| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
creeper1
Joined: 30 Jan 2007
|
 Posted: Sun Feb 26, 2012 2:59 pm Post subject: |
 |
|
jj.can what do you want to know?
GEPIK is a good organisation to work for. Not as easy to get in as it used to be to get into but reliable and covering a lot of desirable areas (close to Seoul).
It can be hard for a newbie at first to go straight into PS though. With no teaching experience there is a chance your K-coteacher won't want to give an apprenticeship so to speak. Also note that class sizes can be large.
Get a bit of teaching experience for your own sake if you can. I personally think hagwons are good before PS because of the challenging size of the classes in PS wouldn't necessarily be so easy for a newbie.
Will you get supportive Korean staff to help you?
That to me is a big factor in whether you will succeed as a teacher and have a positive experience.
If you think you are able apply and see. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
angsta
Joined: 11 Oct 2011
|
| Posted: Tue Feb 28, 2012 10:23 am Post subject: |
|
|
| creeper1 wrote: |
| nickwils wrote: |
| creeper1 wrote: |
| nickwils wrote: |
| Anyone who can spend 3+ years in Korea deserves a medal nevermind 2.6 million won. |
So says the guy who joined this forum in 2007 and is still posting 5 years later in 2012. |
Ohhhh I mean 3 consecutive years. The horror, the horror...
You may have noticed this site holds information on more than just one country, actually you probably didn't. |
I did notice that but on Dave's ESL separate registration is required for the Korea discussion forums.
Therefore you have been in Korea or interested in Korea for approximately 5 years.
Maybe if you had stuck it out in PS in Korea you could be on 2.6 and have a host of other benefits.
 |
A host of other benefits? Very funny. Let me guess you've never worked anywhere before apart from maybe your local Burger King and you came here straight from Uni in North America to Korea. Of course you did. Or you work as a recruiter.
I think the OP is suggesting that there are other places to work apart from the ROK. I don't think it's the teaching, it's the people. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
purplemonkey
Joined: 27 Feb 2012
|
| Posted: Tue Feb 28, 2012 11:01 am Post subject: |
|
|
Just to answer the OP, it may be the case that hakwons aren't advertising as many jobs in the places you're looking. Therefore it would look like only Public schools are advertising when, in fact, it's simply that their posts aren't diluted.
Or it might be the hiring season kicking in. Public schools have their twice annual push whereas hakwons are more likely ot be evened out over the year. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
TheUrbanMyth
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Location: Retired
|
| Posted: Tue Feb 28, 2012 4:06 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| angsta wrote: |
[q
A host of other benefits? Very funny. . |
Yes. Both tangible and intangible benefits.
1. Paid airfare. (questionable at a hakwon)
2. Paid housing.
3. Extra classes (if you want them)...which means extra money.
4. Pension. (questionable at a hakwon)
5. Medical insurance. (questionable at a hakwon)
6. Extra vacation (less camp classes...if your VP or Principal likes you).
7. A reputation as a good teacher (glowing reference letters). (To be sure a hakwon may give you one too...but what looks better a reference from Joe Kim down the street, or a letter from a Principal of a P.S.?)
8. A more extensive and professional network of contacts.
9. A more impressive resume...let's face it a P.S almost always looks more impressive than a hakwon. To list just one issue, at many places (although not all) a year at a hakwon only counts for half (experience) whereas a year at a P.S counts in full.
10. Though class sizes tend to be larger (although not always) students tend to be better behaved overall...assuming you have SOME classroom control skills to begin with. And they are generally not tired/bored from being in school all day as opposed to being at a hakwon. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Times30
Joined: 27 Mar 2010
|
| Posted: Tue Feb 28, 2012 7:47 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| TheUrbanMyth wrote: |
| angsta wrote: |
[q
A host of other benefits? Very funny. . |
Yes. Both tangible and intangible benefits.
1. Paid airfare. (questionable at a hakwon)
2. Paid housing.
3. Extra classes (if you want them)...which means extra money.
4. Pension. (questionable at a hakwon)
5. Medical insurance. (questionable at a hakwon)
6. Extra vacation (less camp classes...if your VP or Principal likes you).
7. A reputation as a good teacher (glowing reference letters). (To be sure a hakwon may give you one too...but what looks better a reference from Joe Kim down the street, or a letter from a Principal of a P.S.?)
8. A more extensive and professional network of contacts.
9. A more impressive resume...let's face it a P.S almost always looks more impressive than a hakwon. To list just one issue, at many places (although not all) a year at a hakwon only counts for half (experience) whereas a year at a P.S counts in full.
10. Though class sizes tend to be larger (although not always) students tend to be better behaved overall...assuming you have SOME classroom control skills to begin with. And they are generally not tired/bored from being in school all day as opposed to being at a hakwon. |
Posting to confirm this. PS you get so much more in terms of the "little" things. But they aren't little. They really add up and make a huge difference. I work at a hagwon now and worked 2 years Public School. At PS. I found myself with SOOO much time to do whatever I wanted. At hagwon I'm bogged and preparing and thinking of school every minute of my life, with LESS benefits, LESS money, etc...
Benefits add up sirs. Don't knock them in the teeth. Especially the reference letter. You'd be surprised how many doors the reference letter can open up. Especially in Korea. And the Korean contacts as well. It's often the contacts are the most invaluable thing to getting future jobs if you're a lifer. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
coratheexplorer
Joined: 16 Feb 2012
|
| Posted: Wed Feb 29, 2012 10:05 am Post subject: |
|
|
| modernseoul wrote: |
| I think it's due to people backing out at the last minute. A common problem when dealing with newbies. |
I have just receieved an offer for one of these. But I am worried about the assistant teacher situation. Seems to me it would be asking for trouble... considering cultural differences, on top of general workplace dramas which are common even if everyone speaks the same language, has similar background etc.
