Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Yellowstone_1872]

I've been working with a recruiter for the last couple of months, who has been very pleasant and a good communicator with me in general, but recently we seem to have hit a roadblock. Last week in conversation, the day after a school official was supposed to call me for an interview and didn't call, it came out in conversation that I was married and that my wife wants to come to Korea 2-3 months after I arrive. She'd like to teach English as well, and we're both qualified to do so.

The recruiter seemed to have some misgivings about us arriving at different times, mostly based on our contracts not ending at the same time next year. I assured him that we'd considered this and don't think it's a problem. Frankly it makes it easier for us by insuring that we have at least one full time job going at any given time, since she's got a couple of months left to run on a job here in the US and she'd like to take a month off before starting up with a new job (teaching or otherwise).

I understand the schools being nervous about me getting out of contract and then convincing her to pull a midnight run or something. I offered to meet them halfway by working a 15 month contract (or whatever would align our contracts if she got a job 3 months after me), and floated the possibility that she might not even teach English there (she's a certified pilates/yoga instructor and could easily do that). I'm not asking for couples housing, as I know that it's difficult to justify when she isn't coming at the same time and may not be in immediate proximity.

In any case, I told the recruiter that I'd like to go ahead and interview, even if the recruiter has misgivings. Today I hear back:

[Skippy]

First off your wife can not teach YOGA here. Sorry not allowed - English yes. Thru she could probably teach on the side illegally. Still this not your main worry.

You answered you own question. They are worried your wife will leave at nine months or 10 months. You can make all the assurances you want they did not take them.

Now what you might want to try is separate applications. But if you do that you will likely lose out on the benefits like bigger apartment and being assigned close together. She gets assigned on one side of the city or province and you the other. Have to deal with two apartments, deposits, health insurance, etc.

Another one is one goes private another goes public. Get your public school job and your wife gets a private school job close by. Only major problems with that is Vacations will never sync or work and hours can be also messed up. She works evenings, you 9 to 5. Might not help the relationship.

Still Good Luck.

[minos]

Under table yoga teaching is possible....I know some under the table foreigner dance teachers here.

Probaly a big demand since they'll even pay money to import Indian yoga masters(ala foreign teachers in Eng schools).

[emmahearst]

What do they have with Yoga teachers? What if you gather a bunch of Americans and teach them Yoga at a house or something.

[Skippy]