Korean Job Discussion Forums

[husky]

I've been in Korea for just over 2 years and I've worked for one really bad hagwon (I quit after 2 months) and I was messed around by a public school before my start date, so I didn't even start. I worked in another hagwon and finished the contract, but I was more of a human parrot and Quiz Master/Game Show host than a teacher and I was not happy there.

I now work in a great family hagwon and I get treated very well. I teach whatever I want and only have 4 or 5 students per class and my salary is 2.3 per month. I'm developing a curriculum for the school and I'm teaching in a style where the students love studying and learning English. I go home at night feeling good because I did something useful, and I have no stress whatsoever.

I only get 10 days for holidays per year, however, my friends who work in public schools and colleges get so many more holidays and supplement their incomes with privates. Some of them have even gone home or traveled for a month and are planning more trips. Sometimes I feel frustrated when my friends are on holiday when I still have to go to work.

I would love to travel for a month or two every year like my friends, but I love my job too....should I stay in the job I love, or risk changing jobs for a PS or college and get better holidays?

[icicle]

I guess the first thing I would say is that holidays aren't everything ... and it does really come down to what is most important to you ... I personally know myself well enough that I would prefer a job like you have which seems to give great work satisfaction over one which gave great holidays ... While it would be great to have both ... I would start with what is most important to you ...

At the same time the two might not be mutually incompatible ... If but for the holidays you would be happy to stay ... why not try and negotiate for more holidays in your next contract with them ... They might just find that if the cost of keeping you for another year is more holidays ... maybe they will be prepared to do it ... It will not hurt to ask ...

Icicle

[Yu_Bum_suk]

Could you ask for a month's leave between contracts? For sure you could find public school jobs that are much different but just as good, with much longer breaks. But if you end up at a really bad school, it will seem longer if you're constantly counting the days to your next holiday.

[matthews_world]

Ask yourself are they really your friends?

Foreigners come and go. It's difficult to count on foreign friends here since they work and then leave at their own discretions.

If you are happy at your job, why not keep it if you have no plans for your home country. If things change, then you can always give notice to your school but they probably won't be happy to hear the news.

[VanIslander]

I am leaving a great hagwon job at the end of my second year here April 25th 2008. The students are great, the director is hands off, the pay is 2.5 and there IS medical and pension paid, the apartment is a newer large two bedroom with a nice view within 10-15 minutes walk on a very quiet hillside.

I would sign on for a third year here as I did at my last great hagwon on Geoje Island except for the lack of holidays (one week summer, one week Christmas... not enough!).

It was a hard decision not to re-sign. They have only three weeks to find my replacement and whomever it will be I'll tell them they are a lucky duck.

There should be a part-time and temp hagwon English teacher service: to fill in for a few days and weeks off here and there.

[ontheway]

[Dome Vans]

I'd say that having a good work place and good conditions contributes to 70% of your happiness in Korea. You spend a lot of time there so it's the majority and the reason why you're here. If you enjoy that, it really can have an effect on your whole experience and view on Korea and Korean people. Surely that's the reason that most respectable people come to Korea for, to work?

It's no different to working back in your home country unless you're a work-shy fop, that is.

[elliemk]

I would love to correspond with you regarding your successful teaching style. Please feel free to email me at elliemk at mindspring dot com. Thanks in advance.

[Sapa]

I think you should quit....then send me the hagwon info!

[PRagic]

Here's what I heard:

1) I only make 2.3 million a month

2) I only get 10 days of vacation a year

3) I am developming curriculum for free

You can be 'happy' at any number of jobs. Sounds like you're gun shy because you got burned a couple of times. Of course they love you; you're doing a ton of work a ton of days for a low price.

Look, they may be nice, and you may love your job and have no stress. But that doesn't mean you can't improve your professional career if teaching is the road you want to follow.

Ask for 3.0 million a month and tell them you'll get your own housing. See how much love shines through, then.

[Join Me]

I would think it through carefully. Good people to work for can be hard to find in Korea and once you sign a contract you are stuck with your employer. Long vacations are great, but a month off can get boring and expensive too. If you really want that much time off, I think one person made a good suggestion. Ask if you can get a month off somehow. My employer has done this for me, but there are two of us teaching as well. The other thing I would do is at least stay where you are long enough to save up a nice pile of cash. That way if you want you could take three or four months off to really travel and still have cash left over when you start to look for a job again. If you make a mistake picking your next employer, you also have enough cash to go to another country and work. Work hard a couple years and take a nice long break every couple years. I do it and it works for me.

[Janita]

[quote="husky"]I've been in Korea for just over 2 years and I've worked for one really bad hagwon (I quit after 2 months) and I was messed around by a public school before my start date, so I didn't even start. I worked in another hagwon and finished the contract, but I was more of a human parrot and Quiz Master/Game Show host than a teacher and I was not happy there.

I have a friend who is teaching in Korea who had a similar experience to you. I haven't seen or talked to him in a while, but I heard he's doing well now. Where are you from?

[husky]

I'm from the UK. Janita = Gold Coast?

Some good advice there. I'm still in two minds about it...but probably steering towards trying to get a better deal at my hagwon and staying.

Quality of life and job satisfaction sure are important, but it doesn't stop me being bummed out when everyone I know gets Wednesday off, and I don't. It will feel like working on Christmas Day. What's wrong with having your cake and eating it? I like cake.

Don't worry....I'll take one for the team. Fighting!!!!

[Pa Jan Jo A Hamnida]

Ask yourself if you can transfer your skill set as an ESL Teacher to a career in your home country. If the answer is no then you should leave.

[Janita]