Korean Job Discussion Forums

[yjkwak]

Hi all,

Does anyone know if it is easy to quit at a public school and get another english teaching job at another public school or hagwon

I have worked at this school in gyeongido for 4 months and am wanting to wait it out for 6 (mainly so i don't have to pay for my airfare) and was wondering firstly if my reasons for wanting to leave were legitimate

Reasons I want to change:
- IM BORED, even though some people enjoy the fact they don't work for 4 hrs a day and get paid, since im in a rural area (with no other foreign teachers that i can see) i generally have absolutely nothing to do except surf the web and watch tv from 1pm til wen i go to sleep (i prefer to work hard than not at all)
- my teacher does not speak good english at all, and i do not get along with her and the majority of the teaching staff
- my teacher does NO work whatsoever, its up to me to make all the lesson plans and prepare the lessons (which takes barely any time) whilst she just surfs the web, chats with friends and follows my lesson plan for half the class and then complains that having a foreign teacher is so annoying because she has to do this and that (i.e. fill out forms occassionally)
- the teaching material is inadequete, not only are the textbooks crap but if i want to print out actual work to do, i cant because my school doesnt like to give out ink or like new ideas, plus everything i teach the children has to be in the form of "activities or games" which results in barely english learnt as its pretty much a games class with english words and makes me feel like a babysitter rather than a teacher
- no air conditioning or heating even though its available
- im the first foreign teacher so the principal has very little empathy towards foreign teachers
- no friends in the area, closest friends are 30 mins away by subway and the majority are in seoul (i was told it would take 40mins to an hr to get to seoul by the co teacher but in reality its 1 1/2 hrs - 2 hrs)
- plus i found out after i arrived at the school that its apparently notorious for being the worst school in the area

do most people in public schools in rural areas feel this way? if so i am willing to stick out for as long as i can since most teachers seem to be able to last a lot longer

and also Questions on quitting/transferring:
- do i HAVE to give 60 days notice?
- what happens with my security deposit?
- can they force me to pay for the housing contract and bills after i leave?
- will they screw me on my pay?
- will the public school be able to stop me from getting a job at another public school or hagwon?
- would it be bad to have 6 months teaching on a resume?
- is it easy to find a new job whilst in korea?

and on a side note what happens with the 1 yr contract on my internet and tv?

i am an F4 visa gyopo in case that matters

[lifeinkorea]

If you are on an F4, I think one of us has been misinformed. My understanding is that a F visa holder can change schools after 3 months. I am only an E2 holder, so I don't know for certain. It's just what I heard recently from one lady who is.

I would contact immigration and find out. You could also start talking to recruiters and find out what they say.

As for your bills, my co-teacher called last week and asked. They told him I still had to finish my contract (for the internet), but I could use the same account when I move.

I was able to cancel the TV stuff for 3,000 won. I never watch it anyway.

[E_athlete]

how much is your salary?

From the sounds of it u have a better deal than me so far..

[lookingforworkinasia]

OP,

I'm no expert, but most of those things you listed seem to be pretty typical difficulties about living in the boonies. I have had, or currently do have, most of the same difficulties as you.

That said, I wouldn't suggest quitting if this is your first contract. I would suggest you need to find a way to use your free time more effectively rather than bail. I've been having a rather good experience (at least in regards to my employment situation) because I've attempted to enjoy the pros of living outside a major urban center rather than be dragged down by the cons.

Recently, I've been considering leaving my job as well, as the fact that my friends also live 30-40 mins away has been weighing heavily on me. But I've toughed it out and attempted to work through these problems with my school instead of immediately fleeing to an easier situation. You should try that before picking up and leaving. It sucks for students to have a revolving door that takes teachers in and spits them out too fast to really accomplish anything.

[andrewchon]

I need to calm down a bit or I'll launch into a tirade.

There.

You have it so good. You get to go home at 1pm instead of staying until 4:30. Your co-teacher doesn't interfere with your teaching. Games and activities are the way to teach in Korean elementary. You are not adapting because you want to teach the way you were taught. That's why you are not feeling like a teacher. If they don't let you print, then use a photocopier. If photocopier is not available then come up with games and activities that don't need paper. You are a university graduate, use your training to research and adapt to your condition. Find out and go turn on the air-conditioning, it's for the students' benefit. Why is an F4 treated like a foreigner? Have you not made efforts to learn Korean and customs? If not, do so. Friends? You are the newcomer, it's up to you to go and make friends. Koreans are always keen to have a teacher amongst their friends. As for the worst school in the area, just about every school is described that way in Korea because they're always comparing it to SKY universities, Gyunggi HS, and half-a-dozen of prestigious 100-year old schools. (Even though you are at an elementary). What you got is not what you imagined when you signed the contract. Fair enough, go adapt and overcome. You're not here for a free-ride. What you have is an opportunity to do things, so go do it.

[uk27]

[yjkwak]

cheers for the input so far, had a feeling that most teachers in rural areas conditions are probably the same or worse but yeh its just frustating having absolutely nothing to do until the weekends (i really really hate being bored) but if others do it i suppose i will aswell... just never realised this was going to be such a bludgy job


and not to go on a rant but andrewchon you have no idea what your talking about...

"You get to go home at 1pm instead of staying until 4:30"
when did i say i go home at 1pm? i said i have nothing to do FROM 1pm

my co teacher does interfere with my teaching because she tells me how and what im meant to teach yet doesn't actually assist... I don't have a teaching background I had no experience when i got here and i was asked from day 1 to write and complete everything in my lessons, following a korean teachers book (i don't know how i would of been able to do the lessons if i didn't know how to read korean) and its made even more frustating when the children barely learn anything which is shown when i mark their tests or conduct the tests...

"Find out and go turn on the air-conditioning, it's for the students' benefit"
....... MY PRINCIPAL DOESN"T LET ANY TEACHER USE THE AIR CON TO SAVE ELECTRICITY, EVEN IN 30+ DEGREE HEAT WITH OR WITHOUT STUDENTS IM NOT AN IDIOT EVERY OTHER TEACHER COMPLAINS ASWELL

I know Korean and i know their customs i have friends (korean and foreign) i never said i was treated like a foreigner (which has its pros and cons)

and i know it is the worst elementary in the area... ive spoken to other foreign teachers in other areas and my schools homeroom teachers and they said they have/had never heard/seen some of the stuff most of my/our students do... i have nothing against it because i understand where the students are coming from but for an unexperienced teacher it is hell because half the students ruin it for the other half who want to learn especially with on average 5-10 mins of every lesson spent with the english teacher "punishing" the children

and the main problem is that it feels too much like a free ride... i feel like ive been barely doing part time work since i got here because there is barely any work to do, especially when im used to working my arse off not being bored for most of my day thats why i was thinking more of a hagwon gig where i understand its a lot more hard work

seriously andrewchon i have no idea who you are but if you don't have anything constructive to say DONT SAY A THING im pretty sure your not the best foreign teacher to have ever arrived in korea and a role model for all foreign teachers so keep your narrow minded opinions to yourself

[Easter Clark]

[yjkwak]

[ardentis]

I dunno, it sounds like a pretty typical PS experience to me. Or at least, it sounds like mine. It's not all bad, it's not all good, whatever.

Every time I think about quitting, I realize that I'm halfway through my contract at six months, so I'm never going to have this much time left in Korea or at this school as I've already put behind me, if that makes sense. Like a few other people have said, I think sticking it out is the way to go. At least you *know* what you've got at your school. Transferring/quitting could be even *worse*...