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TorontoGirl
Joined: 04 Oct 2011
Location: Toronto, ON
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 Posted: Sun Oct 16, 2011 1:53 pm Post subject: Korean contracts under one year? |
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Hello
I have been looking into going to S. Korea for some time now to teach ESL however the one year commitment is what has stopped me.
I haven't seen any that are under a year but I find that a bit surprising as, though its obviously different than in Canada, I would think there would be some programs that last only 10 or 8 or 6 months.
Any thoughts??
Thanks, |
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enj0i
Joined: 07 Sep 2011
Location: SXM w/o a passport
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northway
Joined: 05 Jul 2010
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| Posted: Sun Oct 16, 2011 3:26 pm Post subject: |
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| enj0i wrote: |
| www.talk.go.kr |
And that pretty much sums it up. |
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Skippy
Joined: 18 Jan 2003
Location: Daejeon
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| Posted: Sun Oct 16, 2011 5:44 pm Post subject: |
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You can always just apply, but mention you only want a short time contract. Some schools might do it as they can save on severence and plane ticket. Sign a regular 1 year contract but make sure the school understands the deal. Give them notice when you are going to leave.
Good Luck! |
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northway
Joined: 05 Jul 2010
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| Posted: Sun Oct 16, 2011 9:06 pm Post subject: |
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| Skippy wrote: |
You can always just apply, but mention you only want a short time contract. Some schools might do it as they can save on severence and plane ticket. Sign a regular 1 year contract but make sure the school understands the deal. Give them notice when you are going to leave.
Good Luck! |
It's possible, but there are a few reasons it's highly unlikely:
1) They'd have to pay two recruiting fees.
2) They're getting burned on airfare by flying you over one way, even if they save on the return.
3) An unwillingness to commit to a year shows an unwillingness to commit to the work. When you hear complaints about people treating this like an extended vacation, most people who are going to come over here for six months aren't coming to develop themselves as teachers. While some schools won't care about this, they probably should. For a certified teacher it might be reasonable, but a newb will just be getting the hang of basic classroom management around the time they exit the building for the last time.
The above issues aside, a willingness to commit to ten months but not twelve makes this look like a case of cold feet (no offense OP). If you're willing to do ten months, why not just stick out the whole year (unless you have grad school in the offing, or something to that effect)? |
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TorontoGirl
Joined: 04 Oct 2011
Location: Toronto, ON
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| Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2011 6:24 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| If you're willing to do ten months, why not just stick out the whole year (unless you have grad school in the offing, or something to that effect)? |
That's exactly it! If I start in Dec or Jan, grad schools start in September, so that gives me only 9 months or so.
Otherwise I'd be happy to commit  |
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TorontoGirl
Joined: 04 Oct 2011
Location: Toronto, ON
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| Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2011 6:26 am Post subject: TEFL cert |
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Also, this is unrelated but I don't actually have a TEFL certificate, but is it at all worthwhile to do an online one?
Teaching isn't the career path I want, but I have heard good things about doing ESL in Korea and would like to, and know you don't need TEFL and for me, it's not worth spending $1000 on it as it's not something I want to do for many years. But online courses are quite affordable and that's what makes me skeptical.
Thoughts?
Thanks again for the insight!  |
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Skipperoo
Joined: 05 Jul 2010
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| Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2011 6:30 am Post subject: |
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I did a weekend course and an online TEFL thing before I came out - it was helpful in terms of gaining a little bit of experience giving trial lessons and studying grammar/teaching methods, but I doubt it contributed whatsoever to my getting hired.
All-in-all it's probably nothing you can't learn from a good book on grammar and another about ESL teaching for a fraction of the price.
As for looking for shorter contracts, you'll be better off just accepting a 1 year position and then quitting early. You won't lose out at all and you're much more likely to find a position. It's a little mean to the school/hagwon though. |
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dramasing
Joined: 16 Aug 2011
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| Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2011 6:44 am Post subject: |
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I'm trying to find a camp position, I was looking for contracts less than a year also since I'm also going back to school next fall. I thought it would be easier but I've only talked to two recruiters and both of them said they don't have anything but full-year contracts.
Camps are only like 3-5 weeks or something though, so you kinda get shorted in terms of actually making money. |
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northway
Joined: 05 Jul 2010
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| Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2011 6:48 am Post subject: |
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| dramasing wrote: |
I'm trying to find a camp position, I was looking for contracts less than a year also since I'm also going back to school next fall. I thought it would be easier but I've only talked to two recruiters and both of them said they don't have anything but full-year contracts.
