204.62.79/korea/index.cgi?read=129959
the Lowdown
Posted By: Ex Pagoda Person
Date: Friday, 14 June 2002, at 5:33 p.m.
In Response To: PAGODA - Pros and Cons? Is Kangnam good? (Smitty)
>I notice you pay your own housing. This is a good and bad thing I guess. Any advice?
Good and bad. On one hand you get to choose where you live. On the other you have to pay for it and you are looking to pay at least W400k a month for anything.
>What is with the one month of holidays? Does this include National holidays? Do you still get a contract bonus?
They are very good about the vacation. It is very smart of them but since they will work you like a dog you'll need it. You will teach 20 days a month. Also you will get national holidays off but you may have to work a Saturday.
You will still get your severance...it is not a bonus. Pagoda is excellent about paying what they owe you.
>The package seems borderline in many ways.
When it comes to money, it is very borderline. Kangnam is a fine place to work. The money at Pagoda might not be good but you will get paid and as long as you do your job, left alone.
Be warned that Pagoda is a professional operation. No hippy kid slack-assing is tolerated. It is a shirt and tie, well prepared lesson kind of place. If you are not toeing the line they will fire you. However, Pagoda people usually go straight into universities. I did. I learned a lot about teaching at Pagoda, mainly thru sheer volume of it and a professional atmosphere.
I also worked with a great bunch of people at Pagoda. I can honestly say the people I worked with there were more dedicated and professional than the people at my present university.
HTH,
Ex Pagoda Person
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http://www.eslcafe.com/korea/index.cgi?read=132710134485
Re: pagoda
Posted By: Briefcase Body
Date: Saturday, 27 July 2002, at 4:13 a.m.
In Response To: pagoda (kitsch)
Pagoda is becomming a sketchy place to work these days. While it is true that the teachers there were once looked after very well, that is not really the case at all nowadays. They are increasingly looking for "yes men" to abide by any policy that comes down the pipe. Any show of concern about changes to your job/work environment are shuffled under the table and through the maze of "managers" who don't have a clue about how to run a business. The management style consists of delaying every issue as long as possible, and creating stall tactics to kill issues quietly. If you are willing to eat whatever garbage is thrown your way, then you have nothing to worry about...if you are looking for a place where you actually have a say in what happens to your job/earnings, maybe keep looking around.
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http://www.eslcafe.com/korea/index.cgi?read=132710134624
Re: pagoda
Posted By: Donkey Hodey
Date: Saturday, 27 July 2002, at 9:23 p.m.
In Response To: Re: pagoda (Joel)
"They also don't go out of their way to screw you."
That may be true of years past, but it seems the last few months are a change of direction for them.
There's plenty of things being thrown at the teachers these days that they aren't happy with. And the thing it comes down to is money. They took away our Severence bonus for Saturday classes (this decision "supercedes the contract you signed"), they've limited the number of hours we can teach, long-time teachers (ie. teachers with big salaries) are being pushed out; 2 head teachers are GONE. The petition that was sent to management was met with a derisive snort and called "childish".
Pagoda is still heads and above any kiddie hogwon out there, but teachers are grumbling more and more in the teachers' area these days.
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http://www.eslcafe.com/korea/index.cgi?read=132710134621
Re: Popularity contest
Posted By: Donkey Hodey
Date: Saturday, 27 July 2002, at 9:14 p.m.
In Response To: Popularity contest (Hmmmmm.)
It's not "voting for your favourite teacher". It's "evaluating the way your teacher teaches" (in an ideal world, anyway). And yes, if you are in the lower 10% of the teachers for 3(?) consecutive months (ie. the worst 10% of teachers), they'll give you the boot.
=======================================
http://www.eslcafe.com/korea/index.cgi?read=132710143270
Pagoda Foreign Language Inst.
Posted By: Ian Long - [email protected]
Date: Thursday, 19 September 2002, at 12:10 p.m.
