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SuperfuzzBigmuff
Joined: 12 Mar 2017
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 Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2017 4:46 pm Post subject: |
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| Chia Pet wrote: |
| goat wrote: |
| The 2.7 should be going to the hagwoners who have proved themselves worthy of 2.7 in the private market. 2.7 isn't that difficult in the private market if one has some experience and the skills. |
You mean 2.7 wouldn't be that difficult for successful hagwons to pay if they chose to, but hagwons are rarely willing to pay that much for experience and "qualifications" (not that qualifications cause someone to be a good teacher). Are you actually working in this industry? Your assumptions that performance is rewarded here and that this is like a free market are pretty far off. Frankly, a typical hagwon isn't necessarily going to get more students with a highly competent teacher vs. a mediocre one, as most directors are selling their academy's system to the parents, who usually don't even monitor their kids' progress. But to actually do what's right for the students would often mean deviating from the system. Most directors (and some parents) don't appreciate this and just want someone who follows the curriculum and doesn't get complaints. Conspicuous extra effort or skills might get you favorable treatment, but rarely a serious increase in salary. (The situation is probably different for those with F visas who teach privately, and it may be different at test prep academies.) On top of this, many Korean directors will be insulted if you dare disagree with their decisions, and thus actually prefer to hire a teacher who doesn't know too much.
| SuperfuzzBigmuff wrote: |
| 1.8 is fair for those hagwoners with zero experience. For those teaching kids with content like "what's she doing?", I think 2.1 max; higher for the fraction teaching high-level adults in the private system. |
Now this is bull and disrespectful to all the dedicated kindy and elementary teachers out there. To effectively teach lower-level children is more difficult than teaching adults and experience is more important for it. If you can do well with kids teaching adults is often a breeze. I'm not sure why you said this, but also said public school NETs should get 2.7 minimum. Your statements make me think you probably aren't very good at teaching kids on your own. |
Well buddy, you can think what you want, but there is no need to get personal. Having taught YL for a few years (usually on my own) and then having moved onto teaching teenage and adult learners, I think far more skill and creativity is required for older and higher-level students. Children can easily be controlled by seating arrangements and rewards, while smart teens and adults can see through those who don't have the linguistic and teaching skill to pull it off and get bored from repetition. They also have a history of learning and can be far more critical than YL who often have a memory like a sieve and are happy to see you each lesson. YL don't put you on the spot by asking tricky questions, either. Furthermore, having to self-study and learn academic writing, complex grammar, different learning techniques should be rewarded financially. As a result, they should be paid more than YL teachers. |
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goat
Joined: 23 Feb 2010
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| Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2017 9:11 pm Post subject: |
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| If anyone is making 1.8-2.1 going into their second year in Korea, it isn't the fault of the employer. It simply means one is worth this to the market. By the second year, one will know one's worth to the market. Look at your salary. Bingo! |
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goat
Joined: 23 Feb 2010
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| Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2017 9:19 pm Post subject: |
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| SuperfuzzBigmuff wrote: |
| goat wrote: |
| SuperfuzzBigmuff wrote: |
| goat wrote: |
| SuperfuzzBigmuff wrote: |
| weigook744 wrote: |
| SuperfuzzBigmuff wrote: |
| goat wrote: |
| SuperfuzzBigmuff wrote: |
| goat wrote: |
| Higher inflation rates are most likely coming. The Boss will have to cut corners. Salary increases for foreigners will be the last thing on the agenda. The supply of foreign teachers will be strong. 1,900,000 is around the corner. |
I've already seen hagwons advertise for 1.8. If it becomes the norm, well, good luck to the newbies.
I can't see public school increases for many years. Luckily they still cough up the bonus, pension and 2 mill for flights. Not the best deal; not the worst, either. |
1.8 isn't bad for 20-30 hours of work each week with all the benefits, perks, and extras thrown in. That's 4X minimum wage. |
1.8 ain't bad if you're straight out of uni and want to blog about your show box apartment, a typical day at work and things you love and hate about Korea. It's also good for the Hongdae and drinking soju outside of CU on plastic chairs as a night out set.
I was on 2.3 in 2006 and 3.6 with after school money in 2007.
1.8 is not worth going to Korea for IMHO in 2017. |
1.8? Added to the living cost spike next year? How would any young person pay off their student loans and credit cards? I think personally the minimum starting teaching wage should be 2.7 or 2.8 a month, but even that would be less than wages in 2006 when inflation is factored in. |
2.7-2.8 sounds reasonable for those with actual teaching experience in the public system.
