Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Artris]

So I've searched the forum, picked out posts from the last thirty pages or so, read faqs etc. I still can't decide.

I've been offered a job:
PS - middle school
2.1 mill
22 teaching hours
25 days vacation
rural location:***-ri

The previous teacher was there for two years and left recently to teach elementary students, according to the coteacher I talked to (who was very friendly, and I think would be my 'handler' should I sign the contract). She sounded young, if that makes any difference?

I'm new to the ESL scene: I have a BS in one of the sciences and no TEFL degree. The alternative?

This job offer is 1 hour 17 minutes from my friend in Bundang. My friend is insisting that I can get better pay for similar work in Bundang and live much closer to him. He says that if all else fails, if I hate the hagwon in bundang, I could always quit and do a visa run with another hagwon in the area. The key is both he and I expect that it would have to be a hagwon job.

So do I wait and look for a hagwon job in bundang? I initially wanted to teach in a public school for both the experience and the stability: the ps contracts are very clear on what is expected, even if some of the schools don't follow them. Still, my friend has convinced me that a good hagwon job isn't nearly so hard to find as daves suggests.

Another thing to consider: my friends hours don't match with my own (if I take the PS job). He works 2-10, I work 8:30-4:30. This means that, between the distance, work hours and his girlfriend we won't see very much of eachother. I really don't know how important that is.

My greatest concern is finding a job that pays well (by the hour that is, no only if I do insane amounts of overtime) and is fair. Can I do this in bundang before, say, august? If that job doesn't work out is changing jobs really that easy? Help me decide. I've read so much on this forum, I just don't know what to think or do as regards this.

[E_athlete]

im sure you CAN get better pay in hagwons but there is a good chance you will get screwed over. The only problem i see is that you sound like you are the type that cant deal with isolation and rural areas dont have many foreigners for you to talk to.

[Zulethe]

Tell us more about your relationship with your "friend." It sounds like a little co-dependency issue is going on.

[Ukon]

Depends on where the PS job is....I assume it's GEPIK...some locations can suck balls on GEPIk...Bundang is decent and close to Seoul...

edit:

2-10 pm???? Those hours sucks...Go with the PS job....

2-10pm wouldn't be as bad in Seoul and if you like to party every night, otherwise I'd avoid it like the plague.

I hope he gets paid at least 2.6 for working 8 hours a day...chances are you will be working only 4 hours a day at the PS job(the rest of the time is yours to do whatever at work like surf the web or make lesson plans....or even shop).

[creeper1]

You look at 2.1 and quite rightly balk. Hagwon jobs just require more research. They require active questioning on your part of present and past teachers.

Bundang is a FANTASTIC location. Trust me.

I would also say there are many people here perfectly content with their hagwon job.

[Aelric]

PS, no contest. PS benefits outweigh the relatively small distance between you and your friend and the potential for being screwed over that a hagwon can and probably will do to you. Plus, that is a decent starting pay for a non-english degree with no tefl cert. The hours will be a lot more reasonable, the work a lot easier, the people sound friendlier and the fact that the previous teacher stayed two years means that it must at least be an OK place to work, as if it was horrible he/she would have dropped it like a bad habit. Finally, if job satisfaction means anything to you, public school sometimes feels more futile, but sometimes you can make your own lessons instead of being a repeating parroting which makes the job suck a lot less and even show results, which is awesome.

Hagwons hate you and want you to die. An hour of distance between your friend is worth the trade.

[Artris]

Thanks. I've decided to go with the PS job and pick up a motorcycle once I get to Korea. This will give me something to do when I have time off AND will pay off down the road once I learn how to ride (less travel time).

Ultimately I decided on the PS job because my recruiter has been so great to me and I already told her yes. That combined with a school that kept its previous teacher for two years, and I'm psyched.

[matthews_world]

[NightSky]