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cosmic lightning
Joined: 05 May 2012
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 Posted: Tue May 15, 2012 8:49 am Post subject: Coming to Korea in October |
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Hi everyone,
I have been contemplating the idea of teaching abroad for quite some time now and have decided that I am going to take the plunge by coming to Korea this October.
I have been researching a lot about the country and have learnt what to look out for in contracts by browsing this website. I would like to work in the Bundang district at a public school, but am having trouble finding much independent information about schools in this area- I will be using a recruiter for assistance but also intend on doing my own research as much as possible. Can anyone provide me with advice on how I proceed with independent research on schools in this area? Information that I can find on the net is either limited or is in Korean, which unfortunately I cannot read.
The only other question I have concerns the issue of employment. If things do not go to planned and I feel that the school I'm working at is not for me then what particular rights do I have with wanting to leave and change schools? I think that once you sign a contract you essentially need to see it out until it ends- if so, then understandably this makes me nervous with wanting to choose a school that is right for me.
Thanks. |
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PatrickGHBusan
Joined: 24 Jun 2008
Location: Busan (1997-2008) Canada 2008 -
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| Posted: Tue May 15, 2012 11:45 am Post subject: Re: Coming to Korea in October |
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| cosmic lightning wrote: |
Hi everyone,
I have been contemplating the idea of teaching abroad for quite some time now and have decided that I am going to take the plunge by coming to Korea this October.
I have been researching a lot about the country and have learnt what to look out for in contracts by browsing this website. I would like to work in the Bundang district at a public school, but am having trouble finding much independent information about schools in this area- I will be using a recruiter for assistance but also intend on doing my own research as much as possible. Can anyone provide me with advice on how I proceed with independent research on schools in this area? Information that I can find on the net is either limited or is in Korean, which unfortunately I cannot read.
The only other question I have concerns the issue of employment. If things do not go to planned and I feel that the school I'm working at is not for me then what particular rights do I have with wanting to leave and change schools? I think that once you sign a contract you essentially need to see it out until it ends- if so, then understandably this makes me nervous with wanting to choose a school that is right for me.
Thanks. |
1- You cannot hope to work for a Public School with an October start date (going by your thread title here) because the school year in Korea begins in March and then in September. As such hiring and placement in PS is for September or March.
2- You CAN change schools if you are unhappy but this will require some paperwork and how it is done depends how far you are in your contractual period of employment. The key here is less or more than 6 months into the contract. The work visa is a sponsored visa, that means an employer sponsors you so you can get the work permit. If you want to change schools you will need to either have the visa cancelled or transfered. Some other people can better advise you on this issue so I will stop there on that point.
3- Information on potential schools varies widely online. Also, you need to be careful of the source of information because frankly speaking there is a lot of floating garbage online! Your best bet will be to talk to teachers currently on staff at a school you are considering. This has to wait until you get interviews but that type of information is typically more reliable than some anonymous online blurb about a school.
4- General advice for a successful employement/job search...
I- Have ALL the required documents IN HAND before you atrt applying. That typically means the apostilled documents when required, the criminal records check and all other required forms and papers.
II- Figure out where you want to work (you seem to be keen on Bundang) and for whom (you seem to want PS). Once that is done realise that certain employers hire only at specific times (ex: PS, Universities) and sometimes only through recruiters. Hakwons hire all year long. Also figure out if you prefer to teach young learners or adults.
III- Figure out your worth: this is based on qualifications (degrees), relevant experience and then figure out the average offer out there for someone like you. Also, a job is about a LOT more than pay! Things to consider are hours, benefits, workplace environment, schedule, location...
IV- Be open minded and be ready to adapt as not everything will go as planned!
V- Try to have some money with you when you do get to Korea because you are paid MONTHLY and will typically have to wait one month before your first pay. Also, it is wise to have enough money or available credit available to cover a ticket out of Korea or to cover expenses in case something happens.
Best of luck. |
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cosmic lightning
Joined: 05 May 2012
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| Posted: Tue May 15, 2012 12:19 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks for the great advice! I wasn't aware that public schools are starting in Sept, that's not a problem as my Oct start date wasn't set in stone. I guess i'm still in the research stage of coming to Korea as I don't want to rush into a such a massive commitment, but I do still intend on coming over before the end of the year.
