Korean Job Discussion Forums

[mai]

Hi everyone,

I could really use some advice here. I've been applying with schools directly and through recruiters for weeks. My target location is Seoul (I have friends there).

So far I've been accepted to 3:

1.) U..iwang public elementary school (2 mil won, 22 teaching hrs/wk, GEPIK). It's a satellite city of Seoul. Don't care much for the recruiter, but to his credit he is prompt. Oddly enough I wasn't even interviewed; they basically accepted me on the spot. Standard hours 8:30-4:30

2.) Yeongdeungpo-gu private school (2.2 mil won, 120 teachings hours a month). Blacklisted in 2004 on a website for withholding payments and directors using surveillance cameras in the classroom to constantly criticize teachers. Then again, that was in 2004 - Recruiter's an awesome guy and even gave me a current teacher's contact info (waiting to hear back from him on his experience). Hours are 9:30-6:30.

3.) N..ambu Edu. Center public school (2 mil won, between 23-40 teaching hours per week due to conflicting information). Blacklisted in 2009 by one reviewer for being disorganized and having only 2 hours a week in school to prepare for all the classes. Contract says they can make me work up to 40 "instruction" hours/week. Hours are 9-5.

I emailed my recruiter to clarify the hours and got this response:

"And for N..ambu education Center, '1 hour' means 40 minutes.
You will have 40 minutes 6~7 classes a day, actual teaching time is around 23 real hours.
So it means it pays more than 20,000 won per real HOUR.
Also for 2 after school classes for 15 days in a month, you will have 400,000 won extra.
I guess it's not that bad. "

The school told me to expect around 35 teaching hours and the contract says they can make me do up to 40 - I don't know what to believe.

Frankly, I don't know where to go from here. There's so many unknowns and I've been playing this game for weeks. Any advice would be immensly appreciated!

-Eric

[okayden223]

As long as you've got the contact info, #2 sounds like a decent gig. Yeoungdunpo (spelling?) is basically right in Seoul and very close to a variety of cool spots. If the current teacher doesn't flat out tell you it's no good, I'd strongly consider it.

[mai]

[alphakennyone]

None of them sound that great, especially 2) and 3) which you found on blacklists. I'd say go for 1), as it seems like a legit public school contract. I've never heard of the Nambu Educational Center but it doesn't sound like a typical public school.

As for 2), yes, it's a good spot in seoul, but 9:30-6:30 are longer hours than most. that's a 9 hour day as opposed to 8 hour days (with less teaching hours to boot) elsewhere. It does add to your fatigue over the course of a week/month. I used to teach 120 (teaching) hour months at a hagwon, but I still had an 8 hour work-day with 2 hours of prep time which was plenty.

For 1), as a legit public school under GEPIK, 22 hours should mean 22 classes, which will add up to much less than 22 actual class hours. 40 classes is A LOT! The most I've ever experienced was 28 classes at 50 min each, and that was in Japan.

[mai]

Thanks alpha, you make a great point. I'd prefer a less stressful work schedule.

However, considering EPIK and SMOE are closed for newbies at this point, I'm not sure if I could do better.

[alphakennyone]

And what about the Uiwang position? That's unavailable?

[mai]

[alphakennyone]

But you'll be out of work 2 hours earlier than the hagwon position - enough time to commute and see your friends once in awhile during the week. *shrug* it's for you to decide, but you don't sound tormented. You seem set on the hagwon job, so go for it.

[mai]

That's another good point - I could just hop on a train and be in Seoul earlier. I think the Seoul position appeals to me because of the location I'd be living in. I'd be near Sinchon and there's a lot to do there when I'm not working, but I just can't beat those hours in Uiwang. Hmm, tricky

[Scouse Mouse]

I enquired about the Nambu position and none of my questions were answered, though I was repeatedly asked to apply quickly as it was very popular

The application is very 'public-school', but the lack of answers to direct questions and the vague information given by recruiters was enough to tell me not to bother.

Between 1 and 2, it all comes down to a trade-off between vacation/hours for money/location. Decide which is most important to you and go for it