Korean Job Discussion Forums

[refreshingblend]

Hello, I'm new to these forums, having been introduced by a friend. I've looked around for discussion of this topic but if you are able to link me to a relevant old post feel free.

I'm getting close to signing a contract and expect to leave for my first job in about a months time (hagwon). I have a reasonable sum of money (around $1500), but I am slightly worried about how much I can trust a private language institution having read many posts on this forum about bad practice.

What I am most worried about is not getting paid on time and not being looked after.

I am aware that I can take steps to avoid this happening (arranging a chat with a previous employee and checking with members that the school is reputable) but I have to be honest, I just want confirmation that it would be rare for teacher / employer relationship to come off to such a bad start.

Your honesty would be greatly appreciated.

[Stan Rogers]

Anything can happen. People rarely have trouble in the middle of their contract. If something bad happens it will happen at the start (variety of possible problems) or as you are coming to the end of your contract (almost always money related).

These problems are not rare. More like uncommon, but they do happen.

Good Luck.

[tardisrider]

It's just one of those things you have to prepare for and hope against.

If it makes you feel any better, I don't hear about the no-payment thing happening nearly as much as I used to. Back in the 90s, it seemed to happen much more often.

[bbunce]

You should post your contract in the contract thread before you do anything else. Contracts can tell you alot about a school any you will get some good advice.

[cedarseoul]

Read Dave's religiously--not b/c the information is always accurate, but b/c you will get a balance of opinions here. And you will quickly discover that some posters (like Ttompatz and ontheway) are pretty well-informed and capable of answering most questions.

I've been in Korea since 2007, and while I've had a pretty good work experience, I've also had questions and concerns from time to time. Dave's has been an invaluable resource for me.

[refreshingblend]

Thank you. I will post my contract once I get it sorted. I suppose if the worst happened, I should have just about enough money to get back anyway.

[alistaircandlin]

I felt exactly the way you do, just after getting my first job, at a Hagwon in Incheon.

I'd been applying for jobs all over asia, decided on Korea because the pay was better than other places at that time. I accepted an offer, then read all the horror stories, and thought: oh my god, what am I getting into here?

I decided to give it a go, and, with some caveats, the horror stories I'd read about Korea didn't apply. I was pretty well looked after by other foreign teachers, who showed me round and gave a bit of teaching advice; there was no problem with payments.

It was however, a year of hard work - five or six hours teaching each day, and not many holidays at all. The managers of the Hagwon, were very far from perfect, but at least we got paid on time, got taken out for dinners, and so on.

Although, now that I'm more qualified and experienced, there's no way I would work under the same conditions now, I don't regret the experience - I was thrown in at the deep end after doing a TEFL qualification that didn't prepare me for teaching kids, but I learnt a lot that year.

Well, after rambling on about myself for too long - my basic advice is that you can only really know if it's for you by trying. I would try to contact some of the existing foreign teachers who are working at the place where you have an offer - see what they think. Also, you should probably expect that you'll have to work quite hard, and that you will have some of the problems all new teachers have with classroom and behaviour management. If you have some such problems though, it's not the end of the world, just an experience, and many others have had similiar problems too.

[YTMND]

[kimchipig]

[luckylady]

you're already a step ahead if you know someone already in Korea.

hopefully, that person has given you a heads up on some of the things to look for such as making sure the school has at least 100 students; less than that and they may be on the verge of shutting down or at least financial issues can be more of a concern.

are you the first foreign teacher? very big red flag unless it's public school, then just scary

keep reading the boards, as well as the contract threads to see how yours compares. keep posting your qs, people will respond. it gets better but yes, bad things do happen, even with research, even when we do everything we're supposed to do. in the end tho, you'll find it's just part of life and it usually does all work out.

[soomin]

[theevilgenius]

I was like you when I came. I prepared for the worst and was pleasantly surprised when I came, and any BS that could have cropped up I was prepared for.

