Korean Job Discussion Forums

loyfriend · Joined: 03 Aug 2009

So I know some teachers say Jeju it is the best place to teach, even over Seoul.

But I wanted to hear from people who are living there. Is it good or do you feel isolated due to being stuck on an island? It is not like you can get on a subway and head to Seoul for the weekend, and wen its cold I assume the beaches are no fun.

hellofaniceguy · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Location: On your computer screen!

loyfriend · Joined: 03 Aug 2009

Well I was offered this contract.

d. The teacher will teach thirty hours a week from Monday through Friday.
The teacher may have overtime teaching and the school will pay 20,000won/ hour for the teaching.
The teacher may have summer and winter special classes during the summer and winter vacation time of public schools.

e. The teacher will work according to the institute's schedule and the school informs the teacher schedule changes if they occur(at least 24 hours notice).

f. The teacher is expected to attend all school meetings. Currently the school has weekly meetings with the Director. At the meeting, teachers share information or ideas. (the school reports new changes of classes and teachers report any problems -usually it continues 10 or 20 minutes and if there is no specific things, it may be cancelled and they share information through e-mail.)

g. The teacher has to be present at school one hour prior to the first class. He/She shall prepare teaching materials for each class beforehand and will be honest and diligent in teaching students in all classes.

4. Travel expenses and living Accommodations
The Institute will provide the Teacher with private living accommodations, and the teacher is responsible for all the utilities (electricity, water, gas, etc)derived from their private accommodations.
The school will provide a round trip ticket when the contract is for a full year contract.

5. Holidays and Vacation
8days paid holidays per year shall be given to the Teacher( 2 days in summer, 2 days in winter will be given and the Teacher can choose 4 days but must notify 2 weeks prior to the vacation).

Even if the Teacher does not take all of the paid holidays the Institute is not responsible for paying for the rest of the days.

6. Payment
Monthly payment shall be 2,100,000won in Korean currency.

VanIslander · Posted: Thu Dec 03, 2009 3:41 am Post subject:

VanIslander · Posted: Thu Dec 03, 2009 3:48 am Post subject: Re: Life on Jeju

loyfriend · Joined: 03 Aug 2009

I am not new at teaching. This would be my third year.

I have 3 job offers. One would be for Busan starting in March, 2.3m at a public school.

The second one would be in the country and start on April 11th.

This Je-Ju job was the one that they posted on Daves ESL today. I overall knew that the wages were lower for living on Je-Ju, as they say everyone wants to live and work there.

I just looked at this job since I wouldn't have to head home for 3-4 months. That is a long downtime and a way to blow all the money I saved in a year.

My current school probably would give me 2.4-2.6. All the students voted for me to stay I guess, but the public school has an idea how to renew a contract, and say they may want me to fly hom and come back in March due to no winter camp.

My contract ends on Dec 17th, the students voted me to stay two weeks ago.

I was just up for adventure, so I thought this Island would be one and a lot of fun.

VanIslander · Posted: Thu Dec 03, 2009 3:56 am Post subject:

loyfriend · Joined: 03 Aug 2009

Thanks VanIslander for your input. I only thought of Je-Ju because my students went there for there school vacation, and said it was nice. And the school I am at is a small village on the east coast. I wanted a socail life.

But I should just perhaps stick it out at my current school for another year. It is true that 500k a monthis like 5m extra, enough to do something special with later. Even if theres no socail life here.

VanIslander · Posted: Thu Dec 03, 2009 4:10 am Post subject:

Xuanzang · Joined: 10 Apr 2007 Location: Sadang

Jeju-do is also pricey. Stick to the mainland unless you have a STRONG desire to go there. Don't follow Cohiba's stupid Seoul rule but your own wants and desires.

wormholes101 · Joined: 11 Mar 2003

You'd be better off trying the yahoo group rhymeswithjeju to get your information. thats where most of the jeju folk post rather than here.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/rhymeswithjeju/

Chambertin · Joined: 07 Jun 2009 Location: Gunsan

I realize you wanted first hand info, and wish I could give it to you, however I can give you some first hand Island living info.

I lived in Hawaii for 3 years, Oahu to be specific. I loved it however it closes in on you fast. Islands are islands, you had better love beaches and nothing more than beaches if you plan to stay the long haul. If you are use to being mobile and free then it may not work out as you planned.
Also you are going to live on an island that has a winter, sure a very mild one but lets face it there are plenty of other spots to chose not too far away and for less money than Jeju in the cold months. I would hate to imagine how much slower life would have been without the winter dodging crowd come November � December.

I would go back to Hawaii in a moment, I would probably live there again too, but I would think over living on a small island with a low population. Still you might just love tourist season. Get in shape, get a tan, get all the opposite sex you want.

Again Jeju could be the greatest thing for you, just remember that living is FAR different from visiting as others have said.

Bollocks · Joined: 12 Feb 2009

Having spent a year in Seoul and now being in Jeju, I will enlighten you:

You know how Seoul has that "red door" place in Itaewon, and the "foreigners interesting items" supermarket in hannam, and also the underground Merket in Namdaemun?

Jeju hasn't those things. If you want cheddar, red bull, or dill, you should be prepared to genuinely go without said things. Also, as a white person with food allergies, I'm used to carrying an epipen. They don't have them on jeju. If you want one, you have to go to Seoul. That's something to be aware of.

As for other stuff, the air is cleaner, and the foreigner community is much more tight-knit. Sort of like, if you're new, everyone knows it, and you should expect to get to know everyone. There's only like 500 white dudes on the entire island.

Also, there's only like 3 bars total on the North side of the island. Two are in Jeju-proper. One is in Shin-Jeju. I have yet to discover a hongdae-like environment in which the bars are populated by Korean girls that speak English.

wormholes101 · Joined: 11 Mar 2003

loyfriend · Joined: 03 Aug 2009

Thank you everyone for your advice. It is nice to know their are good and thoughtful people.