I don't think some "teachers" here should be getting much more than 2.1 if they have no experience and an online TEFL.
2.1 seems fair for newbie hagwoners and newbies should NOT be teaching in public schools. That should be for those with actual teaching experience and training, but, saying that, my experience and training doesn't count for much in the joke that is a Korean English public school class.
Take out the bonuses, and this is a very sad caper indeed; especially when 2.7 is the max for most jobs. 1.8? Might as well be stacking shelves in a supermarket back home. |
I disagree. The 2.1 or 1.8 should be going to the public school "teachers."
The 2.7 should be going to the hagwoners who have proved themselves worthy of 2.7 in the private market. 2.7 isn't that difficult in the private market if one has some experience and the skills. |
Given the fact that public school teachers are on a pretty good deal with bonus and pension, nice vacation time, and that they are working in an actual Korean government public school with teachers with education degrees, I think experience should be mandatory and 2.7 the minimum.
Most hagwons are a nasty and cynical money-making scheme. "No experience necessary". (Granted, most PS jobs don't require experience which is utterly pathetic).
1.8 is fair for those hagwoners with zero experience. For those teaching kids with content like "what's she doing?", I think 2.1 max; higher for the fraction teaching high-level adults in the private system. |
I agree with much of your post.
What do you think are reasonable salaries for a public school teacher;
* newbie, no experience, BA Women's Studies
* 3 years experience, BA English Secondary Education
What do you think are reasonable salaries for a hogwon teacher;
* newbie, no experience, BA Women's Studies
* 3 years experience, BA English Secondary Education
* 4 years experience, MA English Secondary Education, Star Teacher, Prime Academy, In the Top, ETC |
I can see what you're trying to do here, so I won't bother answering your post specifically. What I will say, though, is that experience trumps your degree. I think women's studies would involve more reading and essay writing than say, a bachelor of engineering, and, as a result, it would be a more useful degree to be teaching English with. I don't think the actual degree matters unless it's a Ba.TESOL. Having an actual degree in education would be good as you'd have learnt classroom management skills and teaching methods.
I will say that public school teachers should have 2+ years' experience in the age group chosen (ie.,elem/middle school, high school) as they are often seen as the person "in the know" and should have the skills to show the qualified, but often inept local teacher, who usually only knows endless testing and rote-memorization as teaching techniques, other types of teaching. Therefore, one should have a CELTA or equivalent. Even though it doesn't really help here in the public school system, I do use parts of what I learnt in that course as well as strategies I've learnt through experience.
In short, I think that public school teachers are seen to be a kind of mentor for the Korean teacher and they should therefore get more money than a hagwon teacher. If someone with experience or a bachelor's of education is working at a hagwon, that's their problem and they should aim higher. |
I mostly agree with you, except for the last sentence. I know someone with a bachelor's of education who is working at a test-prep hagwon. He is making over 4.0 per month and is happy with his job. |
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SuperfuzzBigmuff
Joined: 12 Mar 2017
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| Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2017 10:25 pm Post subject: |
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| goat wrote: |
| If anyone is making 1.8-2.1 going into their second year in Korea, it isn't the fault of the employer. It simply means one is worth this to the market. By the second year, one will know one's worth to the market. Look at your salary. Bingo! |
True, but most TEFELers aren't the highest achieving bunch. I know some people happy on 2.1 after still being here a while and they use the old "if you're frugal, you can save quite a bit" routine to justify it.
May I ask in what capacity you teach here? You mention being well over 2.7. I'd like to step it up a bit more next year, but it isn't going to happen in the public school circus.
As for your mate on 4.0; good luck to him, but, you'd have to admit, that isn't your regular hagwon salary. |
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goat
Joined: 23 Feb 2010
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| Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2017 10:55 pm Post subject: |
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| SuperfuzzBigmuff wrote: |
| goat wrote: |
| If anyone is making 1.8-2.1 going into their second year in Korea, it isn't the fault of the employer. It simply means one is worth this to the market. By the second year, one will know one's worth to the market. Look at your salary. Bingo! |
True, but most TEFELers aren't the highest achieving bunch. I know some people happy on 2.1 after still being here a while and they use the old "if you're frugal, you can save quite a bit" routine to justify it.
