Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Stephen McNeill]

I would like to write a recommendation for the recruiter I used to come to Korea. You're going to love this story, though it is a bit long... trust me... take the time to read it:

I lived and worked in China as an English teacher for five years and even recruited several teachers myself, so I know how tough the job can be.

Alistair Weary, of Korean Horizons, got me a job with a government public school down in Ulsan, Korea (the education office down there did help me to find another job, so don't shy away from the area, just the school - the school's name is Hwajin, in Bangeojin, Ulsan - work for them at your own peril).


I arrived on a Friday evening in Busan, was picked up at the airport by Alistair, and driven to my apartment where my co-teacher was waiting... tapping her foot with this pissed off look on her face because we were late (like it was my fault my plane was grounded in Japan due to weather). The co-teacher said Hello, gave me a key, and left. I did not see her again until Monday morning. From Friday night until Monday morning, I had very little money (banks are closed on weekends, unlike China), not even a cup, bowl, or spoon in the house, no chair, no sheets, nothing. I couldn't even get the hot water to work, so I had no shower, either. The apartment was completely bare. I tried to go for a walk and got lost trying to find a store to buy some things. I was lost for more than two hours. I had no phone, no phone numbers to call anyway, and knew no one.

On Monday my co-teacher picked me up and took me to school, and things just got worse. She went to my classes with me and just stood there, arms crossed, offering no assistance at all. She had told me that I needed to prepare two handouts for each class, which I did, and once I passed them out and asked a 15-year-old student to read #1, I was met with silence. The co-teacher just stared at me, with a slight grin, eyebrows raised, and arms still folded. Minutes went by. I asked another student to read #1. Still nothing. More minutes went by, and the co-teacher finally spoke up and said, "They can't read." This handout was so basic a 9-year-old could do it. I was floored. "They are in high school, for heaven's sake," I said. She said, "I told you they were lower level," to which I replied, "Yeah, lower level 15-year-olds!" I mean, there is a difference, you know? I knew she was setting me up to fail, but why, I could never really figure out.

One kid was acting up in class, and she balled up her fist and side-armed him in the back. Wow. I was shocked. I saw some kids hit in China, but they were just smacks... nothing painful. She hit this kid with all her might. I walked back and pointed at the door. "You can just get out of here," I told her.

The week went on, and each day was as bad or worse than the first. I began to document her outrageous behavior, including the fact that she told the other teachers, both Korean and foreigners, that she thought I was gay! Me. With three kids. OMG. I still get angry when I remember that week.

One day the banter got so bad, I went to the vice-principle, and he did nothing about it other than to tell me to get back to work, so I went off on him, the co-teacher, and everyone within shouting distance.

Hehe, needless to say, I got fired, and maybe at that point I deserved it, but I was past the breaking point. I am not joking. Even after five years in Asia, I felt I had landed on some surreal planet. But, because I had documented the whole thing, and had other foreign teachers who promised to give me handwritten and signed testimonials against the school to back me up, the head of the education bureau took my side and eased my way into another job in another province, offering her sincere apologies for the behavior of her employees.

Within two hours of being fired, Alistair was there (he lives in another province). He picked me up and took me to my apartment and started making phone calls while I packed to go back to America. The answer would not come until the next day, so he stayed the evening in town and got me good and drunk, and even loaned me somewhere in the vicinity of $300 to hold me over until I could get paid. (Later, after getting into my new job, that money ran out and he loaned me even more.)

And get this... here in my new job, the education office has selected me out of all the teachers here to go to Seoul in January to collaborate on next year's official English textbooks. I also just won third prize in a teaching contest for the entire province.

So, I meant to sing Alistair's praises, but maybe came across singing my own more than I should have, but Alistair recognized that I am a good guy, an experienced teacher, and he did EVERYTHING he could to get me out of a bad situation. He even loaned me money... I know I already said that, but jeez, who would do that these days? Think about it.

You want a job in Korea? You cannot go wrong, and you cannot do any better than to trust your wellbeing, your work, and your happiness, with Alistair Weary of Korean Horizons. http://www.koreanhorizons.com/

Y'all tell 'im Steve sent ya. Also ask him if he's ever going to play pool with me again... hehe.

[wesharris]

This is a recruiter posting. Alistair honestly does not do that good of a job. I was not impressed.
-=-
Wes

[agoodmouse]

The thing that bothers me about Korea Horizons is that the company doesn't post specific jobs, only the general descriptions for SMOE and others.

[losing_touch]

Hwa Jin Middle School is across the street from me =)

[TheUrbanMyth]

[Stephen McNeill]

No, this is not a recruiter posting. Allistair did not ask me to post this. I did it on my own. I stand by my recommendation, and I am an experienced teacher in Asia.

With all due respect, you are making and voicing assumptions without stating any evidence one way or the other.

I related my experience of having Allistair go over and above his duties in assisting me in changing schools. That is a fact, not an assumption.

As for you who didn't have such a good experience with KoreanHorizons, I feel sorry about that. Did you do anything to keep a relationship going, or did you cease communications with Allistair? Perhaps if you'd drop him a line and let him know how things are going. He's really a nice guy.

Have a good day, all.

steve

[Stephen McNeill]

[Stephen McNeill]

[losing_touch]

[losing_touch]

If you are still in this neck of the woods, I would like to hear about teaching in China if you are up for a beer sometime.....

[Stephen McNeill]