Korean Job Discussion Forums

april · Joined: 23 Oct 2009

Hi, I just wanted to get a little feedback before I accept a position. This will be my first year in Korea. I contacted a former teacher and he said the school is very reliable with pay, they are organized, and the students there are pretty good. But he said it is a little more work than a lot places because the school has a good reputation and the director runs a tight ship to maintain that. Does that sound like a good trade off?

ttompatz · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea

Globutron · Joined: 13 Feb 2010 Location: England/Anyang

Depends how much you're willing to work.

if you read the contract, I would be happy with much more than 22 40 minute classes... I'm on 33 50 minute classes a week, 10 minute break in between each, an hour or more break in the evening depending on the day. And these breaks are taken away when Phone teaching starts halfway through each month.

But, I couldn't be happier. It doesn't feel like a big workload to me at all. I mean, I'm there from 1:30pm to 10pm latest which is 8.5 hours a day or less.

If it's a little more than expected, don't make that your only option to run away from it. I consider myself very lucky and very happy.

wesharris · Joined: 10 Oct 2008

As another example. I arrive at 1 30 and leave at 7 00. My work load is 20-25 teacher hours per week. I have to grade at home once every two months, and once a month construct a new monthly lesson plan. So I'd say my teaching load is quite light compared to the G.

Skippy · Joined: 18 Jan 2003 Location: Daejeon

Ask for what paper work they want. If they can not give you a simple list like

- Weekly / Monthly Lesson Plans
- Monthly test grading (ABCD or multiple choice or essay
- Attendance
- Reports Cards
- Etc

then skip them. The details is the key.

Easter Clark · Joined: 18 Nov 2007 Location: Hiding from Yie Eun-woong

thunderbird · Joined: 18 Aug 2009

danxtptrnrth · Joined: 15 Apr 2010 Location: Boeun, South Korea

OP, jobs in Korea range from hell to heaven. I, fortunately for myself, don't have any examples of hell. I've been in Korea for two years. My first year was at a hagwon, and from what I've heard went about as smoothly as could be at a hagwon. There was only a little bit of paper work and preparation. I had morning classes(kindy) for a few hours. Then a three-hour break, during which I would work out and have lunch. Then I would work for a few more hours in the evening. I'd be done by 9 at the latest every day.
Now I work at a public school. I am at school from 8:30 to 4:30, but am only working for half of that. I am not required to do any paperwork and only need to be minimally prepared for my classes.
When it comes down to it, the only way to tell is to work for a couple weeks or even months. If you can make the day work with your lifestyle then, the important part is to remember that it's more just a means to get to travel and experience something different from our life back home.
That is until you've been here for 10 years and are jaded like most of the posters on this forum.