Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Fat-Elvis]

kind of a long post. you can skip down to the questions if you want.


After a lot of back and forth between whether to teach in Japan or Korea, I've decided on Korea, mostly because of my money situation and the supposed ease of landing a job.

Anyway, I've gotten some good advice as far as what to look for in general and a couple reputable schools to look into, but I still need more information.


First, my relevant personal/background info:

26 yr old white American male
BA in art history from University of Wisconsin, Madison
no teaching experience/certs

I'm looking to start a job in August-October. If I had to start later in the year for a guaranteed great job, I could maybe wait if it was worth it (like guaranteed great apartment/location and good salary at a good, reputable school).



What I'm looking for and hope to get as far as the job, benefits, etc.:

- Seoul

- More than 2.0 million a month

- I want decent/good money, but I'd take decent hours and a two day weekend over an extra 0.3million a month or whatever.
So basically, easy going and decent pay > tight-asses and better pay

- at least a decent apartment and located near a subway stop....I'll be living in a city with a first-class subway system, I don't wanna be stuck taking the subway AND bus every day. So, apartment quality and proximity to subway stop is more important than being "close to stuff"

- no real preference as far as teaching kids or adults, but some adults would be nice

- at least two weeks vacation, preferably paid I would like to travel to Japan and maybe elsewhere

- free or heavily subsidized apartment

- free flight there or reiumbursment

- would like to avoid shady schools or schools with a reputation for F'ing over teachers

- mostly looking to make some money (big reason why I chose Korea over japan) and have a good time, enjoy the nightlife and city life, have fun. Yes I'm aware of all the horror stories and so on.



So, my questions:

1. Any particular schools I should be looking into? Is applying to random and possibly crappy schools too risky? Pay/benefits is a real issue because a) I want to have a good time, and b) I've got a some debt to pay off. So I need to make money!

2. The schools that were recommended to me by someone are CDI, Pagoda, Epik, and CECN. He said CECN had great benefits and pay, but may only accept Canadians; I also can't find any english website or anything. Also said Pagoda is good but very profit driven and kinda strict. I looked into CDI which looks good but only one week vacation..?! Any of this info about these schools off at all? Any better schools to look into?

3. ^ Those are "Hagwons", right? I don't know whether to apply to a Hagwon or public school!!! So confused. It seems everybody has a different opinion on Hagwon vs public schools salaries, working conditions, etc. Which is more likely to have you working all sorts of odd extra hours?

4. My college GPA kinda...sucked. I see that some schools require you to show them a transcript. Will this affect anything?

5. At what point do you usually find out where your apartment will be? I'd really like to be near a subway stop and in a decent area.

6. Should I really not bother with a certification? What about looking into volunteering or something at a local ESL school?

7. Any tips on what to say in resumes/cover letters for companies that ask for them?

Thanks =)

[Bibbitybop]

For SMOE (Seoul public schools) you might get in with a BA, but there's a good chance you won't. Get the TEFL, even one through ITTT or other online program, to improve your chances.

You won't find out where you will be working or living until you get here and leave orientation, unless you get in contact with your school. You might be able to negotiate some things like location, but you should always get that in writing. With only a BA, they may not play that game.

[Ezra555]

Just a quickie about the above post. Will SMOE negotiate? Will taking a not-so-great-but-still-up-there certification like Oxford (60 hours) allow you to negotiate salary (or is it only 100+)? I had the impression the SMOE payscale was a take or leave situation.

Thanks!

[Mr. BlackCat]

Man, I just spent half an hour writing a detailed response to this post but when I went to submit, it just sent me to an error page and it was lost.

I'm sorry man, I'm not doing it again right now. I have time to kill here, but not that much. Good luck anyway. I think you should use the search function for many of your questions, though.

[Bibbitybop]

[Cerriowen]

[Fat-Elvis]

thanks guys.

[ttompatz]

Reputable and hakwon are 2 words that should never be put together in the same sentence.

Clear up some myths.

a 30 hour per week job in a hakwon means a "30 hours" in front of the class. With a poorly worded contract (common here) that could be as little as 30*40 minute classes (unlikely) to 30*50 minute classes (common) to 30*60minutes in front of a class (45*40 minute classes).

Most schools have you scheduled so you spend at least an hour or 2 at your desk each day in addition to your class time. 40 hours per week (or often more) in the building is common in a hakwon.

For the same 2 million as a public school teacher you WILL be scheduled to be in the building for 8 hours per day (8:30-4:30). You will be contracted to teach 22 classes of 40(elementary), 45 (MS), or 50 (HS) minutes duration.

IF you are in the elementary system (most likely since they outnumber the other 2 combined by a factor of 3-1) you will probably have to write out 4 lesson plans per week (G3,4,5,6). You will have a book and fixed curriculum to work from as your base.

You get paid extra for all classes after your contracted 22. You will still finish at 4:30 and go home. Evenings, weekends are yours. 4-6 weeks contracted paid holidays (depending on which system you are in and if you renew your contract).

MYTH BREAKING -
There are lots of openings in the public school system.
You CAN get a job with just a BA (even in Seoul).
Your salary does go up annually AND you get additional increases for professional development (TESOL cert, MA, etc.)

GEPIK starts at 2 mil and depending on the school you can earn substantially more.

BASE = 2 mil. + 14 WORKING days holidays/
+ 100k for TESOL cert
+ 100k for classroom experience
+ 100k AND +5 days holidays for rural school (doesn't matter where your house is)
+20k per supplimental class (above your 22 and still during work hours).

My co-worker who was a green as grass, fresh of the boat newbie got (in her first year) a base salary of 2.1 mil per month for 22 classes of 40 minutes each.
She gets 20k won for each 40 minute class over 22 per week and works from 8:30-4:30 each day. She usually averages 26 classes per week and her salary works out to about 2.5 mil per month + full benefits AND last year she had 6 weeks vacation on the beach (as per the standard GEPIK contract).

.

[Fat-Elvis]

Thanks. So any tips on applying to public schools? Or just look around and apply to a bunch?

[ttompatz]