May I ask in what capacity you teach here? You mention being well over 2.7. I'd like to step it up a bit more next year, but it isn't going to happen in the public school circus.
As for your mate on 4.0; good luck to him, but, you'd have to admit, that isn't your regular hagwon salary. |
I agree with your first paragraph. There aren't many high achievers here. This makes it an easier market for the few who are willing to work their way up.
I have a BA, MA in Secondary Education with a focus on teaching languages. I work with all age students, including adult business classes. I edit, test prep, work on projects, …
The friend on 4.0+ has been here for a long time. He is single. During camps he can easily bring in 5.0+ in a month. |
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SuperfuzzBigmuff
Joined: 12 Mar 2017
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| Posted: Tue Oct 10, 2017 11:00 pm Post subject: |
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| goat wrote: |
| SuperfuzzBigmuff wrote: |
| goat wrote: |
| If anyone is making 1.8-2.1 going into their second year in Korea, it isn't the fault of the employer. It simply means one is worth this to the market. By the second year, one will know one's worth to the market. Look at your salary. Bingo! |
True, but most TEFELers aren't the highest achieving bunch. I know some people happy on 2.1 after still being here a while and they use the old "if you're frugal, you can save quite a bit" routine to justify it.
May I ask in what capacity you teach here? You mention being well over 2.7. I'd like to step it up a bit more next year, but it isn't going to happen in the public school circus.
As for your mate on 4.0; good luck to him, but, you'd have to admit, that isn't your regular hagwon salary. |
I agree with your first paragraph. There aren't many high achievers here. This makes it an easier market for the few who are willing to work their way up.
I have a BA, MA in Secondary Education with a focus on teaching languages. I work with all age students, including adult business classes. I edit, test prep, work on projects, …
The friend on 4.0+ has been here for a long time. He is single. During camps he can easily bring in 5.0+ in a month. |
Nice quals. Beats the hell out of me.
Are you working for a hagwon or international school?
I'd be happy with 3.5-4.0, but I might be dreaming. |
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goat
Joined: 23 Feb 2010
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| Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2017 1:03 am Post subject: |
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| SuperfuzzBigmuff wrote: |
| goat wrote: |
| SuperfuzzBigmuff wrote: |
| goat wrote: |
| If anyone is making 1.8-2.1 going into their second year in Korea, it isn't the fault of the employer. It simply means one is worth this to the market. By the second year, one will know one's worth to the market. Look at your salary. Bingo! |
True, but most TEFELers aren't the highest achieving bunch. I know some people happy on 2.1 after still being here a while and they use the old "if you're frugal, you can save quite a bit" routine to justify it.
May I ask in what capacity you teach here? You mention being well over 2.7. I'd like to step it up a bit more next year, but it isn't going to happen in the public school circus.
As for your mate on 4.0; good luck to him, but, you'd have to admit, that isn't your regular hagwon salary. |
I agree with your first paragraph. There aren't many high achievers here. This makes it an easier market for the few who are willing to work their way up.
I have a BA, MA in Secondary Education with a focus on teaching languages. I work with all age students, including adult business classes. I edit, test prep, work on projects, …
The friend on 4.0+ has been here for a long time. He is single. During camps he can easily bring in 5.0+ in a month. |
Nice quals. Beats the hell out of me.
Are you working for a hagwon or international school?
I'd be happy with 3.5-4.0, but I might be dreaming. |
The quals have helped. Of course, I had to have them when I taught outside of Korea and in the United States.
I do some hagwon work.
I have never worked for an international school. I've known a few people who have but I never discussed salaries with them.
You can make 3.5-4.0 if you manage to get into the right place. Also, I suggest doing anything you can to add to your CV if possible. Take an online course or one of the 120 hour courses.
Many people are uncomfortable with the idea of working for a test-prep school. It's not that bad if you land a good position or spend a year working yourself into a position. You may not be at work any more than a public school teacher and most of the lessons will be packaged for you. If you become really good at the craft, some of these schools will offer you higher wages to keep you around. 3.5-4.0, 4.5 and more is possible. These jobs are for the ambitious. The guy sitting outside the local 7-ELEVEN, drinking, and doesn't look like he has bathed in 3 days usually isn't the ambitious type. |
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SuperfuzzBigmuff
Joined: 12 Mar 2017
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| Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2017 1:44 am Post subject: |
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| goat wrote: |
| SuperfuzzBigmuff wrote: |
| goat wrote: |
| SuperfuzzBigmuff wrote: |
| goat wrote: |
| If anyone is making 1.8-2.1 going into their second year in Korea, it isn't the fault of the employer. It simply means one is worth this to the market. By the second year, one will know one's worth to the market. Look at your salary. Bingo! |
True, but most TEFELers aren't the highest achieving bunch. I know some people happy on 2.1 after still being here a while and they use the old "if you're frugal, you can save quite a bit" routine to justify it.
