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smartwentcrazy
Joined: 26 Feb 2009
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 Posted: Tue Apr 28, 2009 8:45 pm Post subject: Questions from a prospective teacher! |
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Hey everybody. I'll be receiving my degree in September, and I've been planning on teaching in Korea after I graduate, so I have a couple questions if anyone could help me out!
1. Can anyone recommend me a solid recruiting programs/agencies for public schools? I plan on working on a public level, and although I'd be open to working in a hagwon, I feel I could get the most out of my experience in Korea by teaching public. Can anyone recommend me a legitimate agency that I should work with?
2. I've been told by my professor to search for positions situated in the higher-income areas, for obvious pay and living benefits. I would like to work in Gangnam, so is there anybody here that works/worked in Gangnam? If so, can you recommend me some schools? (Particularly those that are hiring in September)
3. It seems there is a negative stigma attached to gyopos in Korea, and ironically, I am a gyopo that is looking to teach English. My question is, do schools prefer those who look 'American' or white? Will my status as being a Korean-American benefit or hinder my possibilities of employment? What should I take into account as a gyopo teaching in Korea?
I understand that these are some in-depth questions, and I'm not trying to make any of you do my homework, but I'm just trying to gather as much information as possible before I depart for Korea. I've looked at these forums daily and have been browsing the jobs section on Dave's, but I figure some extra insight from current/former teachers couldn't hurt. I appreciate your help, thanks! |
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afsjesse
Joined: 23 Sep 2007
Location: Kickin' it in 'Kato town.
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| Posted: Tue Apr 28, 2009 9:22 pm Post subject: Re: Questions from a prospective teacher! |
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| smartwentcrazy wrote: |
Hey everybody. I'll be receiving my degree in September, and I've been planning on teaching in Korea after I graduate, so I have a couple questions if anyone could help me out!
1. Can anyone recommend me a solid recruiting programs/agencies for public schools? I plan on working on a public level, and although I'd be open to working in a hagwon, I feel I could get the most out of my experience in Korea by teaching public. Can anyone recommend me a legitimate agency that I should work with?
ESL PLANET. I believe the website is www.eslplanet.com , the owner is Rowan and he is a GREAT guy and will help you well after you are finished doing business with him.
2. I've been told by my professor to search for positions situated in the higher-income areas, for obvious pay and living benefits. I would like to work in Gangnam, so is there anybody here that works/worked in Gangnam? If so, can you recommend me some schools? (Particularly those that are hiring in September)
In Public Schools, the rich areas and bigger cities pay the least. Busan/Incheon start at 1.8 million won. However Privates, although illegal, do offer the most in richer areas.
3. It seems there is a negative stigma attached to gyopos in Korea, and ironically, I am a gyopo that is looking to teach English. My question is, do schools prefer those who look 'American' or white? Will my status as being a Korean-American benefit or hinder my possibilities of employment? What should I take into account as a gyopo teaching in Korea?
Being a Gyopo has good and bad things attached to it. Lots of hagwons/schools really want blond hair/blue eye people working for them. However because you are Gyopo they will identify with you on a more personal level. Other's can comment more on this as this is not my specialty.
I understand that these are some in-depth questions, and I'm not trying to make any of you do my homework, but I'm just trying to gather as much information as possible before I depart for Korea. I've looked at these forums daily and have been browsing the jobs section on Dave's, but I figure some extra insight from current/former teachers couldn't hurt. I appreciate your help, thanks! |
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afsjesse
Joined: 23 Sep 2007
Location: Kickin' it in 'Kato town.
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poeticjustice
Joined: 28 Feb 2009
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| Posted: Tue Apr 28, 2009 9:35 pm Post subject: Re: Questions from a prospective teacher! |
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Congratulations on graduating! It's a big step.
My answers to your questions are in bold.
| smartwentcrazy wrote: |
Hey everybody. I'll be receiving my degree in September, and I've been planning on teaching in Korea after I graduate, so I have a couple questions if anyone could help me out!
1. Can anyone recommend me a solid recruiting programs/agencies for public schools? I plan on working on a public level, and although I'd be open to working in a hagwon, I feel I could get the most out of my experience in Korea by teaching public. Can anyone recommend me a legitimate agency that I should work with?
I'm not really sure. I went to my school directly. I know that the two big agencies for Seoul are EPIK and SMOE, while the agency for Gyeonggi-do is GEPIK.
2. I've been told by my professor to search for positions situated in the higher-income areas, for obvious pay and living benefits. I would like to work in Gangnam, so is there anybody here that works/worked in Gangnam? If so, can you recommend me some schools? (Particularly those that are hiring in September)
If you live in a higher-income area in Seoul, be prepared for your alottment to be somewhat contrasted. Your apartment won't be as big, you might not be paid as much and the area you live in will probably be the "slummiest" part. If you want a nice apartment in a clean area, you don't need to live in rich, nouveax Seoul. I recommend a satellite city out in Gyeonggi-do. Korea has a lot of rich-looking, clean areas everywhere, not just the famous places.
