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Korean Job Discussion Forums
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Mpark
Joined: 08 Jun 2009
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 Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2009 10:18 am Post subject: Offered a Job with SMOE - TEFL for first time - HELP!! |
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Hi,
I've recently been offered a job as an esl teacher in Seoul with the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education. My first ESL job, been working in finance for four years and lord I need a change!! Has anyone else worked for the SMOE at any stage? I've been browsing the forums but can't seem to find any experiences from anyone who's worked for them. What they're like, are they easy to contact, do they answer queries etc?
Also does anyone know what schools are like with giving vacation? I'm going over for a September start date but I'm going to have to come home at the start of December for a week for a family wedding. Are they ok with giving vacation within the first three months employment?
Also any other info you can give about living in Seoul (that I'm sure you've already given to a thousand other first timers!!) would be very much appreciated.
Thanks. |
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afsjesse
Joined: 23 Sep 2007
Location: Kickin' it in 'Kato town.
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| Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2009 2:21 pm Post subject: |
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I work for EPIK (English Program in Korea), SMOE is essentially the same thing. I've heard they are very disorganized like most things here. Also a lack of willingness to help in issues, but I could be wrong.
You do get vacation time, perhaps you could make a deal with your school to take it early? If not, then you SOL.
Suerte,
J. |
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pjmancktelow
Joined: 07 Oct 2007
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Sun Jun 14, 2009 4:21 am Post subject: |
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| im about to start in september myself. i am already working in korea in a hogwan job that as far as hogwans go is pretty good. but its still bad. i just got the contract from SMOE a few days ago, compared to the hogwan it is wonderful. they allow 7 days of your holiday in the first 6 months it think (dont quote me). im not sure when you would get that holiday, i think from talking to my friends who work in public schools, it wouldnt be easy to take it during the term. guess you could ask them however. |
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hamlet712
Joined: 16 Mar 2007
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| Posted: Sun Jun 14, 2009 6:04 am Post subject: Re: Offered a Job with SMOE - TEFL for first time - HELP!! |
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| Mpark wrote: |
Hi,
I've recently been offered a job as an esl teacher in Seoul with the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education. My first ESL job, been working in finance for four years and lord I need a change!! Has anyone else worked for the SMOE at any stage? I've been browsing the forums but can't seem to find any experiences from anyone who's worked for them. What they're like, are they easy to contact, do they answer queries etc?
Also does anyone know what schools are like with giving vacation? I'm going over for a September start date but I'm going to have to come home at the start of December for a week for a family wedding. Are they ok with giving vacation within the first three months employment?
Also any other info you can give about living in Seoul (that I'm sure you've already given to a thousand other first timers!!) would be very much appreciated.
Thanks. |
1) You are not working for SMOE, you work for your school. SMOE is yur employer, but other than enforcing the contract and telling you when you have to atend certain meetins they have nothing to do with you after you get your school posting.
2) some people have had great experiences before they get to the school, others have terrible experiences. You have to do a 5 day orientation when you get here ( or you should do it anyway, like we did in March) its boring and you are treated like a prisoner. However if you are new to Korea it can be a useful educational expericnce, if you are a long timer in KOrea and married to a Korean ( like me) then its pretty pointless for at least 3 of the 5 days, and you can make an argument for the 4th.
3) Unless you have a really nice boss who is willing to give you the time off you WILL NOT be able to make the wedding, so to say that you "have to" go back home is a bit of a misnomer. YOu get to take your vacation at two times in the year and thats its. (3rd week of July to end of August, or 3rd week in December to end Of January. AND you still may not get the days you want at this time either because you are REQUIRED to teach 3 weeks of summer camp, and 3 weeks of winter camp that may or may not be scheduled with your input
EVEN IF your boss in nice it is unlikely that SMOE is going to sign off on it, seeing as though school is still in session. SMOE is the one that signs off on the vacation dates, they dont sign off then you dont go.
So i would plan on not making that wedding, and if you have ANY PLANS of not cancelling you had better get a hold of someone at SMOE and get it in writing that you can take the week off.
That being said they do answer all queries in a timely manner, and they are pretty friendly.
I LOVE my school and my partner teachers, ive got some great kids and the classoom is very new and overhauled. And my principals love me and are very fair and giving with me, but I also give a whole lot to the school, including a kick ass work ethic and excellent teaching
my SCHOOL is a great place to work, but many people working within the SMOE board are not so lucky, get small cramped apartments, and no help with finding a new one.
So anyway Its like Any other job here, some are good, some are bad, most are somewhere in between. you can not beat the hours or the overtime incentives. There are many after school programs ( which run during your contract hours anyway) where you can supplement your income.
but again, the odds of you being able to make that wedding when you only start in September are slim to none |
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JJJ
Joined: 27 Nov 2006
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Sun Jun 14, 2009 6:16 pm Post subject: |
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| Good luck with that. |
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