Korean Job Discussion Forums

[daojiao]

This is my first post after lurking here on and off for about a month. Please let me know if I'm asking the wrong questions/need to post elsewhere.

I'm a fresh college grad (BA in Chinese, BA in International Relations) looking to teach in Daejeon. The "United Language School" seems like a good choice (I had a Korean friend help me translate their site) but a forum and Google search turn up little info about it save one review. Anyone heard about it?

I would like to begin teaching there either in June 2011 or August 2011. What's the best way to approach the hagwon's owner? Should I wait until my preferred employment date is closer?

Finally, I'm fluent and literate in Mandarin Chinese at an academic level and with test results to prove it. Is there way I could use these skills to my advantage while job hunting or while in Korea?

Sorry there are so many questions... some of them might be obvious, but this will be my first (non-university) job.

Almost forgot to mention, I have two years of teaching Chinese as a second language under my belt. Also, I'm 100% white.

Thanks!

[wiganer]

Why don't you go to China instead?

[Dazed and Confused]

I speak Chinese as well. While it is fun to freak out the locals or visiting Chinese it will be of little use to you here. In Korea, Chinese is taught by teachers from China or Koreans. Both are possibly cheaper to hire than you. If you really want to use Chinese and teach at the same time I suggest China or Taiwan.

[daojiao]

I think I may have come across wrong. The Chinese was a sidenote. I've spent plenty of time in China already, and I have no desire to work for slave wages in an industrializing country. I want to be in Korea.

Most importantly:

1. How's Daejeon? I don't care about the Western crowd since I grew up in various foreign cultures. Are the Koreans friendly there?

2. Anyone know anything about United Language School?

3. What's the best way to start first contact with an employer, and how far in advance should I do it?

[Dazed and Confused]

Daejon is great. I spent my first year in Korea there. It is also my husband's hometown. In fact, if I could have a job that would equal my current job, I would live in Daejon. The locals are friendly and it is slightly slower paced than Seoul. The infrastructure is good and it is easy to use the intercity buses or trains to travel to almost every corner in Korea.

Sorry I don't know anything about the school you are looking at.

[rollo]

I think that China is your best option, because you speak Mandarin there are a lot of non-esl jobs available. You would also be polishing your mandarin. I have a number of friends in china whose main qualification is that they are white and they can speak mandarin. Also teaching wages have risen. In Korea you are going to teach English!

[Space Cowboy]

If you want to come to Korea, more power to you. You should be able to pick up the Chinese-derived portion of the language very easily; my background in Japanese has helped me in this respect.

I will vouch for Daejeon; I live there now and really like it. I don't know the school either, but consider the fact that there are tons of hagwons in Daejeon. Limiting yourself might be more trouble than it's worth. Now, that said, I don't see any problem with making contact with this particular boss. Just send a brief e-mail, and if he responds positively, send your resume.

Good luck!

[daojiao]

Thanks everyone for the feedback about Daejeon! It sounds like a great place to live.

I do intend to work in China after this stint in Korea... being in Daejeon as an English teacher seemed like a "fun" job with relatively low responsibility... in other word, a nice break after cramming 160 something credit hours into four years. I'll probably be going to China in 2013 sometime to do corporate/gov't work.

Cheers!

[Morticae]

I live in Daejeon, it is a decent place. I suspect the transportation is the best thing the place has going for it.

Teaching is certainly a fun job, I teach at a public school here. I must disagree with you though, it is NOT a low responsibility job. You must remember, you are teaching... this should be your first priority, above anything else.

Your education credentials would lead me to believe you have no experience in this, which can make it difficult at first. I believe hagwons have more structure, so it would be easier for you to get started though. At first, it will probably be stressful. Hagwons can also add additional stressors to the job, such as payment issues, or some ridiculous teaching demands (Example: See the thread about the hagwon owner making employees speak Canadian English).