Korean Job Discussion Forums

[CP]

@Troglodyte - please don't offer information unless you know it to be correct.

Buses from Paju DO NOT only go to the edge of Seoul. There are express buses that go direct to Gwanghwamun, Seoul Station, Hongdae, Youido, and Gangnam and they will run until at least 1:00AM. If you don't want to take the bus then the subway goes direct from Paju to Seoul Station as well.

If you consider these places to be the edge of Seoul what do you consider downtown Seoul to be?

@ Original Poster - I would check and see where in Paju the job is. Paju is a large area and you could be in the city center along the subway line and main bus routes or further out in a rural area more cut off. It would make a difference on your lifestyle.

Good luck!!

[Jodami]

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2dZJYmtYs8Y/TtNwUnacS_I/AAAAAAAAAGg/zw62RUsc6rc/s1600/clown-3055.jpg

Good luck!

[Troglodyte]

[Troglodyte]

[CP]

" If everyone checked every single thing they write for up-to-date accuracy, nothing would get posted. "

Sorry, but this comment that you made is ridiculous. People make posts asking for correct information. If you don't have the up to date correct information then it's better not to post anything at all, since you are making things even worse for the person looking for help.

[patthebunny]

Most teachers (sadly not me) live in Geumchon. This is the largest area of Paju. 2 subway stations within walking distance of living areas. It takes about 40 minutes by subway to get to Hongdae(3-5 per hour) or Seoul station(once per hour) on the gyeonggi line. This line will soon connect with Yongsan station this year.

Yea buses travel to and from different areas of Seoul until 1-2 AM.

I live one of the farthest away villages in Paju and it takes 25 minutes to get to Paju station and it does have a bus that goes all the way into Seoul.

One great thing is that Paju is right above Ilsan which is a great city with lots to do and places to eat, exercise, and shop.

[matthagwon]

Childu is horrible and the one in Geumchon is a joke. Paju is not for everyone. I am warning you that many people midnight run from rural korea. Many of my friends ran and some just broke down.

[peachKitten713]

I live at an English Village and live in a dormitory. Each room is individual but the bathroom is shared between 2 rooms. When I first got here, the other room was empty so I had a bathroom to myself and an extra room to put stuff in. The kitchen is also shared, but just a few doors down the hall.
Before I moved here, I wasn't enthusiastic about living in a dorm. I really value my privacy and when I get ready to pee, I don't like having to wait for someone else to finish. -_- But I guess overall it's not too bad, considering stuff like the free utilities.

I also visited Incheon English Village during orientation for my first job in Korea. The dorms that we stayed in had bunkbeds in each room, which some people shared during our orientation there. I'd imagine that if you worked there, you would get your own room though? Hopefully? (There was a bathroom in the room as well.)

I know that each English Village can be different as far as the work conditions, living arrangements and other things.

I lived in a rural area for about a year and, although it was outside of Incheon and part of that office of education, it took about 1.5 hours to get to Seoul (Hongdae, Sinchon) on a bus, which stopped running around 10 and there was no subway. Also not much to do in the town as far as nightlife went.

If I were you, I would be trying to get as much information as possible about each choice. Like going into Sherlock Holmes mode or something and doing some serious snooping about.

Good luck!

[lemak]

Based on the required hours (certainly for pay offered) job options 1 and 3 are absolute garbage. 2 is marginally better but still moderately crap - unless you fall into one of the undesirable trifecta (old, fat or black) I'd keep looking.*


*P.S my personal knowledge of the ESL situation in Korea is at least two years old, and possibly these kinds of jobs are standard these days, in which case start applying for China instead - relatively higher pay for comparable hours (and you don't have to live in Korea)

[metalhead]

Pretty much what lemak said. 2.3 is far too low, what with the cost of living in Korea, and those hours seem horrid. Add to that the very likely chance of getting screwed over by your boss and it's pretty bleak. China is the better option these days but most people see something like 10 000RMB a month and think that it is not a lot, but it's far cheaper and more pleasant to live there, less hours, easier to pick up extra work, friendlier and less xenophobic people - well, you get the picture.

[canadianeh]

Thanks everyone for all of the input. I really appreciate it!

Currently I am still waiting for my fingerprints portion of the Criminal Record Check from the RCMP. I am Canadian so after notarization by a Lawyer which I have already set up for when the prints come in I have to have my documents apostilled at the Korean Consulate in Montreal. My recruiter contacted me tonight and said that the window for the Paju job is closing, so I doubt I will get it. The recruiter is pushing for me to go for the GEC job in the dorm, but I'm pretty doubtful about it.

Some more background on me. My bachelor's degree is in Philosophy and I don't have an TESL/TEFL course or and education degree so I thought I couldn't teach in China? Have I been misinformed?

Should I try more recruiters? It doesn't seem as though my recruiter is really looking for more jobs for me as she is still trying to push me into the GEC. I haven't tried Footprints, but from what I have heard on here they seem to be the cat's pajamas.

Also, in terms of the looks department I am a relatively looking 25 year old white guy I guess (lol). I hit the gym 4-5 times a week and have been for the last two years so I'm in shape as well. I think I'm fairly safe in that department. In terms of communication my speech is clear (I don't have an accent and people constantly think I'm from outside the city I live in).

Should I try and different recruiter? Anyone have any experience or knowledge of footprints? And as far as salaries I figured 2.3 was the norm for the degree I have.

Thanks again for all the replies!

[metalhead]

[canadianeh]

Lol well of course! I mean relatively speaking to my geographic location. I don't know if you are familiar with Atlantic Canadian accents but they can be quite incomprehensible. My mother taught me to enunciate.

metalhead you suggested that I try China, but would I be able to find a job there given my education (BA - Philosophy, no TESL course, not an education major)? I am willing to work in China, but I always hear mixed things about the requirements.

Thanks

[sparkles98356]

I currently work at Seoul English Village which is run by the Korean Herald. I do enjoy it for the most part, however I'm starting to believe that it isn't quite the same as other English Villages I hear of. I don't do any kind of performing nor do I live in a dorm or around any other teachers. I live in a single apartment which is around a 10 minute walk from school and I mostly teach set classes using games and PPTs. I also do an hour or two daily of book teaching during afterschool. Be warned that I do work one Sunday per month and more during both Summer and Winter camp. I think this is the case with all English Villages. I get paid overtime for it, but sometimes I do honestly feel that my time is more important than money, especially seeing as I already work relatively long hours.

I am neither blonde nor American. I'm in my twenties, dark hair and eyes and I have what I've been told is a pretty strong Scottish accent. It's my first year working here but my degree is in English language and literature and I have a 120 hour TEFL certificate. I'm not sure whether this helped me out or not. I do feel very lucky to have landed my first job in Seoul if I'm being honest.

Whatever you decide, best of luck with it! If you need any more information on whether or not an English Village is a decent choice then feel free to get in touch

P.S. I have a friend who works in Paju. She really likes it and she finds it very easy to get into Seoul whenever she feels like it!

[Hokie21]