What i'm still trying to gauge is whether or not I'll be able to fit into a Korean lifestyle without feeling terribly ostricised/ isolated. I've been travelling all over SE.Asia so i know what to expect from an Asian community, but its the thought that I may end up spending most of the year in a work/ hiding in my apartment dichotomy that scares me. How easy has it been for you to fit into a society such as Korea's? Do you find its easy to participate in social groups like sports clubs and other activities?
cheers. |
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young_clinton
Joined: 09 Sep 2009
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| Posted: Tue May 15, 2012 6:38 pm Post subject: |
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| cosmic lightning wrote: |
I wasn't aware that public schools are starting in Sept, that's not a problem as my Oct start date wasn't set in stone.
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You can find a job through a recruiter at anytime of the year. Even public school jobs can be found year round, because people leave thier positions early, get fired, have personal emergencies etc.. I would recommend a public school position through a recruiter, you might want to avoid the Hogwans at first.
Bring your favorite Heavy Parka when you come. |
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Hokie21
Joined: 01 Mar 2011
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| Posted: Wed May 16, 2012 5:36 am Post subject: |
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| cosmic lightning wrote: |
Thanks for the great advice! I wasn't aware that public schools are starting in Sept, that's not a problem as my Oct start date wasn't set in stone. I guess i'm still in the research stage of coming to Korea as I don't want to rush into a such a massive commitment, but I do still intend on coming over before the end of the year.
What i'm still trying to gauge is whether or not I'll be able to fit into a Korean lifestyle without feeling terribly ostricised/ isolated. I've been travelling all over SE.Asia so i know what to expect from an Asian community, but its the thought that I may end up spending most of the year in a work/ hiding in my apartment dichotomy that scares me. How easy has it been for you to fit into a society such as Korea's? Do you find its easy to participate in social groups like sports clubs and other activities?
cheers. |
As someone who spent quite a bit of time in SE Asia and now currently resides in Korea....they are two completely different worlds. |
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comm
Joined: 22 Jun 2010
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| Posted: Wed May 16, 2012 6:35 am Post subject: |
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| young_clinton wrote: |
| You can find a job through a recruiter at anytime of the year. Even public school jobs can be found year round, because people leave thier positions early, get fired, have personal emergencies etc.. I would recommend a public school position through a recruiter, you might want to avoid the Hogwans at first. |
Absolutely right about PS hiring. I started my contract in April thanks to someone's early departure.
And I'd like to say that large hogwans are a safer bet than smaller ones, especially for first-timers. Having 4 or more foreign teachers at a campus tells you they've probably been around a while, have lots of experience settling foreigners in, and you'll have native speakers to help with transition issues. In most (if not all) public schools you would be the only foreign teacher. |
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PatrickGHBusan
Joined: 24 Jun 2008
Location: Busan (1997-2008) Canada 2008 -
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| Posted: Wed May 16, 2012 1:13 pm Post subject: |
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Early departures at PS can lead to job openings but since those are exceptions as opposed to the way PS tend to hire I did not mention it. Still, you would not lose a thing by applying for a PS position in October or November...you may luck out and someone may leave a position early.
As for life in Korea...how it goes depends on you! How well will you fit in? That too depends on how you approach the situation. I got married to a local gal a year or so after I arrived so that changed the game considerably. Still, I know plenty of single foreign teachers who belong to local soccer teams, hiking clubs and other groups. All these people kept an open mind made some Korean friends and searched for groups.
As for fitting into the society, that is pretty darn broad! I would concentrate on fitting in a work first...then perhaps in your immediate community (neighborhood)...  |
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cosmic lightning
Joined: 05 May 2012
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| Posted: Wed May 16, 2012 11:42 pm Post subject: |
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Thank you guys for all the replies, I don't know what I would do without this site!  So I think I'll continue with my plan of looking for a PS position in Bundang (I've researched this district and it appeals to me that I can be close to Seoul without actually being in the heart of the capital). It seems like a nice area where I can go running which is really important to me, and yet not feel like I've been marooned on a desert island.
I was talking to a friend the other day and he asked why do I want to go to Korea? Why not choose Spain? Or Italy? (both are supposedly 'safer' choices as are they closer 'culturally' to my native England). I tried explaining to him that I enjoy Asian culture, am interested in challenging myself etc but in the end I knew he wouldn't understand. Ultimately for me, the choice comes down to a simple calculation of risk and reward. I know the benefits that I will get out of moving to a different country and immersing myself in a new culture will be of immense benefit to my personal development. That's not to say there aren't risks, I know from reading on here that something will probably go wrong eventually, but if you look at it from the perspective that it is character building that you can generally get through anything.
