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nattyos84
Joined: 04 Apr 2011
Location: England
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 Posted: Wed Apr 13, 2011 3:53 am Post subject: Couple Teaching placements in Korea |
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Hi
My boyfriend and I are planning on heading out to Korea in the next 5 to 8 months to teach english.
We're hoping to get a couple placement and I just wondered if anyone had any experiences they could share on this? Did you find it easy to get a good placement, how did your living arrangements work out etc?
We're literally at the initial stage of getting our documents sorted and starting to look at Agencies so any advice would be really great.
Thanks
Nat. |
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onlyinkorea87
Joined: 16 Feb 2010
Location: Gimhae
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| Posted: Wed Apr 13, 2011 5:12 am Post subject: Re: Couple Teaching placements in Korea |
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| nattyos84 wrote: |
Hi
My boyfriend and I are planning on heading out to Korea in the next 5 to 8 months to teach english.
We're hoping to get a couple placement and I just wondered if anyone had any experiences they could share on this? Did you find it easy to get a good placement, how did your living arrangements work out etc?
We're literally at the initial stage of getting our documents sorted and starting to look at Agencies so any advice would be really great.
Thanks
Nat. |
I've met a few couples in Korea and they seem to be doing just as well as those that are single. The living arrangement is pretty much the same--except sometimes couples can be placed in a bigger apartment complex, which means higher maintenance bills.
Getting a good placement...really depends if you're looking for a good school or just anything. Read the contracts thoroughly, trust your gut and make sure you talk to all the current and past foreign teachers (if any) at any school you interview for.
Best of luck!
--Onlyinkorea87
http://www.onlyinkorea87.wordpress.com |
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nattyos84
Joined: 04 Apr 2011
Location: England
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| Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2011 11:21 am Post subject: |
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Thanks for the advice. Of those couples you know in Korea in terms of accomodation do they tend to be housed in shared accomodation with other teachers or on their own? We're open to either but would be helpful to know!
Thanks
Nat |
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RMNC
Joined: 21 Jul 2010
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| Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2011 11:26 am Post subject: |
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I see couple positions advertised all the time
Keep in mind that being a couple in Korea is harder than in your home country. It takes actual WORK, but at least you'll have someone to complain with when the poop hits the fan. Usually employers look for married couples so that there isn't a lot of messy problems in case you guys break up or something (just in general, not you in particular).
Get your docs done ASAP, don't waste any time. Seriously, the one thing I preach to newbies is to GET THEM DONE NOW. It's horrible waiting for them and ending up in a time crunch due to the slow federal systems.
Don't bother "looking at" recruiting agencies, just send out as many possible resumes to as many possible recruiters as possible saying that you want a couple position. Recruiters are not your friends, they will not help you. All they do is introduce you to a school, so use them like they use you. Don't believe them, they may lie to you to get you to sign on the dotted line. Investigate, research and be stingy when in comes to singing contracts.
Aside from that, just start browsing Dave's Job Board and the WorknPlay Korea board. Get an idea of what you want.
Couples almost always get their own housing, sometimes they get two separate apartments, since if you're not married then you obviously shouldn't live together because then you'd have sex and be going to hell (heh). It's not common, but it happens, and if it does, you'll have lucked out.
However. Do not EVER share an apartment with anyone else but your boyfriend. EVER. EVER. It never happens for couples, but my god, that would be horrible. Forced to share an apartment with complete strangers for an entire year? My god, we aren't cattle, have some standards.
Good luck! Be vigilant |
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Sinnerman
Joined: 19 Feb 2011
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| Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2011 12:28 pm Post subject: |
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If you live together, make sure that you get an apartment that is at least 15-18 pyeong. (roughly 600 square feet) Otherwise you will be falling all over each other.
I would also ask how the school intends to cope when you want to go on vacation together. It would have to be a fairly large staff to pick up any slack. |
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iselynjenniep
Joined: 01 Jul 2010
Location: bundang
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| Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2011 2:23 am Post subject: |
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| my boyfriend and i moved here together. we work at separate schools (that are about a 10 minute walk apart), he took the apartment from his school and i get a 400,000 won/month housing allowance. to me this is the best way to do it. that way you are getting at least $4,000 US a year instead of having "couples housing" which from what i hear is not too much better than "singles housing". just a thought. |
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edwardcatflap
Joined: 22 Mar 2009
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| Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2011 4:17 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| However. Do not EVER share an apartment with anyone else but your boyfriend. EVER. EVER. |
What are you talking about? People do this all the time. Here and in expensive cities like NY and London when they're just starting out. As long as you get your own bedroom you can be fine. I've shared three times with total strangers in other countires and had a great time. I actually missed it the first time I took a flat alone. Of course when you get more established you don't want to be doing it but for your first accommodation it can be great. And much cheaper. |
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iselynjenniep
Joined: 01 Jul 2010
Location: bundang
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| Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2011 4:25 am Post subject: |
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| edwardcatflap wrote: |
| Quote: |
| However. Do not EVER share an apartment with anyone else but your boyfriend. EVER. EVER. |
What are you talking about? People do this all the time. Here and in expensive cities like NY and London when they're just starting out. As long as you get your own bedroom you can be fine. I've shared three times with total strangers in other countires and had a great time. I actually missed it the first time I took a flat alone. Of course when you get more established you don't want to be doing it but for your first accommodation it can be great. And much cheaper. |
i have to agree with the person who said to get your own apartment. it comes standard with teaching contracts in korea. personally i would not want a roommate when i could have my own apartment! utilities aren't that expensive here and since the rent is free why not... |
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nattyos84
Joined: 04 Apr 2011
Location: England
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| Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2011 4:40 am Post subject: |
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| iselynjenniep wrote: |
| my boyfriend and i moved here together. we work at separate schools (that are about a 10 minute walk apart), he took the apartment from his school and i get a 400,000 won/month housing allowance. to me this is the best way to do it. that way you are getting at least $4,000 US a year instead of having "couples housing" which from what i hear is not too much better than "singles housing". just a thought. |
Hi
Sorry if I'm being thick here but just trying to get an understanding as we're still at the researching stage and have no actual experience in this.