Just a word to the wise regarding this large and well-established employer of English teachers. This company may change the conditions of your contract, change the expectations stipulated in your contract, fire you without warning or reason, or fail to pay you money they owe you after they decide to fire you. In my case they did all of the above, even though I had worked for them for just under 4 years.
I would not recommend that anyone accept a contract from this company. There is no mutual respect, and no level of trust should be given them. If they were located in another country I would take them to court.
=======================================
http://www.eslcafe.com/korea/index.cgi?read=132710143332
Re: Pagoda Foreign Language Inst.
Posted By: scotty C
Date: Thursday, 19 September 2002, at 9:10 p.m.
In Response To: Pagoda Foreign Language Inst. (Ian Long)
and that's a fact...the Pag is becoming just like all the other 'bad' hogwans, probably end up being much worse if things proceed as they have been over the past short while...that's why they prefer innocent, naive, young teachers who don't know when they're being shafted....or who might know but are afraid to take action.
=======================================
http://www.eslcafe.com/korea/index.cgi?read=132710143423
Re: Pagoda Foreign Language Inst.
Posted By: Sanbon Pagoda Vet - [email protected]
Date: Friday, 20 September 2002, at 1:53 p.m.
In Response To: Pagoda Foreign Language Inst. (Ian Long)
Hi! Whilst working for the Sanbon Pagoda, I noticed that the woman who ran things, Mrs. Kim, was often quite touchy for no apparant reason at all. She also put us up in a cockroach infested apartment which took more than a couple of days to disinfest. All in all, Sanbon wasn't so bad but you could really do better than this school.
=======================================
http://www.eslcafe.com/korea/index.cgi?read=132710143514
Pagoda Foreign Lang. Inst.
Posted By: Ian Long - [email protected]
Date: Sunday, 22 September 2002, at 11:49 p.m.
For those teachers thinking of accepting a contract from this company, think again. It is a large company, with a good reputation in S. Korea; however; that doesn't seem to deter the company from treating its foreign teachers very poorly. This company likes to promote that they have teachers who are a cut above, but they treat those same teachers like garbage. Beyond the subtle disrespect, and disdain; they don't shy away from failing to pay their teachers, firing them for nothing at all, removing taxes to which they are not entitled, and I could go on forever. After almost four years of working for them I could spend the next year telling you things done to others or myself. When choosing a school to teach at, JUST SAY NO to Pagoda.
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http://www.eslcafe.com/korea/index.cgi?read=132710143694
Re: Pagoda
Posted By: emery
Date: Tuesday, 24 September 2002, at 3:25 a.m.
the Pag is becoming just like all the other 'bad' hogwans, probably end up being much worse if things proceed as they have been over the past short while...that's why they prefer innocent, naive, young teachers who don't know when they're being shafted....or who might know but are afraid to take action. |
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ZUL
Joined: 15 Jul 2004
Location: Cloud 9
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| Posted: Sun Jul 18, 2004 9:54 pm Post subject: Good Recruiter |
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| You might want to check out footprints. They are very professional and have positions avail virtually whenever you want. |
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Zenpickle
Joined: 06 Jan 2004
Location: Anyang -- Bisan
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| Posted: Tue Jul 20, 2004 4:06 am Post subject: |
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| Yeah, I've heard repeated good things about Footprints. Besides them, I'm wary of recruiters. I went from dealing with recruiters in the IT industry to dealing with them in this one, and I continually get reinforced with my notion that recruiters are the sleazy used car salesmen of any industry. |
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tomwaits
Joined: 05 Feb 2003
Location: PC Bong
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| Posted: Tue Jul 20, 2004 9:01 am Post subject: |
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HEH HEH  |
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Aidge
Joined: 15 Jul 2004
Location: CA
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| Posted: Tue Jul 20, 2004 2:07 pm Post subject: I've liked recruiter |
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| I've been working with Teachcorps - look up their website. They do everything for you, and supposedly provide ongoing support. |
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