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Is anyone happy with their job?
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schwa



Joined: 18 Jan 2003
Location: Yap

PostPosted: Sun Feb 23, 2014 11:34 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Inner satisfaction, sure, & teaching provides a decent living.
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SeoulNate



Joined: 04 Jun 2010
Location: Hyehwa

PostPosted: Mon Feb 24, 2014 12:41 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Happy with mine and I have been happy at most of the jobs I have had here, minus the second Hakwon I worked at trying to screw with my contract when they hired a new manager.
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wooden nickels



Joined: 23 May 2010

PostPosted: Mon Feb 24, 2014 2:06 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

edwardcatflap wrote:
Quote:
Teach well & rewards follow. Money isn't everything




So I infer from these quotes that the rewards you were talking about are largely spiritual, not financial. Relying on that kind of attitude is how they've managed to pay teachers so little in places like the US for so long isn't it?


As a teacher who came from the US school system, I would say the pay wasn't so bad.
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wooden nickels



Joined: 23 May 2010

PostPosted: Mon Feb 24, 2014 2:31 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

SeoulNate wrote:
Happy with mine and I have been happy at most of the jobs I have had here, minus the second Hakwon I worked at trying to screw with my contract when they hired a new manager.


Most people seem to be happy or okay with the work here, that has been my experience chatting with other foreigners. However, you will run across a few that will preach doom and gloom and try to convince you that you are unhappy and barely getting by on the bread crumbs you can afford on your meager salary.
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SeoulNate



Joined: 04 Jun 2010
Location: Hyehwa

PostPosted: Mon Feb 24, 2014 2:49 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

wooden nickels wrote:
edwardcatflap wrote:
Quote:
Teach well & rewards follow. Money isn't everything




So I infer from these quotes that the rewards you were talking about are largely spiritual, not financial. Relying on that kind of attitude is how they've managed to pay teachers so little in places like the US for so long isn't it?


As a teacher who came from the US school system, I would say the pay wasn't so bad.


Totally depends on the area though.

Some places start at 45k+ and top out at over 110k.

Other places start in the mid 20s and top out just under 50k.

That's a HUGE difference
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wooden nickels



Joined: 23 May 2010

PostPosted: Mon Feb 24, 2014 2:57 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

SeoulNate wrote:
wooden nickels wrote:
edwardcatflap wrote:
Quote:
Teach well & rewards follow. Money isn't everything




So I infer from these quotes that the rewards you were talking about are largely spiritual, not financial. Relying on that kind of attitude is how they've managed to pay teachers so little in places like the US for so long isn't it?


As a teacher who came from the US school system, I would say the pay wasn't so bad.


Totally depends on the area though.

Some places start at 45k+ and top out at over 110k.

Other places start in the mid 20s and top out just under 50k.

That's a HUGE difference


I was working in an area that paid closer to the lower/middle range. Fortunately, housing was very reasonable.
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SeoulNate



Joined: 04 Jun 2010
Location: Hyehwa

PostPosted: Mon Feb 24, 2014 3:06 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I dunno, I would be hard pressed to want to get back into being a public school teacher in the US.

The assault on the unions makes it really hard to land a decent paying job these days. Many of the people that graduated with me and have been working as teachers in the mid-west got crapped on pretty hard a few years ago, some of them taking as much as a 25% drop in pay.
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Chaparrastique



Joined: 01 Jan 2014

PostPosted: Mon Feb 24, 2014 5:32 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I love teaching. The kids energize me.

I love challenges, and this country never stops challenging you in all manner of ways.
People who stay comfy back in the west stagnate in many ways IMO.

World Traveler wrote:

All I'm saying is not every English teaching job in Korea has non-existent stress levels.


...and the few problems that do cause stress, get to cause a disproportionate amount of it.

Top 2 would be:

1. The boss that never disciplines naughty students (or worse, sides with them and undermines your authority)

2. The one terrible, impossible class, usually at the end of the day
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Mr. Pink



Joined: 21 Oct 2003
Location: China

PostPosted: Mon Feb 24, 2014 5:36 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

SeoulNate wrote:
I dunno, I would be hard pressed to want to get back into being a public school teacher in the US.

The assault on the unions makes it really hard to land a decent paying job these days. Many of the people that graduated with me and have been working as teachers in the mid-west got crapped on pretty hard a few years ago, some of them taking as much as a 25% drop in pay.


Which is why I like to state: "You get what you pay for!"

As a Canadian certified teacher if I were to put myself into the public board of my home province I could top out at around 100k with 10-11 years in the board. After our generous taxation program, I'm lucky to have half of that in my pocket.

Canada scored much higher than the US in the recent PISA test, and my province is one of the top 3 within Canada under the PISA test. I would argue higher salary = attracts more professionals to take on the job = better results in educating people.

