Korean Job Discussion Forums

[turkey12]

Hello there!

I have been considering teaching in Korea for several years and have been following this forum for a while. I enjoy reading about day-to-day living and job experiences from everyone and I appreciate all of the advice that is shared on this board.

I teach private violin lessons part-time as a side job here in the USA. I've also volunteered at our church to teach weekly music classes for the last two years and our kids have just started playing during services- it's been a lot of fun and I like seeing them succeed!

I realize that by teaching ESL in Korea, I would not be able to do this as a second job in Korea, so I am wondering if there are any music teachers in Korea on this forum. I know that there are music hagwons, public school music programs, and youth orchestras. My guess is that these jobs might be hard to find, but I am still interested to see what is out there. Does anyone have any experience with this? I'm assuming that my best bet would be to find a way to volunteer once I get to Korea.

Thank you!

[FMPJ]

There is a tremendous surplus of qualified violin teachers in Korea. You have no real chance at all. Sorry.

[YTMND]

You are better off finding a school that wants an English teacher who can play music. I am turning down summer camp offers because I don't want to sing and play games with kids. In your case, this would be perfect.

There are plenty of Christian based churches in Korea. I am sure you will have no problem finding a school that will make music part of the curriculum.

It's just not my thing. So, I have no hands on experience, just offers to do this type of stuff. If you look for a full year position, then these will come in forms of events where parents will be invited. It might happen once a month, or they will do a campaign of events and then stop after 3 or 4 months.

During the holidays you will be asked to sing and dance again. Even though there is no music class exactly, teachers who enjoy music have opportunities that say science or math teachers don't have when teaching English. Yesterday the grade school kids went outside and parents stood at the gate watching them sing the days of the week. It's a little song and dance advertising tactic the school does. Then, at the end of the day when parents come to pick up their child, they shoot these streams of water and play this Chinese version of Renaissance music. You could show your stuff and do something similar. Anything to get a buck/won/RMB/yen, the schools eat this stuff up. How are you willing to be exploited?

[ttompatz]

[andrewchon]

Something about violin teaching in Korea (I am currently learning violin at a hagwon): they prefer something other than American style of violin teaching, according to my teacher. Teachers have all been trained in one way, and students all expect to be taught that way. As usual, parents are very demanding of their violin prodigy. I hear it's usual for a beginner to do just the bowing exercises for 3 months. Not here: they want mechanical perfection after 2-3 weeks. So, you may have had fun tutoring fiddle in the states, but I think you might find it like Beethoven's father over here. As for students: there are plenty! Just about every student learns at least an instument: usually violin or piano. Which explains the total lack of marching bands in Korea, I suppose.