Camps are only like 3-5 weeks or something though, so you kinda get shorted in terms of actually making money. |
I hear more stories about breaking even or coming out behind when people do camps from out of country. |
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Skippy
Joined: 18 Jan 2003
Location: Daejeon
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| Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2011 3:48 pm Post subject: |
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| northway wrote: |
It's possible, but there are a few reasons it's highly unlikely:
1) They'd have to pay two recruiting fees.
2) They're getting burned on airfare by flying you over one way, even if they save on the return.
3) An unwillingness to commit to a year shows an unwillingness to commit to the work. When you hear complaints about people treating this like an extended vacation, most people who are going to come over here for six months aren't coming to develop themselves as teachers. While some schools won't care about this, they probably should. For a certified teacher it might be reasonable, but a newb will just be getting the hang of basic classroom management around the time they exit the building for the last time.
The above issues aside, a willingness to commit to ten months but not twelve makes this look like a case of cold feet (no offense OP). If you're willing to do ten months, why not just stick out the whole year (unless you have grad school in the offing, or something to that effect)? |
Good Points. Yes with the recruiters fees. Still it is possible but harder to find a job. She can get it if she can do something to sweeten the pot, like find her own job and save the school a recruiter. Or have the school get a two way ticket but she has to pay half herself. The thing is anything can be done but it will take more effort or longer with the more requests you ask.
At this point and if you will do a short term contract no a certificate if not worth it. Tho the idea of a weekend course sounds nice. |
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dramasing
Joined: 16 Aug 2011
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| Posted: Tue Oct 18, 2011 11:27 am Post subject: |
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| northway wrote: |
| dramasing wrote: |
I'm trying to find a camp position, I was looking for contracts less than a year also since I'm also going back to school next fall. I thought it would be easier but I've only talked to two recruiters and both of them said they don't have anything but full-year contracts.
Camps are only like 3-5 weeks or something though, so you kinda get shorted in terms of actually making money. |
I hear more stories about breaking even or coming out behind when people do camps from out of country. |
Hm no surprise, though I admit I didn't look too much into the math. Buying the tickets knocks out more than half the pay, but they are providing rooms + meals most of the time. Making money wasn't the object for me though so if I can break even I think I'd be happy! (I might be screwed though because I sent in my cbc request late). |
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northway
Joined: 05 Jul 2010
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| Posted: Tue Oct 18, 2011 2:24 pm Post subject: |
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| dramasing wrote: |
| northway wrote: |
| dramasing wrote: |
I'm trying to find a camp position, I was looking for contracts less than a year also since I'm also going back to school next fall. I thought it would be easier but I've only talked to two recruiters and both of them said they don't have anything but full-year contracts.
Camps are only like 3-5 weeks or something though, so you kinda get shorted in terms of actually making money. |
I hear more stories about breaking even or coming out behind when people do camps from out of country. |
Hm no surprise, though I admit I didn't look too much into the math. Buying the tickets knocks out more than half the pay, but they are providing rooms + meals most of the time. Making money wasn't the object for me though so if I can break even I think I'd be happy! (I might be screwed though because I sent in my cbc request late). |
The other thing they don't mention is that with most camp positions you're worked so hard that you don't have time to do anything anyway. I think they're largely a scam if you're coming from outside of the country, personally. |
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dramasing
Joined: 16 Aug 2011
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| Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2011 6:28 am Post subject: |
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Why a "scam", out of curiosity?
I read one girl's account (she did summer camp though) and though she said it was super intense, she said it was an amazing experience and she was glad she did it. |
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TorontoGirl
Joined: 04 Oct 2011
Location: Toronto, ON
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| Posted: Thu Oct 27, 2011 9:54 am Post subject: |
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| Skipperoo wrote: |
I did a weekend course and an online TEFL thing before I came out - it was helpful in terms of gaining a little bit of experience giving trial lessons and studying grammar/teaching methods, but I doubt it contributed whatsoever to my getting hired.
All-in-all it's probably nothing you can't learn from a good book on grammar and another about ESL teaching for a fraction of the price.
As for looking for shorter contracts, you'll be better off just accepting a 1 year position and then quitting early. You won't lose out at all and you're much more likely to find a position. It's a little mean to the school/hagwon though. |
So, I've heard that this is done...and that there are actually ways to do it legally if you are with a public school (but I'd take private as they are much easier to find) but then I've also heard some horror stories like they hold your pay, they kick you out of the lodging etc etc if you do this. I've also heard some stories of private schools doing this to people who don't break contracts.
Is there anything you can do as a foreigner if this happens?
How common is it? How common is it actually that contracts are broken?  |
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