Korean Job Discussion Forums

[LePoint]

I was offered a job at Kunpo Information Industry High School in Gunpo. I was told that I would be the first foreign English teacher that the school has ever had. Anyone had any experience popping a school's small, red fruit? Thanks in advance!

[bundangbabo]

I was told I was the first FT in my current school and it turns out there was an American chap who did a full year before me - and it took 3 months before anyone mentioned him and his existence at the school!

It shows how much they think of you when you leave.

[LePoint]

Thaks for the reply. I am wondering, if it does turn out that I am the first, what I might be expecting in terms of support from the other staff.

[Easter Clark]

The middle school next to my high school just went through their first FT. If that's any indication, you can expect them to make several "mistakes" like "forgetting" to pay your medical insurance, or telling you that you're "not eligible" for the pension scheme, depositing your paycheck only after you complain to the finance office because you get paid on a different day than the Korean teachers, or trying to follow your contract to the letter with regards to vacation and teaching load.

btw, I was informed that in the future, these schools will be referred to as "Specialized High Schools." Apparently they're trying to phase out "Technical" as it sounds, well, uneducated.

[QbertP]

I've been nearly first once and first once. My first job I was the second teacher but the first one had left mid contract. My second and current job I'm the first.

I'll give the same advice I give to anyone going to a new school. Put your best face forward. Be as flexible as you can be without breaking your back. If they want something or do something completely unresonable explain to them in as kindly a way as possible that the action is not feasible and work towards a compromise.

I recently had a major schedule snafu with my school and through calm and polite communication we were able to work out a compromise in a within the week.

Expect your staff to be nervous and not know anything about co-teaching.

Remember you are there idea of what a foreign teacher is. Don't make us look like poo.

[AussieGav]

[elavndrc]

I've heard some bad things about technical high schools but I don't know if they're really justified so...yea. I just heard that technical high schools have the worst students...

[LePoint]

I have heard, similarly, some horror stories (a term that gets bandied about so much in this world) about specialized schools. I am attempting to suss out whether that is an accurate generalization (oxymoron) or whether, like seemingly everything else in the ESL world, it goes on a school by school basis.

Thanks for the insights, everyone!

[Bigfeet]

[Yu_Bum_suk]

I was the first FT at my school and am really glad that I was. However, I would not want to be the first FT at a technical HS. Expect to set your sites very low.

[Xuanzang]

If you`re the first in a technical high school then that means the students really havent had any exposure to English education or a FT. Could be a rough ride or you could genuinely help them appreciate English. Could go either way.

[Summer Wine]