May I ask in what capacity you teach here? You mention being well over 2.7. I'd like to step it up a bit more next year, but it isn't going to happen in the public school circus.
As for your mate on 4.0; good luck to him, but, you'd have to admit, that isn't your regular hagwon salary. |
I agree with your first paragraph. There aren't many high achievers here. This makes it an easier market for the few who are willing to work their way up.
I have a BA, MA in Secondary Education with a focus on teaching languages. I work with all age students, including adult business classes. I edit, test prep, work on projects, …
The friend on 4.0+ has been here for a long time. He is single. During camps he can easily bring in 5.0+ in a month. |
Nice quals. Beats the hell out of me.
Are you working for a hagwon or international school?
I'd be happy with 3.5-4.0, but I might be dreaming. |
The quals have helped. Of course, I had to have them when I taught outside of Korea and in the United States.
I do some hagwon work.
I have never worked for an international school. I've known a few people who have but I never discussed salaries with them.
You can make 3.5-4.0 if you manage to get into the right place. Also, I suggest doing anything you can to add to your CV if possible. Take an online course or one of the 120 hour courses.
Many people are uncomfortable with the idea of working for a test-prep school. It's not that bad if you land a good position or spend a year working yourself into a position. You may not be at work any more than a public school teacher and most of the lessons will be packaged for you. If you become really good at the craft, some of these schools will offer you higher wages to keep you around. 3.5-4.0, 4.5 and more is possible. These jobs are for the ambitious. The guy sitting outside the local 7-ELEVEN, drinking, and doesn't look like he has bathed in 3 days usually isn't the ambitious type. |
I have a BA and CELTA (pass B) and have been teaching for 10 years in a variety of contexts; you name it, I've done it.
I'm pretty happy to be back in Korea as there are far worse places to live and teach. However, the PS gig is a pile of dogs#$t with a low ceiling of 2.7 and politics and egos to deal with. Open to options, and I guess it's Seoul or nothing, right? Having to live there fills me full of dread. |
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goat
Joined: 23 Feb 2010
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| Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2017 3:34 am Post subject: |
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| SuperfuzzBigmuff wrote: |
| goat wrote: |
| SuperfuzzBigmuff wrote: |
| goat wrote: |
| SuperfuzzBigmuff wrote: |
| goat wrote: |
| If anyone is making 1.8-2.1 going into their second year in Korea, it isn't the fault of the employer. It simply means one is worth this to the market. By the second year, one will know one's worth to the market. Look at your salary. Bingo! |
True, but most TEFELers aren't the highest achieving bunch. I know some people happy on 2.1 after still being here a while and they use the old "if you're frugal, you can save quite a bit" routine to justify it.
May I ask in what capacity you teach here? You mention being well over 2.7. I'd like to step it up a bit more next year, but it isn't going to happen in the public school circus.
As for your mate on 4.0; good luck to him, but, you'd have to admit, that isn't your regular hagwon salary. |
I agree with your first paragraph. There aren't many high achievers here. This makes it an easier market for the few who are willing to work their way up.
I have a BA, MA in Secondary Education with a focus on teaching languages. I work with all age students, including adult business classes. I edit, test prep, work on projects, …
The friend on 4.0+ has been here for a long time. He is single. During camps he can easily bring in 5.0+ in a month. |
Nice quals. Beats the hell out of me.
Are you working for a hagwon or international school?
I'd be happy with 3.5-4.0, but I might be dreaming. |
The quals have helped. Of course, I had to have them when I taught outside of Korea and in the United States.
I do some hagwon work.
I have never worked for an international school. I've known a few people who have but I never discussed salaries with them.
You can make 3.5-4.0 if you manage to get into the right place. Also, I suggest doing anything you can to add to your CV if possible. Take an online course or one of the 120 hour courses.