Perspective, after all, is everything. |
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toddt82
Joined: 28 May 2009
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| Posted: Mon May 21, 2012 5:58 pm Post subject: |
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I would also like to add confirmation to the fact that you don't need to wait for two specific times of year in order to get a public school job. All you need do is look at the jobs board at any given time and see many positions open for GEPIK, for example. I am coming back to Korea at the end of June and will be working at a GEPIK school. June is neither March nor September
Did you notice I said I'm coming back? It's certainly natural to be apprehensive, as I was when I first left and was essentially dropped into a whole nother world. However, once that passes and you begin to understand how to get by day to day, you'll really enjoy it. And, if you're like me, once you leave Korea you'll miss it and want to go back
PS - Would definitely recommend a public school job over a hagwon, despite being the only foreign teacher there and despite not being paid as much. From what I've been told (since I haven't worked at a hagwon) it's by the book instruction-wise in a hagwon with little room for creativity; at a public school (which is where I did work) there's much more room for creative freedom. Plus, you only need to read some entries here about hagwon employers stiffing people on this and that, not living up to contractual agreements, etc, to get a feel for actually opting to go public. A hagwon's primary objective is profit; a public school's, education.
I am happy to help. Please let me know if I can do any more for you. |
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Hotpants
Joined: 27 Jan 2006
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| Posted: Wed May 23, 2012 3:39 am Post subject: |
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I'm really not sure how you came up with Bundang of all places (not that there's anything specifically wrong with it). There are plenty of places both within Seoul and out that you can do sporting activities, if that's your priority.
I'd focus on sourcing a decent school over the area, otherwise you're narrowing your chances significantly. Be warned that recruiters also generally don't like people with 'special' requests - they just wanna fill up whatever jobs they have. I'd personally pass on a recruiter and approach schools directly, getting direct references from current teachers. |
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JustinC
Joined: 10 Mar 2012
Location: We Are The World!
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| Posted: Wed May 23, 2012 4:32 am Post subject: |
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| cosmic lightning wrote: |
| I was talking to a friend the other day and he asked why do I want to go to Korea? Why not choose Spain? Or Italy? |
Saving money. Saving money. Saving money.
You won't save much (if any) in Europe unless you have a PhD and years of experience. Also you can save Europe until you're tired of Asia (which will probably also coincide with Europe having two pennies to rub together again - about 30 years) but it'd be more difficult the other way around.
Also Europe is fine and good for visiting for some culture, but a little antiseptic, don't you think? Everything is finished, growing old and on benefits. Asia is growing, spreading and more dynamic.
As to the location - I've only been in Korea 6 months, albeit lived in the far north and south, and there doesn't seem to be a huge amount to choose between the various cities. I think the greater difference is made by your attitude, as you say.
If you want to run a lot I'd say stay the hell out of Seoul. Bundang looks okay but you will likely need to consider several different locations around the capital, of which there are many. |
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jfromtheway
Joined: 20 Nov 2010
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| Posted: Wed May 23, 2012 7:37 am Post subject: |
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| JustinC wrote: |
| Also Europe is fine and good for visiting for some culture, but a little antiseptic, don't you think? Everything is finished, growing old and on benefits. |
Not completely sure what you're getting at. You have some wiggle room saying that about western Europe, but certainly not eastern Europe. I've been to almost every country on the European "continent," and I always tell people who are planning trips there to forgo western Europe until they're older. Rewarding in every way, but it's going to look and feel the same in twenty years. Eastern Europe on the other hand... get there quick before it looks and feels like western Europe does now. The Baltics, Balkans, etc., those are the places to be if you're headed to Europe anytime soon.
This (and what I said above) has nothing to do with the topic, feel free to disregard it: Eastern Europe has this mishmash of imported western culture over a scope of 20 or so years, that it can't really amalgamate entirely. And it's quite comical. I was sitting on a bench in Riga, Latvia one afternoon eating a sandwich when three or four Latvian weegroes wearing top gun jackets and jock-stuffed tight jeans, carrying a Run DMC style boombox blasting Celine Dion, walked by. As they were waiting at the crosswalk, I swear to god, a convertible with a few other Latvian weegroes stops at the light blaring "Snoooop Dogggy, daaaawawwaaagee;" and the two groups started wigger gesturing and bumping out with each other, as the Snoop/Celine duo interdestroyed each other musically. They pick and choose western culture hilariously in eastern Europe. And that was a moment of addled bliss for me.