When you say you get a housing allowance, did you ask for this instead of being housed or is it what you were offered? And do you live seperately then or do you get your housing allowance and then live with him?
I think we intended to try to work together but thanks for this information as we're definitely open to other options, as long as we can find placements in the same place.
Cheers
Nat |
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iselynjenniep
Joined: 01 Jul 2010
Location: bundang
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| Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2011 4:44 am Post subject: |
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| nattyos84 wrote: |
| iselynjenniep wrote: |
| my boyfriend and i moved here together. we work at separate schools (that are about a 10 minute walk apart), he took the apartment from his school and i get a 400,000 won/month housing allowance. to me this is the best way to do it. that way you are getting at least $4,000 US a year instead of having "couples housing" which from what i hear is not too much better than "singles housing". just a thought. |
Hi
Sorry if I'm being thick here but just trying to get an understanding as we're still at the researching stage and have no actual experience in this.
When you say you get a housing allowance, did you ask for this instead of being housed or is it what you were offered? And do you live seperately then or do you get your housing allowance and then live with him?
I think we intended to try to work together but thanks for this information as we're definitely open to other options, as long as we can find placements in the same place.
Cheers
Nat |
i get my housing allowance and live with him. i asked for it and it was not a problem. it is quite common, not all schools will give you the allowance but most. |
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RMNC
Joined: 21 Jul 2010
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| Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2011 5:30 am Post subject: |
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| edwardcatflap wrote: |
| Quote: |
| However. Do not EVER share an apartment with anyone else but your boyfriend. EVER. EVER. |
What are you talking about? People do this all the time. Here and in expensive cities like NY and London when they're just starting out. As long as you get your own bedroom you can be fine. I've shared three times with total strangers in other countires and had a great time. I actually missed it the first time I took a flat alone. Of course when you get more established you don't want to be doing it but for your first accommodation it can be great. And much cheaper. |
Getting your own apartment in Korea is the norm. As teachers, collectively we need to make sure that this continues. Many a waygookin has gone crazy due to living with a slob/pig/psycho/alcoholic. |
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lithium
Joined: 18 Jun 2008
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| Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2011 5:33 am Post subject: |
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the one thing I preach to newbies
Joined: 21 Jul 2010
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RMNC
Joined: 21 Jul 2010
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| Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2011 5:43 am Post subject: |
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Holy giant avatar
Also this is a different account than the one I used for the past 4 years, but nice try, that was cute. |
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nattyos84
Joined: 04 Apr 2011
Location: England
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| Posted: Wed May 11, 2011 4:25 am Post subject: |
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| iselynjenniep wrote: |
| nattyos84 wrote: |
| iselynjenniep wrote: |
| my boyfriend and i moved here together. we work at separate schools (that are about a 10 minute walk apart), he took the apartment from his school and i get a 400,000 won/month housing allowance. to me this is the best way to do it. that way you are getting at least $4,000 US a year instead of having "couples housing" which from what i hear is not too much better than "singles housing". just a thought. |
Hi
Sorry if I'm being thick here but just trying to get an understanding as we're still at the researching stage and have no actual experience in this.
When you say you get a housing allowance, did you ask for this instead of being housed or is it what you were offered? And do you live seperately then or do you get your housing allowance and then live with him?
I think we intended to try to work together but thanks for this information as we're definitely open to other options, as long as we can find placements in the same place.
Cheers
Nat |
i get my housing allowance and live with him. i asked for it and it was not a problem. it is quite common, not all schools will give you the allowance but most. |
Thanks for this info iselynjenniep. With regards to your living arrangements is this your first year in Korea?
Am just wondering, as it will be our first year how easy the logistics of sorting out one of us to have accomodation and one to have a bursery would be. Are hagwons (we're planning on arriving in January so going private) quite flexible with these agreements? |
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iselynjenniep
Joined: 01 Jul 2010
Location: bundang
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| Posted: Wed May 11, 2011 6:15 am Post subject: |
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| yes it is my first year here. now i am going into my second year and we both have new jobs but i was able to get a housing allowance again and live with him so it really is quite simple. |
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