Many people are uncomfortable with the idea of working for a test-prep school. It's not that bad if you land a good position or spend a year working yourself into a position. You may not be at work any more than a public school teacher and most of the lessons will be packaged for you. If you become really good at the craft, some of these schools will offer you higher wages to keep you around. 3.5-4.0, 4.5 and more is possible. These jobs are for the ambitious. The guy sitting outside the local 7-ELEVEN, drinking, and doesn't look like he has bathed in 3 days usually isn't the ambitious type. |
I have a BA and CELTA (pass B) and have been teaching for 10 years in a variety of contexts; you name it, I've done it.
I'm pretty happy to be back in Korea as there are far worse places to live and teach. However, the PS gig is a pile of dogs#$t with a low ceiling of 2.7 and politics and egos to deal with. Open to options, and I guess it's Seoul or nothing, right? Having to live there fills me full of dread. |
100% agree on the PS gig. I did it for 1 year.
I still recommend anything you can add to your CV/resumé. Go for a couple of online courses on anything to do with language. This is bottom of the barrel but it looks good in Korea.
You might consider looking at some of the other larger cities other than Seoul. Hit the street walking and dropping off your CV at schools. Dress casual but nice along with being well groomed. Present yourself professionally, friendly, and well groomed. Keep a record of schools where you have dropped of CVs. Make lists of schools along with photos and addresses.
Use sites like Dave's to contact schools.
Finding a good school is somewhat like a boxer preparing for a fight. Much of the work is done outside the ring. Finding the school is more tasking than teaching the classes. People underestimate the time and effort it takes to get a good job or end up in a good job. It's not just working hard if one gets a good job, but working hard to get a good job. I believe this is where many people fall short.
7-ELEVEN Straggler, little effort in getting job and little effort in classroom, 2.0
Average Joe, some foot work in getting job, makes some effort in classroom, 2.2
Pavement Pounder, prepares well and pounds the pavement, professional in classroom, 3.0… 4.0… no problem. |
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SuperfuzzBigmuff
Joined: 12 Mar 2017
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| Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2017 4:32 am Post subject: |
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| goat wrote: |
| SuperfuzzBigmuff wrote: |
| goat wrote: |
| SuperfuzzBigmuff wrote: |
| goat wrote: |
| SuperfuzzBigmuff wrote: |
| goat wrote: |
| If anyone is making 1.8-2.1 going into their second year in Korea, it isn't the fault of the employer. It simply means one is worth this to the market. By the second year, one will know one's worth to the market. Look at your salary. Bingo! |
True, but most TEFELers aren't the highest achieving bunch. I know some people happy on 2.1 after still being here a while and they use the old "if you're frugal, you can save quite a bit" routine to justify it.
May I ask in what capacity you teach here? You mention being well over 2.7. I'd like to step it up a bit more next year, but it isn't going to happen in the public school circus.
As for your mate on 4.0; good luck to him, but, you'd have to admit, that isn't your regular hagwon salary. |
I agree with your first paragraph. There aren't many high achievers here. This makes it an easier market for the few who are willing to work their way up.
I have a BA, MA in Secondary Education with a focus on teaching languages. I work with all age students, including adult business classes. I edit, test prep, work on projects, …
The friend on 4.0+ has been here for a long time. He is single. During camps he can easily bring in 5.0+ in a month. |
Nice quals. Beats the hell out of me.
Are you working for a hagwon or international school?
I'd be happy with 3.5-4.0, but I might be dreaming. |
The quals have helped. Of course, I had to have them when I taught outside of Korea and in the United States.
I do some hagwon work.
I have never worked for an international school. I've known a few people who have but I never discussed salaries with them.
You can make 3.5-4.0 if you manage to get into the right place. Also, I suggest doing anything you can to add to your CV if possible. Take an online course or one of the 120 hour courses.
Many people are uncomfortable with the idea of working for a test-prep school. It's not that bad if you land a good position or spend a year working yourself into a position. You may not be at work any more than a public school teacher and most of the lessons will be packaged for you. If you become really good at the craft, some of these schools will offer you higher wages to keep you around. 3.5-4.0, 4.5 and more is possible. These jobs are for the ambitious. The guy sitting outside the local 7-ELEVEN, drinking, and doesn't look like he has bathed in 3 days usually isn't the ambitious type. |
I have a BA and CELTA (pass B) and have been teaching for 10 years in a variety of contexts; you name it, I've done it.
