Korean Job Discussion Forums

[bluewall15]

Hello! I am new to this forum and in the process of finding the best fit for me at a school in Korea. Right now I have three job offers on the table and (of course) they are all putting pressure on me to make a decision now. I know that I don't need to decide, there are plenty of Hogwan jobs in Seoul, but I actually like some of these options, I just don't feel like I have enough information about teaching and the area to make a good decision. Can you help me? Here are my options:

1. Kid's College Hogwan in Yeongdeungpo-gu (http://www.kidscollege.co.kr/ydp/) teaching Kinder in the morning, elementary classes in the afternoon. 2.1 million Won a month. Contract states only 30 teaching hours a month, but I am required to be at the school from 9:30-6:30. I really enjoyed the woman I talked to on the phone here (twice!), but I just found out that she is not the director of the school and when I've been trying to negotiate contract changes (no sick days, for instance), she hasn't had much pull. I e-mailed a teacher at this school who had worked there for 9 months. She didn't seem that happy/friendly. Said that if she were to do it again, she might take the job, but have to renegotiate the contract. Mostly she sounded busy and overwhelmed. Best thing about this job for me right now is location, it's a five minute walk from the Mullae subway station, and potential to meet friends and other foreigners (which is important to me.) There are currently 7 other foreign teachers at this school. Sofftitel Housing provided, 10 minutes walking to school.

2. Gerstungkinder Hogwan in Yangchun-gu (www.gerstungkinder.com). 2.1 million Won a month. Contract is same as above, in terms of teaching hours. I talked to the director of the school on the phone and was not as impressed as above, but mostly because her English was not so great and I couldn't understand her, but she really liked me. The woman I talked to who is working there now says that she really likes it. She is overwhelmed sometimes, but she had realistic expectations. She said she would take the job again and really enjoys the director of the school. Her housing is nice, but requires riding the subway and a bus everyday to get to school. There are three other foreign teachers at this school.

3. Public School job with GEPIK in Bundang (http://www.sneec.or.kr/eng/center/01open.asp) elementary school. 2.0 million Won a month. Contract states 22 teaching hours a month, two more weeks of vacation than above (which were 10 days a year.) I have not talked to anyone from this school yet, but there are 8 other foreign teachers at this school. I was worried about GEPIK because of the rural area I might be placed in, but this school is a 5 minute walk from the Migeum subway station.

Anyway, does anyone have any thoughts? I am totally open to all opinions at this point.
Thank you!

[pangaea]

I think you answered your own question regarding job #1.

Job #2 might be ok but riding the subway and a bus to get to the school sounds like a pain. I woud definitely do some more research on that school before making a decision. Ask to speak to the other teachers at the school to get a better idea of what you would be getting into.

Public school is a much more reliable job as far as pay and benefits. You will most likely have to pay for your airfare up front but you will be reimbursed and you shouldn't have to worry about not being paid or being paid late and you should receive all the benefits in your contract.

Don't let anyone rush you into making a decision before you have all the information you want. Good luck!

[yoja]

Listen to what the current foreign teachers are saying to you. It's highly likely that you will sound just like them after a year. Do you want to feel the way that they're feeling? You may want to go back and ask them more questions than about how close/far the housing is from school. Ask about the kids, co-workers, Korean staff, director, support, social environment, challenges and high points of working at that particular school. How's the stress level? Typical daily frustrations of the job? etc.

There's NOTHING that anyone on this board can tell you that's better advice than what the current teachers in those positions can tell you. LISTEN TO THEM.

Also, try to talk to a teacher at a public school if it's at all possible. Typically they have very different struggles and benefits compared to hakwon teachers. Neither is better or worse, just different...it's like choosing between apples and bananas. Everyone has their own opinion, but in some ways...it's not that different. Kids are kids. Koreans are Koreans.

If it were me, I'd opt for the public school in Bundang. But that's just me. I have no way of knowing what's best for you.