Also, many of the clubs and upscale bars would show the runway fashion channel; so when eastern European women are posing for a picture, they give that pooch lipped, downwardly tilted head, squinty eyed, serious model look, instead of smiling. It makes the obligatory peace sign or retarded blowfish pose a little more forgivable. The funny lies in the little things. |
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JustinC
Joined: 10 Mar 2012
Location: We Are The World!
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| Posted: Wed May 23, 2012 10:32 am Post subject: |
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| jfromtheway wrote: |
| JustinC wrote: |
| Also Europe is fine and good for visiting for some culture, but a little antiseptic, don't you think? Everything is finished, growing old and on benefits. |
Not completely sure what you're getting at. You have some wiggle room saying that about western Europe, but certainly not eastern Europe. I've been to almost every country on the European "continent," and I always tell people who are planning trips there to forgo western Europe until they're older. Rewarding in every way, but it's going to look and feel the same in twenty years. Eastern Europe on the other hand... get there quick before it looks and feels like western Europe does now. The Baltics, Balkans, etc., those are the places to be if you're headed to Europe anytime soon.
This (and what I said above) has nothing to do with the topic, feel free to disregard it: Eastern Europe has this mishmash of imported western culture over a scope of 20 or so years, that it can't really amalgamate entirely. And it's quite comical. I was sitting on a bench in Riga, Latvia one afternoon eating a sandwich when three or four Latvian weegroes wearing top gun jackets and jock-stuffed tight jeans, carrying a Run DMC style boombox blasting Celine Dion, walked by. As they were waiting at the crosswalk, I swear to god, a convertible with a few other Latvian weegroes stops at the light blaring "Snoooop Dogggy, daaaawawwaaagee;" and the two groups started wigger gesturing and bumping out with each other, as the Snoop/Celine duo interdestroyed each other musically. They pick and choose western culture hilariously in eastern Europe. And that was a moment of addled bliss for me.
Also, many of the clubs and upscale bars would show the runway fashion channel; so when eastern European women are posing for a picture, they give that pooch lipped, downwardly tilted head, squinty eyed, serious model look, instead of smiling. It makes the obligatory peace sign or retarded blowfish pose a little more forgivable. The funny lies in the little things. |
Ha ha ha ha !! Celine Dion and wearing top gun jackets!! At least they try, but very, VERY badly. Amusing. There is a definite 80s feeling there, still, which will be fun for those who appreciate the era.
Yeah, Eastern Europe (post-Soviet) is definitely more interesting and vibrant than West. In Riga there were beautiful Russian woman who wouldn't p1ss on you if you were on fire. Lithuania was my favourite country, bar Poland. You can work there for little money but the people are very friendly. I had a chat with a guy who's worked in the British Council in central Crakow - he'd been there 10 years and was very happy. I got the impression it isn't for newbies, if you want to make a decent living, but the lifestyle was similar to those I know who've lived in Spain for a few years. The main difference is there are less muggings. If you want to just escape the glitz and bullshit of modernity and marketing then Eastern Europe is a good place to park for a year or two.
I also visited a few other central Europen places like Slovakia which were gorgeous but the ESL scene was almost central Asian - dusty Engrish signs above convenience stores - so I didn't look into it that closely. And the Stans - I wouldn't touch with a barge pole! The most expensive place to live on Earth and you get paid the same as in Asia or Europe. Vienna is one of my favourite European cities but I think everyone there already speaks several languages. Maybe Estonia will, one day, offer more than now although the influence of nearby Finland may hinder that. |
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cosmic lightning
Joined: 05 May 2012
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| Posted: Thu May 24, 2012 9:55 am Post subject: |
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toddt82: That's cool your working at a GEPIK programme as I've applied myself and am starting to get interviews for schools that I want. Where exactly are you working in korea? The only thing I'm slightly nervous about is teaching the larger classes, as during my CELTA I only had to teach a maximum of 20 students in one class. I'm sure i'll get used to it though, and adapt my teaching style accordingly.
Hotpants: I guess i've just been reading a lot of posts on Dave's about which cities/ areas are pleasant to live in outside of Seoul and Bundang seemed to come up fairly consistently with positive reviews by people who had visited it. I am of course completely open to suggestions about other places, would you mind PM'ing me some places you recommend?
JustinC- Your right, the economic considerations play a large influence in my decision to come to Korea. Its just too expensive to get an apartment in England/ Europe whilst trying to live a relatively active lifestyle (going to bars every now and again/ eating at restaurants/ seeing movies etc). Plus I had a friend who taught in Seoul and loved it, so that gave me a good impression.
Cheers guys for all your input  |
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