Korean Job Discussion Forums

[deboyden]

Hello! I'm a 43 year old ESL teacher and family man, hoping to take my wife (non-teaching) and two young daughters with me to South Korea for at least one year. My oldest daughter (5) will need to be placed in an international English-speaking school at a cost I can afford on my teaching salary. We are used to living on a budget in the U.S., but having said that, we'd want to save enough on the side to be able to return to the U.S. for the holidays with a bit of traveling money (beyond the return ticket promised by most employers).
So far as credentials/experience: I have a B.A. (from a Bible college) plus a 120- hour TESOL certificate and 4 years ESL classroom teaching experience at the undergrad college level (but only as an adjunct teacher; I have no M.A.), both domestically and overseas. Also, for what it's worth, I know at least a dozen native S. Koreans, most of whom were my students.
What are my prospects for supporting my family for a year in Korea--with my daughter going to an International school--and still having a bit of $ left over? Any advice on where in Korea to focus on? What sorts of schools?
Thank you massively!


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[Clockout]

You will be making somewhere in the range of $2000-2300 per month

Doesn't seem possible but that's just me.

[nomad-ish]

it doesn't seem possible to me either; i've heard international schools are expensive over here. i think you'd start off at a hagwon with about 2.5 million won with your experience. and depending on how willing you are to work overtime and (illegal) tutoring, you could possibly make upwards of 3.0 million won. that's a guess though and that would include a lot of time spent away from your family.

[SSA]

Another teacher I met in Korea had her daughter with her and told me international school was going to cost around 2 million per month.

You will also be quite restricted in terms of location in order to be within reach of an international school.

Plus as the only one working your salary will be supporting 4 people.

Maybe your daughter could be home schooled by your wife using an American system?

[Alaskaman]

The other issue is housing. They are much smaller than that in America. For you, your wife and your 2 children. The smallest thing that you could even think of is a two bedroom and many times they don't want to pay the extra money for the additional room. Supporting your family on the budget is possible, but with your child in international school that is a chunk of change. Try to get a job at an international school. 99% of the time they will allow your child to attend the school for free, minus the cost of books.

Anyway reply back if you have additional questions. I am over here with my Korean wife and almost my second child. I might have some additional information that might assist you with making your decision.

[Aelric]

Man, I hate to say this, but this is a single persons game, or at least a childless person. A couple could make it here fine but there is no way you could raise kids here on the starting salaries. Even those that stick around rarely see raises too much higher than the 3mil won range.

I mean, I have friends raising kids on less back home. You do what you gotta, but unlike there, you might have to sacrifice your child's education to make ends meet. That and I wouldn't put any kid of mine through school in this country (the middle school science teacher at my job still thinks tomatoes are vegetables and fan death is 100% fact and he looks at me like I'm the idiot).

If it were just you and your wife, no problem. But with kids, I couldn't advise it.

[deboyden]

To Clockout, Nomad-ish and SSA: thanks for the straight scoop. Needed the reality check regarding the int'l school; perhaps I can enroll her part-time to keep her progressing in her spoken English, as well as in her socialization with other kids her age, at 1.0 mil Won and totally go frugal in every other area of life there, and let my wife homeschool half-time.

Anyone out there ever been in this situation? Please keep giving me the straight scoop, even to the point of recommending a different nation to teach/live in...

Blessings.

[deboyden]

whew...now the scoop is getting straighter than I ever wanted it to get.

About my teaching ESL (or even Bible) at an international school; I have the classroom experience, but mostly in private schools and universities; I do not have a State teaching credential here in the U.S. In fact, part of the reason I'm wanting to head overseas is to avoid going $18,000 in the hole for a Master's and / or K-12 credential. It just doesn't seem to be my calling, and I know many of you out there know what I'm talking about. I've been told by many students and co-teachers that my calling is to teach (esp. ESL), but I believe I'm at my best doing it internationally. But with a family, and no Masters, where do I go? If not Korea, then....?
Thank you guys and gals!

[Teddycakes21]

[Teddycakes21]

[nomad-ish]

^ i believe you need a home country teaching certificate to teach in saudi arabia.

is there any way your wife could teach as well?

[Countrygirl]

I'm here with my kids and they go to the same school that I teach at. I've lived here for 2 and some years and we will be going home with very little. Partly due to exchange rate and partly due to unexpected expenses (rent for a bigger place). My husband also couldn't manage to find a job making the same as back home.

I do know a family of 5 from the States who are living on one salary but all the kids are homeschooled. I'm guessing that the cost of health care is so expensive that Korea is better for them. They have no plans to go back to the US.

I'd advise against doing it but in the end it's your decision. We didn't make the money we'd hoped, but my kids learned Korean and my husband got some more time with his mom so living here wasn't a complete loss.

Also, if you work at a hogwan than your daughter can attend for free and keep up on her English. If you're brave you can put your daughter in a kindergarten with Korean kids. I think a second language is one of the best things you can give your child in today's day and age. We paid 500 (I believe...maybe less) for 8 to 5 everyday. Less hours will cost less. My son didn't know Korean at the time and he was almost fluent within 6 months.

Like I said earlier, we never would have done this for only financial purposes. I would recommend getting your teaching certificate and then teaching at international schools. Your children get to go to school free, I think that for some schools your entire families' plane tickets will be paid for and you will get bigger housing.

[Teddycakes21]

[cpolian]

What you would like is pretty much impossible here..
One option could be for your kids to enroll in the school that you teach at? They seem to be around Kindy age? If you worked at a place that had kindy students, they would probably give you a great discount for your kids.
Besides that...

[sqrlnutz123]