Korean Job Discussion Forums

[laoshihao]

I am an ESL teacher with five consecutive years of experience teaching in China to levels from primary to high school within the same school system. I have a BA, but I do not have TOEFL/TOESL or any of the other certifications. I am a native speaker from America. I'm wondering what kind of salary I should expect to be offered from schools/hagwons in the Seoul area? I know many sites list 1.8-2.3 million won. Should I expect more? Some people have said my teaching experience in China won't count for much in Korea. Also, if a school does not offer housing how much should be offered for a housing allowance and is it normal for them to provide key money? Is there a limit on the number of hours you can legally be expected to work each day? Each week? Thanks!

[jadarite]

Don't take a job offer which doesn't have housing in it, unless you are willing to make connections and pay the key money (which can be a few thousand American dollars).

Hours vary. I suggest you not take anyone's number here as a guide because it is all relative to what you agree to in the contract.

Either post a contract when you get one you like or use common sense when comparing contracts. If you look at enough contract offers (and you should), you'll see what hours are being offered where and which schools would be screwing you.

[TBirdMG]

Lao,

You may find that your Chinese experience doesn't 'translate' well in terms of immediate salary. The reality for most teachers trying to arrange their 1st job from abroad is challenging: you're being judged primarily on photo appearance and status of degree.

The good news is that once you're in-country, can present face-to-face, and prove to be a decent teacher, opportunities surface.

Knowing Chinese will be of some benefit to some employers, and will get your foot in the door to corporate/university positions.

As far as housing goes, any decent position will provide either accommodation (varying degrees in terms of quality and furnishings) or a housing stipend. The stipend for urban areas should be a minimum of 400-500k won if the institution is willing to help you with key money, and 600,000+ if not.

Good luck,

TB

[PRagic]

2.3 plus housing would be maxing out, I'd say. Hakwons don't generally give a hoot about experience, especially if that experience was gained outside of Korea.

Why not go for a public school job?

[laoshihao]

From the things I've read teaching at a public school in Korea doesn't seem that much different than what I'm working with now: 40 students in a class, dog tired from endless rounds of teasting, not saying much because the local teachers don't like to hear them speak except for repeating whatever was just said, most of them not caring about the class because it's required and not a choice, using class time to sleep, etc. The only difference I think I can see is that it sounds like our Chinese coteachers may treat us better than Korean coteachers. Also, if the students aren't in school we are never required to be in school. We actually get more time off than they do. I will miss the amount of vacation time we get in China, but I will enjoy having a salary that actually means something when I take it home.

BTW, TBird, I don't actually speak Chinese that well. It never really caught my attention. Plus, most of my Chinese friends speak to me in English. My best friend's accent is so good people are always asking her if she's American. I do not have this problem with Korean. I go to Korean restaurants here and know what to order based on the Hangeul printed next to the Chinese. It took me longer to learn the Chinese names for the dishes than it did the Hangeul.

[Zaria32]

My hogwon offers a wonderful apartment, 2.4 and has a job available...

[laoshihao]

Is your hagwon in Seoul? Neither Beijing nor Shanghai offer the amenities that Seoul does. My friend and I visited Seoul last month and we were like starry-eyed kids in a candy store seeing all the goods and the variety of foods Seoul has to offer.

[ttompatz]

Not meaning to sidetrack you too much but unless you have worked here before (prior E2) you MAY have to go back to your HOME COUNTRY for your consular interview and to get your first work visa.

If you can document your work history (classroom experience) it will be accepted here in the public school system.

PS classroom experience here is mostly NOT like China. There is seldom any testing of English at any level (elementary to HS) and there are no marks handed out. Students have 2 choices, pass or pass. There is no fail in English until the University entrance exams.

Classes in the big cities can be large (and you should have a co-teacher in the class with you) but in the smaller PS schools they can be as small as a hakwon and more fun to teach (you don't have to keep mom happy to keep little Minsu enrolled).

.

[Tiger Beer]