Korean Job Discussion Forums

plus99 · Joined: 30 Dec 2007

im curious what our actual bargaining power is. this would obviously come down to the basics, supply and demand. does anyone have any numbers on how many schools need teachers and cant get them?

or another way of looking at it: what is the time frame for new hires. how long does it take a school to find a new teacher?

these are obviously dependent on a lot of things but if there are ways of getting a better idea of some of the tendencies, i think a lot of people, especially new teachers, would be able to better handle themselves if their school is making them feel as if they have no control over their situations. its an easy trap to fall into for a person in a new career and a new country.

Fresh Prince · Joined: 05 Dec 2006 Location: The glorious nation of Korea

I'm sure the new tighter visa laws in addition to the devalued won will make coming to Korea a lot less attractive. If the won keeps falling in value compared to other western currencies, I'm sure a lot more people will cancel their plans to stay in Korea after their contract is finished, and it will put off a lot of people from coming.

Cheonmunka · Joined: 04 Jun 2004

What I believe:
There are often late night TV programs, like documentary items about the new English initiatives by govt, for example 1st year elementary kids having compulsory English in daily classes at schools from next year and of course the one about immersion English in all public schools for maths etc. That sort of stuff. It's worrying average income type parents a lot. You know, the parents who don't have much means and are rarely seen on TV. It worries those people. Soon, their kids will be tested in English. Not just math and 국어.
I believe that well experienced career ESL teachers are in serious demand. There is a vital need for effective programs. The only problem is, I think, government sponsored schemes like Gepik don't really cover much ground.
It's vital if there is to be progress in English it has to be system-wide. Having a native English teacher in schools is a very good thing. But, are they utilised well?
There is still a culture whereby moneyed students learn English very well, (often by attending 1 million+ won per month kindergartens) but average income families struggle.
I know an eight year old neighborhood boy, SangHyok. His parents can't afford any English instruction for him. Dad is an electrician on 2.2 per month. What the heck are SangHyok's test scores going to be as he progresses thru school. Even if he becomes very good at math, for example, well, math taught in Korean that is, in the end he won't be attending a decent university or one at all because he has little knowledge of English. What will his low English test scores do for his GPA?
Some parents think the English initiate is going to hurt their kids.
Because it is here, it's vital we help make good programs to help the kids. The kids will need something better than what is available now. Parents feel the need. Korean teachers who will be teaching English????? will have to pull finger. (I know an English teacher at public school who has never been out of the country. You know, she misinterprets a lot of what I say. She has to learn and then use English better otherwise her students will fail. I think she doesn't realise that yet.)
So yeah, you, and good teachers are and will be in demand. It might seem that you are not because managers etc can't see beyond their own arseholes, but you are in demand because these kids are struggling. I think good teachers can make a difference. But shit, the bureaucracy may not even recognize them.

That's why I have nothing to do with government plans in my work.
It's like catch-22 isn't it?

PRagic · Joined: 24 Feb 2006

Highly qualified and experienced university level instructors who can teach future teachers are in demand, and will continue to be in demand.

Primary and secondary level teachers with degrees in education, certification and experience are in demand and will continue to be in demand.

Foreign Ph.D.s in just about any dicipline are in demand, and will continue to be in demand.

People coming off the plane to work at kiddy and adult institutes to get their international experience bragging rights and pay off their student loans are seldom in a position to take advantage of any perceived demand, mostly because the perceived supply is, and has always been, greater.

Seriously, people, if you plan on coming over for a year or two, just do your work, make your coin, and return. Enjoy.

mrsquirrel · Joined: 13 Dec 2006

agoodmouse · Joined: 20 Dec 2007 Location: Anyang

I grade my high school students in my English conversation class. I work for GEPIK. The grades I can give them, however, are limited within the range of 7 to 10 points, as a result of a decision by the Ministry of Education. That's right: if a student does nothing, the lowest grade I can give him/her is a 7.

A the end of each semester, a student's grade in my class is figured into his/her other English class grade. On the one hand, I despise the relatively miniscule effect my class has on a student's grade; on the other hand, life in Korean high school is sad for students, they have never been asked to actually speak the English they've learned in class, and university admission -- especially as it affects my students at my quite selective academic high school -- bears much stress and too much of a lifelong impact on their future lives in Korea for me to justify having large sway over their grades in a class which I'm in my second year of teaching, and which Korean students are completely unaccustomed to.

To give you an idea, here's how it works in real numbers:

83 (English grammar)
7 (my English Conversation)
= 90

70 (English grammar)
7 (my English conversation)
= 77

90 (English grammar)
10 (my English conversation)
= 100

mrsquirrel · Joined: 13 Dec 2006

^ So basically it's worth squat as well.

Shame.

I was thinking about this this morning.

I reckon that even with a foreign teacher in every classroom all day everyday in every subject with a korean co-teacher nothing would improve until they figured out how to use us properly.

Cheonmunka · Joined: 04 Jun 2004

Good points.
I have a nephew who gets confused when I say 'Hello.' Yet how the *beep* he got 650 points (a pass) in Toeic I can't figure out.

(Gosh I love the new swear filter.)

Tjames426 · Joined: 06 Aug 2006

Highly qualified and experienced university level instructors who can teach future teachers are in demand, and will continue to be in demand.

***

???

High demand?

All we see are the same crap University jobs for 2.0 million and the same harsh conditions that Hagwons offer.

I'd Like to see some professional quality in salary and conditions for the ESL professional, not same old for new whiny University grad crowd.

Are you seriously saying that there is a high demand in quality? Like where?

xingyiman · Joined: 12 Jan 2006

PGF · Joined: 27 Nov 2006

Just because there are four or five job offers does not mean that you can easily get into those jobs. The better jobs are used by multiple recruiters and sent out to hundreds of applicants. The recruiter with the most pull with a particular school then passes the job onto one of their applicants. Of course, the applicants that do not have high salary expectations are given priority.

The best way to get a high salary job is to physically be here, network, and interview at several places. I know one school near me that is super desperate for a FT because the two that were there did a runner. They are offering 2.5 . Only someone here could ever get that 2.5. What will likely happen is that someone abroad will apply, a recruiter will low ball the salary and send the fresh meat to the school and get a bonus for catching a 2.0 sucker.

In demand? Yes, but I don't see the supply of suckers shrinking so wages are going to stay the same unless you find a good job yourself and physically apply.....IMO

xingyiman · Joined: 12 Jan 2006

PGF · Joined: 27 Nov 2006

xingyiman · Joined: 12 Jan 2006

PGF · Joined: 27 Nov 2006

Yeah. There's definitely a temporary shortage right now.

On a side note, a lot of recruiters are advertising jobs that do not exist just to build up their database and then hitting guys with offers at other locations for less money. I don't know if this is a result of less available teachers from overseas or if this is business as usual. However, I did not run into this problem at all last year. This year, I've seen it three times already. These are mainly part time jobs, BTW. ....