Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Cathy OB]

Hi, I'm looking at coming to Korea to work and would appreciate some general information on what's a good teaching job. So what are the pros and cons of private language schools, public middle or high schools, and English Villages such as Incheon English Village?

Also, how do you get into teaching SAT, IELTS, etc?

Can anyone recommend a good job or recruiter?

Thanks a bunch

[PRagic]

You could find all of the answers to these questions in the FAQs, but what the hell...

1) Public school jobs are better than hakwon jobs
a) More vacation
b) Looks better on a resume no matter what you do in the future

2) English Villages are a joke. Avoid, avoid, avoid.

3) You get into teaching test prep the same way you get into teaching anything else here, you either know someone who can get you into it, or you answer an ad.

4) Nobody recommends 'good jobs' on the board. You have to do your own homework. Many people ask whether or not such-and-such hakwon is reputable, but remember that there are thousands of schools in Korea. You have to be very, very specific, and odds are you still won't get a clear cut answer. Odds are, though, you will get input as to whether or not the location is decent. It helps if you have good qualifications in ESL and experience if you want to do IELTS and, again, it helps if you know someone who can hook you up. Kiss your weekends goodbye, though. To each their own.

5) As for recruiters, use them all. Start a new e-mail account to handle the communications with them (I can't take credit for that suggestion, but it was a good one and came from someone on Dave's). Know what you want and don't be pressured into making a decision to choose something that strays too far away from your desired job and location. Recruiters work for employers, not you; they want you on the plane so that they can get paid.

[lifeinkorea]

I agree with PRagic, but it depends on your goals. An English Village is not that bad if you are in between wanting a serious job and not really wanting one. You might want to test the waters and do a summer thing if you can, and if it doesn't work out, then get a public school job in the Fall.

I would say 1-2 years of the English Village jobs is the most you'll want to do.

[Toon Army]

learn to use the search function!.....and as the above poster said, go for a public school job. Far more stable and safe in terms of being paid on time, having your benefits paid etc. Slightly lower base pay if you're a newbie but less hours, more holidays and you can potentially make more by doing an afterschool program with the school.

[AussieGav]

Pretty good advice in both the above posts. You also have to ask yourself some questions like. What sort of lifestyle you want? What hours you want to work? How important is a little extra money compared to relative security and payment on time etc?

I would always recommend public schools over hagwons, having worked in both. But, there are a lot of posters on here that do have good hagwon jobs. Do plenty of research because at the end of the day it is your decision and only you have to live with it. Good luck though. Teaching and Korea in general can quite rewarding although difficult at times.

[wylies99]