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| Is teaching at a summer camp something I should try to make happen? |
| Go for it! |
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| Not worth it. |
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| Maybe next year, with more time to plan ahead. |
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| Total Votes : 4 |
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haleynicole14
Joined: 20 Apr 2012
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 Posted: Thu Jul 19, 2012 12:26 pm Post subject: A couple of questions before I pursue August camp job |
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I'm seriously considering applying for the summer camp jobs listed here: http://www.eslcafe.com/jobs/korea/index.cgi?read=53809 but have a couple of questions first to see if I actually want to try to make it happen. They're mostly two week jobs that start in August.
My motivations for wanting to go are 1) I like teaching English, and short term would be a good option for me right now, 2) I am possibly hoping to do a year-long teaching job in Korea next year, and 3) the plane tickets are expensive (about $1700 USD) but these jobs would pay about $1200 USD for two weeks so it would be a good experience at a low expense for me.
First of all, has anyone heard of this company or taught at a short term camp? How sure can I be that they will pay me at the end of the time - are programs like this generally reliable (I know there are always bad stories, but for the most part...)? I am only considering it because it is a fairly low cost option after being paid at the end.
I have taught abroad in China before, so I feel like I know somewhat of what I would be getting into. And it could be a good way to find if I would like to teach there more long term.
Finally, and I guess most importantly, could I even make it happen? I don't have any type of visa and don't know what the timeline is like for the process.
This has been partly me thinking this through in typing, and I would appreciate any helpful thoughts anyone can give me. Thanks! |
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viciousdinosaur
Joined: 30 Apr 2012
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| Posted: Thu Jul 19, 2012 2:19 pm Post subject: |
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Personally I have very little patience for people like you who are willing to do extremely risky things for a measly grand, but I'll try to be polite and help you out.
Normally these camps are done by people in Korea. Visa sponsorship is rare. If they don't find enough people, they hire Koreans. They will accept any breathing foreigner, no matter how unteacher-like they are, over someone from abroad. It's a risk for them too.
You would get paid, but it would be the 10th after the month you worked. So you would have to wait about a month to be paid. And you would need a Korean bank account to be paid, which is not possible without a visa like E2, F4, F6.
Finally you'd be taking a huge risk. If they don't provide the plane ticket, you could fly over here and then they decide to cancel the camp because they didn't get enough teachers or students. Then what do you do? |
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haleynicole14
Joined: 20 Apr 2012
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| Posted: Thu Jul 19, 2012 2:34 pm Post subject: |
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| viciousdinosaur wrote: |
| Personally I have very little patience for people like you who are willing to do extremely risky things for a measly grand, but I'll try to be polite and help you out. |
Thanks, I appreciate your honest and thoughtful opinion. Mostly this is what I was wondering - if it's a risky situation and whether it is worth taking the chance. I'm not looking to do something foolish, but thought it might be a good opportunity to "try out" teaching in Korea. After hearing your thoughts I think I'll pass on applying. |
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luckylady
Joined: 30 Jan 2012
Location: u.s. of occupied territories
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| Posted: Thu Jul 19, 2012 3:50 pm Post subject: |
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so it didn't take much for you to back down, huh OP?? what's with that??
| viciousdinosaur wrote: |
| Personally I have very little patience for people like you who are willing to do extremely risky things for a measly grand, but I'll try to be polite and help you out. |
well you blew the polite bit by stating same; and you did very little to help out since much of what you said is hogwash 
| viciousdinosaur wrote: |
| Normally these camps are done by people in Korea. Visa sponsorship is rare. If they don't find enough people, they hire Koreans. They will accept any breathing foreigner, no matter how unteacher-like they are, over someone from abroad. It's a risk for them too. |
only partially true. generally camps go all-out to hire the number of foreign teachers they need; they do hire Korean teachers as well, but to be co-teachers and for support. I've done many camps, winter and summer, and never seen a shortage of Western teachers.