My buddy who left Korea to go back to the US put 2 years into getting a M.Ed and state certification. He last 2 years in the system before he left. He told me it was either leave or live every day stressed, pissed and angry. Oh and with an MA and 10yrs experience in his state the top pay was 50k a year. He was making more than that in Korea with his job and privates...

A bit off topic post, but people need to realize the grass is gray on the other side of the fence in most cases when comparing Korea to back home.

I found in Korea it isn't the job that is the most stressful, it is living with Koreans. After being in China for 5 years, I can say Korea wasn't THAT bad. If you think Korean drivers are bad, spend a month in China! Beijing/Shanghai doesn't count either...go to a smaller town. It will make you appreciate Korea.
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happiness



Joined: 04 Sep 2010

PostPosted: Tue Feb 25, 2014 3:22 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I am. I started with an after school that ended up moving to a new chain hagwon right in front of the school. Its a well known chain in Korea. The owner has paid me fairly, given me a raise, and now pays me to teach a few extra classes. The hours are very nice.

In the beginning, I worked hard for him, showed him I am responsible, and a grownup, and I wasnt a burden for him in any way.

I would never work for this chain in any way, but for him, Ill stay longer. Not every school and situation is the same.
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Squire



Joined: 26 Sep 2010
Location: Jeollanam-do

PostPosted: Tue Feb 25, 2014 6:15 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Happy with the money, not happy with the job. Over the last two years I've worked in a (locally, at least) notorious public school and taught 8 hours a week with a CT who is the laziest, most unprofessional and obnoxious person I've ever worked with, in any job. I re-signed with the impression given to me that she was leaving this year, but not only did it turn out she was staying (despite frequent tellings off from the VP) but we'd actually be teaching 13 hours a week together. Upon hearing that I tried to transfer but it was too late.

I may bail in the summer, and nothing will give me more satisfaction than telling the VP I'm leaving because of this woman. Well... maybe the satisfaction of knowing she's going to have to actually attempt to teach for the rest of the year. I can barely even imagine what that'll be like

But anyway, at least the money is decent. When chaos reigns in the classroom and the CT is sitting on Kakao talk pretending not to notice a fight inevitably brewing between two kids screaming at each other, at least I can think of the money and the fact I can afford to leave in the summer
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Stain



Joined: 08 Jan 2014

PostPosted: Tue Feb 25, 2014 6:45 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Squire wrote:
Happy with the money, not happy with the job. Over the last two years I've worked in a (locally, at least) notorious public school and taught 8 hours a week with a CT who is the laziest, most unprofessional and obnoxious person I've ever worked with, in any job. I re-signed with the impression given to me that she was leaving this year, but not only did it turn out she was staying (despite frequent tellings off from the VP) but we'd actually be teaching 13 hours a week together. Upon hearing that I tried to transfer but it was too late.

I may bail in the summer, and nothing will give me more satisfaction than telling the VP I'm leaving because of this woman. Well... maybe the satisfaction of knowing she's going to have to actually attempt to teach for the rest of the year. I can barely even imagine what that'll be like

But anyway, at least the money is decent. When chaos reigns in the classroom and the CT is sitting on Kakao talk pretending not to notice a fight inevitably brewing between two kids screaming at each other, at least I can think of the money and the fact I can afford to leave in the summer


Do you work for a middle school?
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catman



Joined: 18 Jul 2004

PostPosted: Sat Mar 01, 2014 11:56 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I actually quit my last hagwon job at the 7 month mark because I hated it so bad. Took my savings a bought a ticket home. That was a few years back.

Everyday on my way to work I would walk past a construction site. I would see the workers slaving away in the heat and wished I had their job instead. Laughing
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Squire



Joined: 26 Sep 2010
Location: Jeollanam-do

PostPosted: Sat Mar 01, 2014 11:58 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Stain wrote:
Squire wrote:
Happy with the money, not happy with the job. Over the last two years I've worked in a (locally, at least) notorious public school and taught 8 hours a week with a CT who is the laziest, most unprofessional and obnoxious person I've ever worked with, in any job. I re-signed with the impression given to me that she was leaving this year, but not only did it turn out she was staying (despite frequent tellings off from the VP) but we'd actually be teaching 13 hours a week together. Upon hearing that I tried to transfer but it was too late.

I may bail in the summer, and nothing will give me more satisfaction than telling the VP I'm leaving because of this woman. Well... maybe the satisfaction of knowing she's going to have to actually attempt to teach for the rest of the year. I can barely even imagine what that'll be like

But anyway, at least the money is decent. When chaos reigns in the classroom and the CT is sitting on Kakao talk pretending not to notice a fight inevitably brewing between two kids screaming at each other, at least I can think of the money and the fact I can afford to leave in the summer


Do you work for a middle school?


I've worked in one before, but only elementary these days
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