Korean Job Discussion Forums

bdot · Joined: 03 Mar 2010

Hey all,

Recent CELTA/Bach Ed graduate. There's very little in the way of work in Brisbane at the moment... I've been planning on going to Korea at some point for the last 2 years now. Issue now is... when should I go. From what I can tell... most contracts start at beginning of the year and run for 12monthsish. However, September is looking good for me.

Is it possible to get work in Korea in September or must I wait till the beginning of next year?

Also, second question. Due to my prac experiences in high schools I've decided I greatly dislike all humans under 18. Essentially I'm wanting to be able to teach adults if at all possible. Most of the work I'm seeing seems to be for schools so...

Is there plenty of work outside of school kids in Korea?

I'd greatly appreciate your responses... thanks guys.

andrewchon · Posted: Sat Mar 06, 2010 4:03 pm Post subject:

Nothin' in Booming Brisbane? PM Kevo ain't looking after his home state, is he?

You don't have to wait. You can start any time if a job offer comes along.
I can understand your enmity to adolescents,however things are slightly different in Korea.
You can find good classes of adolescents in hagwons in Korea. These are private schools and (good) hagwons expel students if they misbehave.
As for teaching adults, plenty of work there, too. Main markets are universities, which I doubt you'd qualify, and adult conversation classes. The latter usually means split-shifts like 6-10AM and 7-11PM.

bdot · Joined: 03 Mar 2010

Kevo's putting out ceiling fires at the moment...

When you say these conversation classes are usually split shift... do we mean that its sort of a 99% thing and that its next to impossible to get anything else (I didn't know 6am exists... that would literally kill me) or is there a bit of 'normal' adult work floating around as well?

Also, are there particular agencies that tee up this work for you like they do for the school positions?

andrewchon · Posted: Sat Mar 06, 2010 9:10 pm Post subject:

The split shifts hours goes with the supply and demand. The adult students are (exception of uni students) salary men/women studying for promotions. Time they have for study fits in with the split shift. There are adult class at more sensible hours too, but that'll be like playing in the reserve grade.

I'd say go for hagwons catering to Middle and High school students.

Gibberish · Joined: 29 Aug 2009

Never, ever work a split shift that starts that early. Ever.

Don't do it.

Do not.

It's wrong.

bdot · Joined: 03 Mar 2010

I'm with you Gibberish... I'd rather teach kids than do split shifts... and that's saying something.

Do you mean by 'reserve grade' that these jobs are suckier/pay less or in the sense that you'll never get a job doing regular hours?

Btw... are the kids nice, horrible, annoying or a bit of all three? I assume they don't throw chairs around the room while your back's turned.?. (I speak from unexagerrated experience)

Michelle · Joined: 18 May 2003

jiberish · Joined: 17 Jul 2006 Location: The Carribean Bay Wrestler

Your qualified. You could get a job at an adult hagwoon working nights in a good area of Seoul. You have the right degree with experiance. Only accept an above average job.

Or you could try for a job at a university.

Only public school positions are seasonal.

andrewchon · Posted: Sun Mar 07, 2010 10:56 pm Post subject:

Like I said before, in (good) hagwons, students are well behaved.
Public school students can be a handful. Tech High schools... let's not even go there.
Uni students can be lazy, uninterested and sometimes asleep during class.

jiberish · Joined: 17 Jul 2006 Location: The Carribean Bay Wrestler

If they are sleeping, atleast they are quiet. I just hate bad students that disrupt good students.

bdot · Joined: 03 Mar 2010

Thanks heaps for the advice guys. I'll have to get cracking on these police checks etc...

Btw... how do they (students/school management) treat young teachers over there (I'm 24)... any different to the oldies?

Also... I've got a double degree... Arts and Secondary Ed... over here I get payed out over the Arts part... but in Korea would this be valued at all?

What's an adult Hagwoon? Like a private English academy yeah?

andrewchon · Posted: Mon Mar 08, 2010 2:00 am Post subject:

In Korea age is respected but as for foreign teachers, not really. Younger are quicker to get hired. (you are young) Double degree doesn't count much here. B.Ed. M.Ed. Teacher's licence, teaching experience, TESOL/CELTA, PhD counts for extra pay. Hagwon is a hagwon. A hagwon can cater to any age. You're not gonna be able to avoid children even if you are not teaching them.