Most public school foreign teachers in Seoul live in glorified janitor's closets.
If night life/food/foreigners are important to you, though, then anywhere in Seoul will do.
3. It seems there is a negative stigma attached to gyopos in Korea, and ironically, I am a gyopo that is looking to teach English. My question is, do schools prefer those who look 'American' or white? Will my status as being a Korean-American benefit or hinder my possibilities of employment? What should I take into account as a gyopo teaching in Korea?
Anyone who judges you on the basis of this does not deserve to be your friend. Koreans will be a bit weirded out by it at first, but if anything, it will make your time more comfortable the longer you stay here because you won't be seen as a foreigner so much as heard as one. If you pick up Korean while you're here then you'll blend right in.
Be prepared for some strange questions like "you are Korean! Not American!" and some long cultural explanations from you about how "some Americans are from Korea" etc.
I understand that these are some in-depth questions, and I'm not trying to make any of you do my homework, but I'm just trying to gather as much information as possible before I depart for Korea. I've looked at these forums daily and have been browsing the jobs section on Dave's, but I figure some extra insight from current/former teachers couldn't hurt. I appreciate your help, thanks! |
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bogey666
Joined: 17 Mar 2008
Location: Korea, the ass free zone
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| Posted: Tue Apr 28, 2009 9:49 pm Post subject: |
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I 've seen plenty of job ads that SPECIFICALLY request and or want gyopos, so I do not think you should look at this as a hindrance.
IMO, it's almost always a benefit.
an exception might be if your Korean is either very poor or nonexistent. I met several gyopos at GEPIK orientation and the one guy who was having problems knew no Korean and was also a somewhat shy and sensitive type, personality wise, so he really took it hard. |
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bundangbabo
Joined: 01 Jun 2008
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| Posted: Tue Apr 28, 2009 10:07 pm Post subject: Re: Questions from a prospective teacher! |
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| smartwentcrazy wrote: |
Hey everybody. I'll be receiving my degree in September, and I've been planning on teaching in Korea after I graduate, so I have a couple questions if anyone could help me out!
1. Can anyone recommend me a solid recruiting programs/agencies for public schools? I plan on working on a public level, and although I'd be open to working in a hagwon, I feel I could get the most out of my experience in Korea by teaching public. Can anyone recommend me a legitimate agency that I should work with?
Rowans eslplanet has a good name but I went with worknplay and they helped me with a great deal after I landed here, I have also heard nothing but great reports about korvia - if you sent your resume with those three recruiters then they should be able to set you up with something decent.
2. I've been told by my professor to search for positions situated in the higher-income areas, for obvious pay and living benefits. I would like to work in Gangnam, so is there anybody here that works/worked in Gangnam? If so, can you recommend me some schools? (Particularly those that are hiring in September)
Thing about seeking placement in Gangnam is that EVERYBODY wants to live there. Good news is that the transport system is so good over here that Gangnam is not too far away and easily accessible if you live somewhere like Bundang or Seongnam. I wouldn't get too transfixed on one place for now - use this first year to feel the lie of the land and for the next year with a bit of experience under your belt - you can demand somewhere more to your taste.
3. It seems there is a negative stigma attached to gyopos in Korea, and ironically, I am a gyopo that is looking to teach English. My question is, do schools prefer those who look 'American' or white? Will my status as being a Korean-American benefit or hinder my possibilities of employment? What should I take into account as a gyopo teaching in Korea?
My opinion is Koreans tend to judge the surface to a great extent so a lot more of Korean society is going to be accessible to you outside working hours than it would be to the average waygook. However, public schools and language mills want young, white, blond haired, blue eyed Americans - if you are a female then you have won the Korean ESL lottery! I'm none of these things and have traversed this place quite well up till now though so I wouldn't worry about it too much.
I understand that these are some in-depth questions, and I'm not trying to make any of you do my homework, but I'm just trying to gather as much information as possible before I depart for Korea. I've looked at these forums daily and have been browsing the jobs section on Dave's, but I figure some extra insight from current/former teachers couldn't hurt. I appreciate your help, thanks!
Good luck with it all and when you land here - keep us posted on your progress!
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Tobias
Joined: 02 Jun 2008
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| Posted: Wed Apr 29, 2009 1:18 am Post subject: |
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| Bring something called 'Form 6166' with you. You get this from the IRS using Form 8802. |
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Some of the Mothers Said
Joined: 01 Jul 2008
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| Posted: Wed Apr 29, 2009 3:42 pm Post subject: |
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Hay. I work for a public school in Gangnam. They hire through GNUCR, and it's pretty tough to get a position. They hire once a year (face to face interview) generally, (unless someone drops out) and the pay is good. All of the teachers have had previous experience working in Korea, and have relevent degrees, TESOL etc.
GNUCR are very helpful towards the people they hire, and they do not discriminate. There are quite a few Kyopos working in Gangnam under GNUCR, so there's no problem with that.
PM me if you need further information. |
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