Korean Job Discussion Forums

[bakather]

So, I'm leaving for korea on Sunday to start working for a public school. I'm glad to finally be leaving, and now that the stress of getting everything for the visa is finally over, a lot of questions are flooding my mind. One thing I'm concerned about is how much time I'll be given to settle in before starting work. Will I have one day, two days, zero days to get the feel of the place...

I'm sure everyone's experience varies, but what was it in your case? I'm not expecting very much time, but I'd like to be a little prepared for whatever happens.

This might should be the least of my worries..

[12ax7]

I got off the plane and was in class no more than 5 hours later. On the flip side, one of the students in my very first class here has been my good friend ever since (it's been over 15 years).

[young_clinton]

If you work for a public school you'll probably be shown around the first day and taken out for dinner, then you'll work on the next day. That's what was done with me.

[bakather]

Oh, wow. Well that's good to know. I can dress appropriately. When did you guys do your medical exam?

[Waygeek]

I've heard both experiences, teaching right off the plane, this happens a lot actually hah, and getting an evening to settle in. Different for everybody I'm afraid.

[Fox]

I arrived in Korea, spent few days in Seoul, another week or so at orientation, was picked up on a Friday by people from my school and taken to my apartment, had a weekend to settle in there, and then was given another week at school to get ready before I had to start classes. It was pretty relaxed.

Medical exam came a while later. It wasn't really rushed.

[grant gerstners]

I arrived early in the morning and my recruiter had arranged for a guide to meet me outside of customs, holding a sign with my name on it. I knew I needed a shower after the long air travel, and I used the jimjilbang in the basement for that and changed into dress pants and shirt and tie (eventually dressing rather casually for work).

The guide made sure I got on the correct bus and my co-teacher met me at the other end. I was in front of a class or two that very afternoon.

My apartment was not ready and my school put me up in a hotel overnight.

The next day or two, I was taken to the provincial office of education for paperwork, to the immigration office for my ARC and to one of the main hospitals for the health check. We stopped someplace so I could get some bedding and I was taken to my apartment.

All within two or three days of my arrival.

[Weigookin74]

[Waygeek]

I've heard of that situation three or four times now. Don't know if I could have pulled that off hah.

[fezmond]

Got here on Saturday night, started teaching on Monday. They just threw me into a room with a kid 1-1 and said 'read the book'.

[Skippy]

Many hagwons. Will be the classic way of teaching a person to swim. Straight into the water. First job, I was teaching pretty much the next day. Luck for me the school was new and classes small and few.

For most Public schools, there is usually a training session, but many consider it a joke. Expect to be at least in class from first day in school. You might not be teaching, but hopefully you will get to observe.

Some hagwons, do training for a week maybe two. Sometimes it is useful, or a joke.. Or even both. Do not expect too much of a break before working.

[isitts]

[isitts]