Korean Job Discussion Forums

[jstubley80]

Morning all!

I'm currently scouring the Korean job market for a position teaching adults, but it seems that the dreaded split-shifts are unavoidable!

Anyone landed a gig teaching more mature students and managed to dodge the AM / PM schedule? Is it even possible to do so? Would it be possible to use my qualifications (BA + MA + CELTA + other TESOL certificates) as any kind of leverage?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Cheers!

[soviet_man]

With those quals you could probably aim for the low end of the university market, and get an all daytime schedule, especially if you were ok about teaching out in the regions.

You may also keep an eye out for offbeat positngs such as: the army, navy, Korean Air, and others that have "all adult" settings and sometimes hire foreign staff for with all daytime work, often with good perks.

Over the past few years YBM ELS has probably been the largest "adult hagwon" chain as I would call it, but it is also rampant in split shifts.

But even that is not as horrific as some people would think though - you could still get a decent work/life/entertainment balance if you worked at a good branch (such as around Gangnam) and have time to shop, go to the gym, have long lunches and do some privates on the side.

[soviet_man]

With those quals you could probably aim for the low end of the university market, and get an all daytime schedule, especially if you were ok about teaching out in the regions.

You may also keep an eye out for offbeat positngs such as: the army, navy, Korean Air, and others that have "all adult" settings and sometimes hire foreign staff for with all daytime work, often with good perks.

Over the past few years YBM ELS has probably been the largest "adult hagwon" chain as I would call it, but it is also rampant in split shifts.

But even that is not as horrific as some people would think though - you could still get a decent work/life/entertainment balance if you worked at a good branch (such as around Gangnam) and have time to shop, go to the gym, have long lunches and do some privates on the side.

[cdninkorea]

Wall Street Institute has no split shifts, ever.

http://www.wsikorea.com

[jstubley80]

[Louie]

The good thing about hakwons like YBM is that after some time of teaching split shifts, they take you out of the rotation and give you either daytime or night time class schedules.

Also, the more experience you get teaching at a university in Korea, the better the jobs get....

The best advice I could say is to get your feet wet and get some experience in the system so you know the ropes before demanding a certain schedule.

[BS.Dos.]

Armed with those qualifications I'm not sure why you'd want teach adults. My experience has taught me that they're generally a pain in the ass and try to exert too much influence over proceedings in ways that younger learners don't. It's nice to have a more 'mature' conversation etc, but most adults seem to think that they know what is best for them rather than the person who's trying to teach them. Each to their own though I suppose.

I got chatting to a guy from Pohang a while back who worked at a hagwon and who taught nothing but adults. Don't think his hours were straight 9-5 as I seem to remember him saying that he had a few hours off during the day. But, he did do quite a lot of work during the day as his boss had a juicy contract at Posco Steel by all accounts and he'd have to go over and give the workers lessons.

Probably illegal what his boss was making him do and the FT never asked for any 'kickbacks' for teaching off site, something which I certainly would have done.

[jstubley80]

[darkcity]

wise to avoid the split shift. i was generally a healthy guy, could tolerate being tired and waking up early (4:30am alarm in some instances as i didn't live close to the hagwon). needless to say, the literal impossibility of having a full 7 hours sleep, as well as a screwed up eating pattern have taken a toll on my health.

[cdninkorea]

[yingwenlaoshi]

YBM and Pagoda don't pay (or don't offer) much. If you get an apartment through them, they want deposits and they tax everything. They are, however, professional. But split shifts are smelly for the salaries they offer. YBM (maybe YBM Premier) can give you a lot of OT on Saturdays at 40,000 Won per 80-minute class. Four classes every Saturday. Works out to a pretty good pay, but when you deduct everything (furniture for your apartment, tax, pension, health, etc.), you're getting about as much as an afternoon-to-evening hagwon would give you.

I said "No thanks" to YBM and Pagoda, but never thought of Wall Street Institute. What's their package?

[mnhnhyouh]

Near the end of my first hagwon gig, I went for an interview with YBM in Jongno, I didnt think I would want what they were offering, it was more for interview practice as I hadnt done a face to face for a few years.

I have a BEd, and a masters in science, two years teaching in Australia, and by then, almost one year in Korea. They offered me 2.4, with no apartment, though they would supply key money. After paying rent on a smaller than usual shoebox I would be on the same wage as my first year, but working splits as well.

I think YBM suck.

h

[Toon Army]

[Whistleblower]

[cdninkorea]