[Skippy]

Hmm. Skippy like. Good head on shoulders this one. Nice questions, well thought out questions. Trying to prepare before fecal matter hits fan.

The school being bad from the bad. Is common enough but not that common. Many variables. From teacher (you) to boss to location. Some things to consider or to make yourself aware of.

1) Owner/Boss English ability. The poorer it is the more likely you will have to fend for yourself.

2) Co-Workers English ability. It can vary from very little, to amazing. If most or modicure or below level. Then school likely has a high turn over which means less stability.

3) Size of school. Talking student base and business wise. The bigger the more stable. Not better, just more stable meaning paid on time, will get provided the basics (house). But bigger schools can also be pickier, so may demand more and/or fire quicker.

4) Attitude towards time. The more they rush you, the more likely of things to go ga-blooey. Even with your application. If a school is really pushing you to sign, sign, now, now, now, come over right away. These are a sign of being badly prepared. Or that they want to sucker someone over and stick them in a bad job.

5) Materials and preparation. If make a class and have only one book to teach with 6 students a bit normal. But if after a week and nothing is done about students getting books, then be worried. Slapdash and just wing it attitudes is very common in nonstable schools.

6) Number of waygook teachers. Not all will be large. But if a school has only one, it will usually be harder for newbies. IF they have only had one teacher for many years, then be worried. Not much growth can be school is just keep head above water. Still being the only teacher can be great, but it can be stressful. Newbie having a fellow waygook can be a benefit.

7) Lower expectations a bit. Do not expect full professionalism towards education. What apartment will be like, hint one room is small! So on with tings. Down grade that image in your head, so when you do get here and things are not what they thought they wold be like, you are prepared. For some people things will only get worse if expectations are not met.

Dealing with problems and needs. For example, if you school decides to wait a month or two on getting the alien registration card (ARC)or can not seem to find sometime soon in the first week or two to get the health check done. Not good signs. If they can not be f*cked to deal with things that matter for you and them. The odds of if they will be f*cked to care about things that matter to just you will be less. Still sometimes schools and coworkers will be busy. Just be aware when they are and if they are just trying to blow you off.

As some advice for a first timer...

Well the money is a good start. As commented, learn to do things on your own. The more you are responsible for yourself the better things will go for you. Yes being a newbie will be hard. Sometimes you will get a nice waygook wrangler, other times coteachers will be too busy.

So learn how to pay your own bills, use bank machine, use taxi, etc.

When you can get and arrange your own phone, bank account, ARC card, health check. Ask here and people will give some good advice.

Do read dave's often - not just for stories, but recent changes and even moves and options to be aware of.

Learn when and where to stand up for yourself. Sometimes in that first month you will get lobbed some toughies. You have to sometimes take a step back and consider if it is worth fighting about, whining about, or even just doing about. Save energy and resources for the big fights. BUT when need do stand up for yourself. For example, your school just gave you a last minute class with no resources, rather then whining, just nod your head and try to get it done. Another example Your boss says he can not pay you today, but later. Stand up for yourself and ASK when? If he says next day, I (me) would let pass, if he forgets, once again stand up for yourself and demand your money or a bloody good reason.

Always be looking and preparing. Great you have job and it is going fine. Yet, it may always go topsy turvey. So check the job boards often. Have some paperwork being done or in process.

Consider getting some extra copies of your paperwork., now that your are in your home country. Yes the CRC will expire. But if you have some extra papers on hand and things go haywire, you can leave and come back quicker. No waiting for a CRC or degree check is making you stay in a bad situation.

Work on a great first impression. Dress nicely, show up earlier, be real go getting the first month or two. If you impress them enough at the start and you some brownie points (sometimes not), it can really help in the future. After a time you can start to relax and coast a bit on the first impression. Or when you do ask for something you, they might be more willing.

Read your contract. Most of what you will get will be in there. Most of what will be expected (generally) will there. Do not accept promises and words at full value.

Learn to read Korean, not speak, read. It will really help and will impress coworkers a little.