Korean Job Discussion Forums

[gotkd2000]

Just wondering how difficult it is to find a job for korean adoptees....
I also speak korean, would that be a plus or would that hurt my job search? Would it be easier to find a job in a public school or a hakwon?
Thanks for any help.

Alex [email protected]

[Howard Roark]

Hi. I know several Korean-Canadians/Americans working in Korea. One of them said to me just last night that it took her a few months to find a good job. But that could happen with anyone. She said that it seemed like about 1/4 schools she applied to were willing to hire her.
Speaking Korean would definitely help you in Korea both in the classroom and certainly outside. But I don't see how it could be strike against you.
I've seen several job ads that specifically ask for bilingual Kyopos and ones that say that Kyopos are also welcome to apply. It may take you a little longer but you can find a job here.
Also, once you do find a job you're set. You can get an F4 visa, which means you can do privates and you ca change schools anytime you want without the rigmarole E2 visa holders have to go through.

[Gord]

[Howard Roark]

Well I'm not immigration. 2 Kyopo friends, who have F4s, told me they could teach privates legally.

[Gord]

[jaek99]

Have you thought about teaching test prep? (TOEFL/SAT/SSAT/etc)

Most of the test prep hagwons I have looked into insist on hiring mostly kyopo teachers and the wages are substantially higher than most conversational oriented hagwons.

While most of these test-prep hagwons fail to provide free housing, they make up for it by giving higher salaries. Salaries (test prep hagwons) will range from 1.5 to 2 (possibly higher with experience) times more than the average conversational based hagwon.


G'luck.

[gyopoboy]

actually contrary to popular belief it's pretty easy for gyopos to get jobs~

especially in the gangnam area.... one of the biggest schools in gangname C** pays a minimum wage of 3,000,000 won a month for 6 hours a day, mon-fri and they only hire gyopos.

from what i hear, these days, gyopos are preferred over foreign native speakers.... especially in the gangnam areas.

i've met people making 6,000,000 a month teachin SAT (although that dude has a degree from berkley).

so don't worry about gettin a job, but worry about gettin one with good options and conditions.

at the moment, I have a 2 bedroom apartment provided (for myself).. I teach 90 a month and I get well over 2.5 mil a month.. so don't worry~ you'll be cool~ (i don't have any previous teaching experience.. or any job experience at that... heh)

[Eazy_E]

I know a Korean-American adoptee who was able to find a job here, albeit with a psychotic boss and a pay level that is more like what a Korean teacher gets.

I don't think you have to settle for less money than another foreign teacher though, and in fact you might be able to screen out most of the bad employers because the "we want a whitey" schools won't be interested while the legitimate schools will be interested. It would definitely be an asset to speak Korean for this job, as most head teachers have a pretty shaky grasp of English. My job would definitely be easier if I could communicate in Korean to my boss and the students.

Just out of curiosity, how did you become fluent in Korean if you grew up in an adopted family? Are they also Korean?

[gotkd2000]

I kinda thought that my speaking korean would be an advantage.

Hope to hop on the plane and get over to Korea by August.

Cheers!

[popper1976]

[dulouz]

Gypos don't teach in hogwans, they have the better jobs. Its a plus.

[jaek99]

gyopoboy wrote:

especially in the gangnam area.... one of the biggest schools in gangname C** pays a minimum wage of 3,000,000 won a month for 6 hours a day, mon-fri and they only hire gyopos.

i've met people making 6,000,000 a month teachin SAT (although that dude has a degree from berkley).




Is this gyopos who also speak Korean?? If not, I'm looking at the wrong jobs!
_________________
Everyday is a journey and the journey itself is home.

starting salary at most SAT hagwons (most of the teachers are Gyopos) are at least 3 mil a month. It breaks down to more than 25000 won per hour, some of them start at 35000 won+. 120 hours a month at 35000 won comes out to 4200000 won. On top of that, the going rate for private test prep (SSAT/SAT/GRE/GMAT/TOEFL) is around 100000 won an hour.

[Derrek]

[popper1976]

[jaek99]

Many test prep hagwons are hiring now for the intensive summer session period.

This is not a laid back 'teaching' job. You will be expected to prepare for classes, have a set curriculum, and most likely a syllabus of some sort. It goes without saying that you should have high SAT scores (upwards of 1450+) and come from a good university or have lots of teaching experience. Also, many SAT hagwons integrate TOEFL classes as well so you will need to teach TOEFL writing. On top of all this, the SAT is changing formats in 2005 intergrating sections from the SAT II Writing exam so you should have solid writing skills.

Summer is the most financially lucrative time to join the test prep field in Seoul. If hired full time, a teacher can expect to work at least 8 hours a day paying over 25000 won and in many cases over 35000 won. This equates into some serious coin but be prepared to produce to some serious results.


If you are looking for specific hagwons, try www.teachenglish.co.kr. I noticed that a few hagwons are advertising for full time SAT teachers.


One more thing, if you are anyone you know is seriously considering working at a SAT hagwon, let me know. I know of a few test prep hagwons that are currently looking for qualified teachers. PM me *only* if you have graduated from a well recognized university, have a high SAT score, and have some sort of teaching experience.


J