Do people think it's worth it? I have been reading the forum for a while and haven't seen many complaints about that particular thing. Maybe it isn't an issue really, after all. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
sbp59
Joined: 01 Apr 2009
Location: Somewhere in SK
|
| Posted: Thu Mar 01, 2012 12:23 am Post subject: |
|
|
| coratheexplorer wrote: |
| modernseoul wrote: |
| I think it's due to people backing out at the last minute. A common problem when dealing with newbies. |
I have just receieved an offer for one of these. But I am worried about the assistant teacher situation. Seems to me it would be asking for trouble... considering cultural differences, on top of general workplace dramas which are common even if everyone speaks the same language, has similar background etc.
Do people think it's worth it? I have been reading the forum for a while and haven't seen many complaints about that particular thing. Maybe it isn't an issue really, after all. |
Well.... The co-teacher could be great and helpful. Try to look at it from a positive perspective. But, the Co-teacher is the ultimate wild card at the public schools. Like Forest Gump said.... "You never know what you're gonna get" |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
ironclad80
Joined: 13 Sep 2009
|
| Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2012 3:37 am Post subject: |
|
|
I wish I knew the answer to this question. I work for GEPIK. My school first told me they'll receive additional funding for me in the Fall. Now they are saying there will be no more funding from the government. With about two months left on my contract I don't know if I should be preparing for another job, or remaining comfortable.
I think folks here are more informed than even my school. I knew about the cuts before they did through these forums.
I'm okay with whatever happens, but I wish I knew what was going on so I can plan accordingly.
Why would some schools receive additional funding for NETs in the Fall while mine supposedly isn't? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
andrewchon
Joined: 16 Nov 2008
Location: Back in Oz. Living in ISIS Aust.
|
| Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2012 6:08 am Post subject: |
|
|
Schools receive funding from the cityhall and/or school boosters and/or from the gov for NET's salary.
corrected.
Last edited by andrewchon on Sat Mar 03, 2012 10:49 pm; edited 1 time in total |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
coratheexplorer
Joined: 16 Feb 2012
|
| Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2012 11:25 am Post subject: |
|
|
| sbp59 wrote: |
| coratheexplorer wrote: |
| modernseoul wrote: |
| I think it's due to people backing out at the last minute. A common problem when dealing with newbies. |
I have just receieved an offer for one of these. But I am worried about the assistant teacher situation. Seems to me it would be asking for trouble... considering cultural differences, on top of general workplace dramas which are common even if everyone speaks the same language, has similar background etc.
Do people think it's worth it? I have been reading the forum for a while and haven't seen many complaints about that particular thing. Maybe it isn't an issue really, after all. |
Well.... The co-teacher could be great and helpful. Try to look at it from a positive perspective. But, the Co-teacher is the ultimate wild card at the public schools. Like Forest Gump said.... "You never know what you're gonna get" |
I see that it could be a positive aspect but I think it reveals a controlling attitude at the top levels. It's not immersion learning if there is a translator or non-native speaker assisting, or even simply present. Not necessary, why require it? The recruiting firm I am using (who seem like straight shooters overall) are making it out to be a coveted job. But this is a major "con" to me.
So is not being able to have more control over the curriculum. Finally, the application (for Seoul Public Schools). It is unnecessarily lengthy. That itself reveals a very controlling attitude. The supposedly elite schools in Muslim countries to which I have applied to seem less anal. I don't have a good feeling about it, going to say no. Maybe Korea is not for me. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
jrwhite82
Joined: 22 May 2010
|
| Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2012 4:35 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| I think one of the reasons for a lot of the GEPIK school positions still being available is that the funding for many schools was announced only at the beginning of January. So these schools were left scrambling (while most of the essential staff was on vacation) to find teachers who are ready to go with documents. Plus the new hiring requirement of EVERYONE needing a TESOL, Ed Degree or English major. So basically they didn't have a lot of time and on top of that the available hiring pool was drastically decreased due to the increased requirements. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
jrwhite82
Joined: 22 May 2010
|
| Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2012 4:37 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| ironclad80 wrote: |
I wish I knew the answer to this question. I work for GEPIK. My school first told me they'll receive additional funding for me in the Fall. Now they are saying there will be no more funding from the government. With about two months left on my contract I don't know if I should be preparing for another job, or remaining comfortable.
I think folks here are more informed than even my school. I knew about the cuts before they did through these forums.
I'm okay with whatever happens, but I wish I knew what was going on so I can plan accordingly.
Why would some schools receive additional funding for NETs in the Fall while mine supposedly isn't? |
If your school has already told you that there will be no funding, go ahead and look for a new job.
Ask your coordinator where your school gets their funding (city hall or provincial).
When is your contract end date? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
NohopeSeriously
Joined: 17 Jan 2011
Location: The Christian Right-Wing Educational Republic of Korea
|
| Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2012 10:20 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| andrewchon wrote: |
| Some schools receive funding from the cityhall and/or school boosters, as well as the gov for NET's salary. |
Everything's right except for the underlined phrase.
(FYI, my GEPIK school stole my fundings.  I'm a gyopo and the school boards wouldn't take me seriously anyways.) |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
