Korean Job Discussion Forums

emlowe12 · Joined: 01 Oct 2010 Location: Canada

Hello all,
I am a newbie so i need some advice! I have recently been offered a position at a hagwon in seoul (sillim-dong), and the contract itself looks great.
The only thing is I would be the only english teacher at this institute, the rest are Korean teachers. I am worried about communication, and also about meeting people.

thoughts?

hagwonnewbie · Joined: 09 Feb 2007 Location: Asia

You'll be in Seoul, so you'll have the opportunity to meet a lot of foreigners.

However, I personally wouldn't recommend taking a job where you're the only foreigner.

mollayo · Joined: 11 Oct 2010 Location: At the my house

I'm not in Seoul, but I am the only foreigner at my school, and it's fine. Just make friends outside of work with similar schedules.

jgarci17 · Joined: 26 Aug 2010

There are a few things you need to take into account and also figure out before taking a job as an only foreigner. While I by no means have a ton of experience in this situation, I'm in my 3rd week now at my school, and I'm the only foreigner. One of the big things that I�d find out is how much English people on staff know. If its very basic, it�s going to be kind of tough on you and them because communication can stall and you really won�t always be clear on what you need to know and do. Plus, it can get kind of boring just saying �How are you?� all the time. Another thing is find out how many foreigners are in the area. I really don�t know a lot about Seoul, but it�s big so imagine some areas have less foreigners than others.

There are pros and cons to being the only foreigner. Everyone really is different on what they are looking for when they come here, but if social life is one of them then you will be hindered in making foreigner friends. One of my pet peeves here is people say �There�s a bunch of foreigners there so you�ll be fine.� I don�t think that�s the case really, because think about it, do you normally just approach random strangers and hope they will become your friends? It�s kind of awkward to me, like forced friendship or something. It�s not something like your accustomed to doing normally I�d imagine when you make friends through similar habits and interests, not just being friends because they are another foreigner. What you will have to do is find ways to meet people, whether its by doing hobbies, going to the gym, finding a Facebook group etc. And it will take work, trust me. So be prepared to have to put yourself out there to make friends, which may be a little different than your used to.

Overall, I really like and enjoy my school and my co-workers, as they are very nice and helpful to me for the most part. However, if I could do it again I�d probably find a school with foreigners on staff. While there are no guarantees then that you will necessary like or enjoy your foreign co-workers, it does provide a valuable resource to meeting other people, but also a good support system to help you adjust to Korea, as they have been in your shoes in the exact same location before. Maybe my opinion will change, hopefully, once I am able to meet some people. But thus far its been rough going as I haven�t really made any foreigner friends, so I�m kind of having to step outside my comfort zone in this to try and meet some people. So think it through.

Xylox · Joined: 09 Jul 2010

sallymonster · Joined: 06 Feb 2010 Location: Seattle area

Catfisher · Joined: 10 Nov 2010

My first job was at a hagwon with several other foreign teachers and every job after that I was the only foreign teacher. It was so refreshing being solo. After that first year, I got tired of all the soap operas with the foreign girls and their relationship problems, people snooping in my business, the "head" teacher and his powerless power trip.

Now, though, I think it would be a little more interesting since I'm not so dependent on foreigners for company. I could take it or leave it.

Capo · Joined: 09 Sep 2007

if the contract is good take it. shillim is a decent area. I am the only foreigner in my school and very happy about it. You will probably be treated better than if you went to hadwon that had 20 F teachers where there will be an us and them attitude. Unless ur a loner you will be able to make friends in and out of work. Personally i keep personal life and work life seperate.

Catfisher · Joined: 10 Nov 2010

Died By Bear · Posted: Fri Nov 19, 2010 4:41 am Post subject:

One of the downsides to working in a small joint, is they may go under and sell the place to shady dude who decides not to honor all the goodies you're supposed to get at the end of the contract, or decide you don't merit the 3 or 4 or 5 million won you're owed in back pay.

Not trying to rain on your deal, it's probably not going to happen, but we've heard a lot of stories in the past about small places being sold out, teacher owed money, etc. etc.

The good upside of this kind of job, is that you can use song and dance (not you - YOUTUBE to teach the kids to sing English songs. K-parents love this one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-nQtRSHKDpg&feature=player_embedded#!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WWWnAOzhu4

Junior · Joined: 18 Nov 2005 Location: the eye

toonchoon · Joined: 06 Feb 2009 Location: Gangnam

my first hagwon job was at a hagwon with 9 other native teachers.

= AUTOMATIC FRIENDS & LOADS OF FUN!

my 2nd hagwon (afterschool) job was in a middle school with 3 Korean teachers and one other "seasoned" native teacher.

most of my friends from year 1 left, and it was much harder to meet peeps, and form friendships.

my advice is get a job in a hagwon that already has native teachers. when you have issues, and trust me, you'll have issues, you'll need somebody that actually understands YOU and the issues at work. Koreans will NOT understand you, and you don't really want to talk to them, esp. co-teachers, as everything you say in "secrecy" will be communicated to the boss.

i REALLY think you will be better off at a place with native teachers.

good luck!

TheresaTheresa · Joined: 24 Feb 2010

Catfisher · Joined: 10 Nov 2010

It can all be bad with the foreigners as well. In the case of what I called "The all uterus kindergarten club" at my first hagwon (and me being male), the girls were pretty closely "sychronized" so for a couple of weeks of the month I would have to deal with so much crap, particulary if one of them was having problems with their boyfriends. And believe me, sister, the way those girls went through soldiers in Itaewon there were problems on a regular basis. Except the converted moonie from NZ.

Then couple that with an emasculated "head teacher" whose only role was an errand boy and the director's pet so he had the afternoons only shift. He couldn't dictate authority without a high pitched whiny voice.

After that, I didn't take any job unless it was me flying solo.

By the way, what ever happened to the Freakiest Waygookin Contest? That thread hasn't been around in forever and there's got to be some new blood with new tales for it.

Died By Bear · Posted: Fri Nov 19, 2010 6:17 pm Post subject:

The FW thread is alive and well.

My favorite story is about stumpy and the dead cat, from Pyongshin Sangja

http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?p=54923

...so the Koreans helped him BURY the cat in the planter outside the club. They all cried and said nice things about the cat..

..snip...

Stumpy did THREE midnight runs on THREE different schools in THREE months. Immigration eventually kicked his ass back to the Grand Banks. Either that or he moved to Thailand so he could score heroin, that was his other plan. He did, however, have good taste in music and was actually really popular with women, Korean and Western. Man, I miss that guy.