[balzor]

Of those 3 options, I go with the hagwon in Yeongdongpo-gu. The hours are normal so thats good. Don't fret too much about the sick days. I didn't use any of mine last year. You will get some ailments, but odds are they won't be debilitating. Stuff like gastroenteritis, headaches and maybe some respiratory infections. New people in Korea all suffer from it(at least people I know). Other things...the 10 min walk from the house is a good thing, you DON'T want to be riding the subway and buses at in the morning especially before 9. Yeongdongpo-gu is a nice area and has a lot of good things to see and do, also it is not far from the foreigner areas, if you are so inclined. I SAY ALL THIS unless you know for a fact you are getting ht e job in Bundang, then I would say yes to that Just my Opinion, Good Luck with your choices

[Seoulio]

Perosnally I could never go back to a hagwon, too much crap to deal with appeasing parents, etc. Its not so much about teaching as it is performing,

Working at a Public scool has been nice for me so far, you teach for 4 hours, plan 2-3 lesson a week, and just re-teach them, you can sit for 3-4 hous ( in many cases) and do what you want.

Bottom line is both jobs will have the drawbacks, yo may get a nightmare co teacher at a PS. You also said there were 8 foreign teachers, I do not tink that is correct, there may be 8 specialty teachers, but NO SCHOOL that I know of stocks more than 2 foreign teachers, and even to have the second one the school has to have well over 1000 students. So if your school is REALLY large ( like approaching5 students) then i think you misuderstood, but I could be wrong. There si almst certainly NOT 8 foreigners at the school.

I lived in Miguem, other than the fact that your closes supermarket chain is at Ori station, its a VERY nice area, and youve got a Quiznos and a few other western fare just down the road ( especially in Sunae)

Anyway I vote for the PS JOb, option 3, Too much crap to work at a hagwon.

[bluewall15]

Thanks so much for all your thoughts!

I had my interview today with the school in Bundang. Turns out it's an public English language center (Chongsol--http://www.sneec.or.kr/eng/center/01intro_greeting.asp). This means that yes, there are currently 8 foreign teachers there because elementary students from all over the region come to the school on a daily basis to have more intense English study. They referred to it as an English Village. Does anyone have experience teaching somewhere like this? I am trying to talk to a teacher from the school, but it might not happen.

Also, I've been reading all the old posts on living in Bundang, but I would love to hear from someone directly on whether it's a yay or nay. Is Seoul the place to be?

Thanks again in advance!

[caribmon]

English village is the easiest. You just act out little scenes and new kids come every couple weeks. I would either do the English Village or the #2 Hakwon.

[lifeinkorea]

The public school job might be good because it is in the Gyeonggido area, you can find your 2nd school more easily. With the other offers, you will be basically starting over.

Any English village job is prone to end up like a Mickey Mouse gig. I was lucky and had something between that and an "English Zone". The school was given role play stations and different schools came to visit. However, I didn't need to dress up and be an entertainer. Make sure you get the details or else you might not teach but rather "edutain".

I have also been lucky with hagwon jobs, I knew what I was getting into and I left when I wanted to (at a cost I admit, but it gave me control). With a public school position, you need to stick it out the year. It's not really easy to pack up and leave, but rules are changing to allow 6 month transfers. You need to keep a good relationship with your co-teacher.

[toph]

Just a question: How did you apply for the second position??? Visited the website, but no application.

[Xuanzang]

English Villages can also be bad because of their remoteness from nightlife and public transportation.

[bluewall15]

Sorry, toph, I haven't made enough posts to PM you. I found the second job through a recruiter, Teach ESL Korea. http://www.teacheslkorea.com/index.html They've been very on top of things, I would recommend using them if you are looking!

[AsiaESLbound]

Pay seems low in all three instances. I would expect 2.4 mil. A hagwon teacher I know told me he made 2.0 mil back in '02 many years ago working from 1pm to 6pm. Those were the good ol' days and too bad I didn't come around then. Now, the pay is about the same for most jobs, the cost of living is higher both in and outside of Korea, and the exchange rate is not so good now according to a graph I pulled up on it.

[SeoulNate]

You might want to request to talk to one of the teachers from that English Village for two reasons.

1. From what i have heard from the majority of the teachers i have talked to from English Village would tell me to stay away from it. Living on campus, long hours, 'edutaining' as mentioned above and a host of other problems. However, i have heard some positive reviews, but make sure you talk to one of them.

2. Also, unless there are two English Villages in Bundang (could be, i have no idea) it is not five minutes from a subway unless you are in a supersonic jet. The one that i have seen is quite far from the city itself.

IMO, i would go with the second hogwon job if the teacher gave you a positive review.

[toph]

@OP

Hey, thanks! Yeah, I'm really looking into hagwons right now. I'm really interested in gloii-rs, but I can't find anything about them online or here, and they recruit for themselves.

So it's kind of...iffy :/

And I haven't made enough posts either, so it's cool. We're both noobs lol.