| viciousdinosaur wrote: |
| You would get paid, but it would be the 10th after the month you worked. So you would have to wait about a month to be paid. And you would need a Korean bank account to be paid, which is not possible without a visa like E2, F4, F6. |
I'm absolutely clueless as to where you came up with this. only one time was I not paid on the last day of camp - and then we were paid a few days later. only if the camp is part of a regular yearly contract, when one's pay date is already set, would the camp hours not be paid at the end of the camp. that is, if you teach at a public school, your paydate is the 25th, you would still get paid on the 25th even if the camp ended on the 1st.
| viciousdinosaur wrote: |
| Finally you'd be taking a huge risk. If they don't provide the plane ticket, you could fly over here and then they decide to cancel the camp because they didn't get enough teachers or students. Then what do you do? |
it is rare, but some camps DO provide plane tkts, but they will deduct it from your salary. you will be fully expected to acquire a proper visa (in this case) as well.
for camps that don't fly you over (much more likely) some will require a visa, some do not. if you don't have a visa already, you will need a C-4 which is for 120 days of employment in Korea. it's my understanding you still need a CRC done and other docs the same as for an E2 which is a bit of a pain but if you have them already, and plan to stay later, then why not?
a LOT of camps don't mind hiring inexperienced teachers since it's for a short period of time and a lot of teaching is actually activity-based. camps can be fun, really and a chance to be around more foreigners than you might otherwise be in your first teaching job in Korea. it is a great way to network with other teachers because they come from different areas, schools, etc. and you can gain a lot of info in a short amount of time.
camps recruit at different times but the closer it gets to the time for the camp to start, the more desperate they are to hire and the pay goes up. generally you should be able to make 1 million won a week, on average, as in a 4 wk camp should pay 4 million won. not always the case, but you should aim for that at a minimum, send photos of you teaching kids, doing activites, etc., to better your chances.
finally the pay itself can be transferred but most likely you'll be paid in cash. I think it's an "off the books" (under the table) situation that many camps deal in so don't worry about not having a bank acc.
the one thing I would definitely say is don't do it on a tourist visa. camps are raided from time to time by Kimmi and you'd probably ruin any future chances of working in Korea.
hope this helps you make a better more informed decision. |
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haleynicole14
Joined: 20 Apr 2012
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| Posted: Thu Jul 19, 2012 4:16 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks for the another side to the story and a much brighter view on things! I wasn't offended by the first response... at least, I have seen some people who've posted on here get a lot worse things said to them about being ignorant in even suggesting similar things (which is quite unfortunate!).
In any case, it is a short amount of time to get everything all arranged to go, and the jobs posted don't offer as much as you say is reasonable. Also I would be worried about the money unless my airfare was going to be prepaid and then taken out of my paycheck, which I would greatly prefer. I think I will wait until I am able to plan ahead more. |
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Keeper
Joined: 11 Jun 2012
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| Posted: Fri Jul 20, 2012 1:11 am Post subject: |
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| Your biggest worry is no visa. Research what is required for it as the process will take a minimum of two months to get the paperwork together. |
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viciousdinosaur
Joined: 30 Apr 2012
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| Posted: Fri Jul 20, 2012 3:59 am Post subject: |
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@ Luckylady
I don't know what camps this person has worked at, but of the camps I've done, and I've done a lot since that's what I do for a living, I've always been paid on the 10th the following month.
But then again I do legit stuff, corporate clients, big agencies. I don't mess around with under-the-table/no-visa-required operations.
Look carefully at who's telling you what. Luckylady seems to have no moral hesitation in suggesting you work illegally, take money under the table, and sign contracts with Micky-mouse ventures who can't even round together enough local foreigners for a camp. And that brings up another point. Would you want to work at a camp that's been passed over by every single foreigner already in country? |
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PatrickGHBusan
Joined: 24 Jun 2008
Location: Busan (1997-2008) Canada 2008 -
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| Posted: Fri Jul 20, 2012 4:08 am Post subject: |
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OP,
viciousdinosaur is on target here.
What you described in your OP = recipe for disaster. |
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