Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Charriere]

Following the news of the SMOE cuts, I'm interested to hear what others think will happen to the ESL industry in Korea.

I am concerned that the actions taken by SMOE will be followed not only by EPIK and GEPIK, but also by universities around the country. For someone, such as myself, who is looking to get their foot in the door at a university, these are worrying times. Not only will competition for teaching slots likely increase, I feel that the gradual rise in the standard of English among young Koreans will force universities to reduce the size of their ESL departments.

A few years ago, when Nova collapsed in Japan, there was an exodus of teachers out of the country. From what I have read, wages and conditions have since stagnated. The ESL industry still exists there, however, it's harder for teachers to make a good living from it.

What are your thoughts?

[BananaBan]

China here i come!

[koreatimes]

This is my take on it. I worked 4 years in Japan (Nova for 3 months of it, luckily I saw the light and bailed early on). I worked 2.5 years in Korea, and now I am into my second year in China.

Japan has job opportunities, just not always in Tokyo or Osaka if you want that. I get job offers a lot for jobs in the southern part of Japan. I don't think you will be able to find employment as easily online as you will in person. That's what makes it so difficult. If and when I return, I will pick a specific area and visit it first. I will look for whatever job opportunities exist first before committing.

Korea unfortunately is a smaller version. Japan stretches north and south, but South Korea is a smaller country by virtue of it being sectioned off from the North. Everything is easily accessible and can be controlled when you basically have Seoul as the main city. You don't have this dynamic with Japan.

China is a huge country and I can't see an end yet like Nova had in Japan. I imagine Korea's problems right now are due to economic hardships, not because some corporate giant like Nova took a nosedive and spoiled it for the industry.

If you still want to teach Koreans, here's a tip. Go to the northeast of China, like Qingdao, Dalian, or Shenyang (Xita, Koreatown). Korean communities live there, and it is quite possible for you to get a job teaching Koreans mostly. Also, there are international schools.

Korea is reacting to the economy, when the economy improves Korea will be better to live and work in.

[Airborne9]

Well its my understanding that GEPIK is already cut. I am in a GEPIK school and the only way you will get rehired when you finish your current contract is that if the school finds the money for you or if you are already funded by city hall and not the Gyeonggi office of Education.

So thats already gone, EPIK is next. I imagine we will see the embargoes on hiring teachers out of the standard intake time (i.e. August and February) then see a general reduction in certain areas to corresponding with budget cuts. Maybe in the public school those with the money will hire a teacher to teach in more than one school. Furthermore maybe more after school teachers rather than normal PS co teachers will be the way they will go on.

[Some of the Mothers Said]

[ttompatz]

[Some of the Mothers Said]

What ttompatz writes is right on the button. ttompatz is the most accurate contributor to this site.

[plchron]

one good thing about the downfall of ESL in korea is that the shady recruiters will be the second to fall (ESL teachers being the first of course).
HAHAHAHA

[Rutherford]

Great analysis Ttompatz. Your posts are half the reason I still check this forum.

[z3371538]

t is right about everything except China is not a country to go to pay off loans. They simply do not pay enough money. China is also a much more difficult country to live in than Japan or Korea. For all we whine and complain about, Japan and Korea are not developing countries. I do not think we will see just out of university grads flock as eagerly as you say. And if they do go, they may leave a lot more quickly than they leave Korea.

[ttompatz]

[z3371538]

lol, I am looking only right now and I have yet to see a job that offers a 10,000 rmb and all those benefits. I am sure with networking you can find one, but plenty of jobs in Korea offer it already. You can still negotiate a prepaid flight in Korea, but often Chinese English schools will only give you around 300$. You are on the money that the shift will be to China, but the benefits and quality of living are nothing compared to Korea.

[ttompatz]

[z3371538]

I think you are painting these jobs in way too sunny of a light. Disney English China has a terrible reputation as you would learn from a simple google search. They refuse to even list benefits on the contract and try to get out of paying for your flight. Korea has a lot of problems, but if you are serious about teaching English it is still a very good place to go.

[ttompatz]