Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Big4Jerm3]

I've got a few questions for all of you veteran teachers out there:

1.Do couples typically work at the same school and/or classroom at hagwons?
2.I've read that PS's usually only employ one foregin teacher. How do PS's assign couples?
3.Are there usually a few public schools close to the couple's apartment?
4. Are most hagwons within walking distance to the teacher's apartment?
5. Do teachers typically have to take public transportation to PS jobs?

Thanks a lot,
-Jeremy and Melanie

[DongtanTony]

My girlfriend and I have almost finished our second year here.

Both contracts have been in hagwons.

1. Yes, you will typically work in the same school. Look for advertisements specifically requesting couples or mulitple vacancies. You won't work in the same "classroom," but you may teach similar students.

2. I have no idea how PS's would assign couples. My assumption...and that's all it is...is that you two would probably work in different locations...and would more than likely have different housing. You could request the same "general location," but to a Korean that means an hour's subway and/or bus commute. Be careful in your negotiations with a public school...and be very...very...very specific as to your needs.

3. Your specific school is responsible for acquiring your housing. If you go the public school route...and you work for two different schools...you'll have two different apartments. Again...you may be able to negotiate something with two neighboring schools...but again...be very...very...very specific.

Note---public schools generally do not acquire housing in advance. They will only acquire housing once they know for a fact that they have a foreigner coming to work for them. Be very...very...very specific as to your needs.

4. Most hagwons are within walking distance...many will even include that language in your contract. This is not to say that all hagwons are within walking distance. In my particular city...many hagwons acquire housing in a different district...about 20 minutes or so by bus...because housing in my district is significantly more expensive.

5. Public schools are generally the same...you may be able to walk...you may need public transportation.

Search some of the threads about couples positions, public school jobs, and hagwon jobs...you have a good starting point for questions...but you may be surprised at the information you may find...especially when considering two people, not just one.

Good luck and feel free to PM with any additional questions.

[Otherside]

A note on the public schools.
If you apply as a couple and ask for, you will get shared housing...
You will almost certainly be teaching at different schools, but often very close to eachother. I know a couple who came here and one walks about 10 minutes to the school and the other takes a bus for about 10 minutes.

Regarding public schools, you can usually request a location (the application form says something like, A. downtown/subway, B. close to school etc). for your housing. I chose to live in a busy, vibey, central area, close to all forms of transportation and commute about 30minutes to work rather than live in the 1 horse rural town my school is located in.

[TeeBee]

When you say "couple" positions, do you mean married or girlfriend/boyfriend/engaged?

If you are married, then ps positions are a nice way to go. We applied through Gepik, and asked to be placed at schools near to each other. We ended up at two different public schools in a town north of Seoul. In our contract it states that as a married couple we will get our own two bedroom apartment. We did. We both take a five minute bus ride to work in the mornings, but that's not a problem.

There was a problem finding a two bedroom place within walking distance to our schools, which is why we take the bus. But this is just the luck of the draw. They did try to find us a place closer to the schools.

I'm not sure how it would work for non-married couples. But I'm sure you can request to be placed at schools close to each other. There are plenty of schools out there looking for native teachers!

Also, with public schools you are more likely to be able to take vacations at the same time. If you both work for a hagwon, the school will likely be a bit edgy about having two of its teachers away at the same time.

[BS.Dos.]

There's a "Who loves their Hagwon?" thread kicking about in this forum at the moment. If we're lucky, someone will probably start a "Who loves their PS?" one to counter it.

Let them run for a day or two and then decide.

It should be pretty conclusive.

[Kimchieluver]

Seriously, do the PS gig as a couple. You can get shared housing and you can share lesson plans and ideas. Working at a hogwan as a couple just doubles the incentive for the hogwan director to screw you over. PS is a much safer bet and you can get nicer housing because you are only taking one apartment instead of two. Also you will have more vacation to take together, usually at the same time or withing days of each other. EPIK, GEPIK and SMOE are now hiring. Apply now.