I'm pretty happy to be back in Korea as there are far worse places to live and teach. However, the PS gig is a pile of dogs#$t with a low ceiling of 2.7 and politics and egos to deal with. Open to options, and I guess it's Seoul or nothing, right? Having to live there fills me full of dread. |
100% agree on the PS gig. I did it for 1 year.
I still recommend anything you can add to your CV/resumé. Go for a couple of online courses on anything to do with language. This is bottom of the barrel but it looks good in Korea.
You might consider looking at some of the other larger cities other than Seoul. Hit the street walking and dropping off your CV at schools. Dress casual but nice along with being well groomed. Present yourself professionally, friendly, and well groomed. Keep a record of schools where you have dropped of CVs. Make lists of schools along with photos and addresses.
Use sites like Dave's to contact schools.
Finding a good school is somewhat like a boxer preparing for a fight. Much of the work is done outside the ring. Finding the school is more tasking than teaching the classes. People underestimate the time and effort it takes to get a good job or end up in a good job. It's not just working hard if one gets a good job, but working hard to get a good job. I believe this is where many people fall short.
7-ELEVEN Straggler, little effort in getting job and little effort in classroom, 2.0
Average Joe, some foot work in getting job, makes some effort in classroom, 2.2
Pavement Pounder, prepares well and pounds the pavement, professional in classroom, 3.0… 4.0… no problem. |
Interesting. I've always gotten a job from abroad. It just seems the safer and more professional way to do it. I've never tried the pavement pounding route. Just rocking up and dropping off a resume to some unknown hagwon has always seemed a bit random to me. How do you know they're a good one? They might turn around and say, "oh, we pay 1.8". I can't say I've ever seen a hagwon advertise for over 2.5, and, not to sound like a defeatist, one might assume that the best quality hagwon deals are passed on by word of mouth; networking has never been my forte.
I might sound like a hypocrite inquiring about hagwons, but from my experience and second hand experiences, they are usually bottom-of-the-EFL pile and best left to the drinking soju outside of 7-11 set whilst wearing a hoodie.
Thanks for the heads up. |
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goat
Joined: 23 Feb 2010
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| Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2017 5:43 am Post subject: |
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I'm sure there is more than one way to skin a cat. I'm just giving some advice that has worked for me.
Yes. Most hagwons aren't going to pay much. Most hogwons deserve the ratty reputation they have. The good ones are rare.
My friend who works at the test-prep school began at a small hogwon and worked for a big chain his second year.
The third time/school was the charm. I believe he started off in the test-pep at around 2.5 (extra for extra classes) years ago. He had a lot of interviews and put in some effort before settling with this job. I have asked him when he plans to return home. He always tells me this job pays him more than he will make back home and it's probably easier than anything else he will ever find. |
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SuperfuzzBigmuff
Joined: 12 Mar 2017
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| Posted: Thu Oct 12, 2017 6:37 pm Post subject: |
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| goat wrote: |
I'm sure there is more than one way to skin a cat. I'm just giving some advice that has worked for me.
Yes. Most hagwons aren't going to pay much. Most hogwons deserve the ratty reputation they have. The good ones are rare.
My friend who works at the test-prep school began at a small hogwon and worked for a big chain his second year.
The third time/school was the charm. I believe he started off in the test-pep at around 2.5 (extra for extra classes) years ago. He had a lot of interviews and put in some effort before settling with this job. I have asked him when he plans to return home. He always tells me this job pays him more than he will make back home and it's probably easier than anything else he will ever find. |
My last question has to be: why on earth are you pounding the pavement and door-knocking hagwons when you've got an MA in Secondary Education? I thought that would be the desired route for those with a BA of Lesbian Dance Theory with zero teaching experience.
I'm not having a go at you at all; it just seems a slightly strange way to find a well-paid job in Korea with someone with such good qualifications as yourself. I am to believe that quals don't matter so much in Korea? |
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goat
Joined: 23 Feb 2010
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| Posted: Fri Oct 13, 2017 2:15 am Post subject: |
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| SuperfuzzBigmuff wrote: |
| goat wrote: |
I'm sure there is more than one way to skin a cat. I'm just giving some advice that has worked for me.
Yes. Most hagwons aren't going to pay much. Most hogwons deserve the ratty reputation they have. The good ones are rare.
My friend who works at the test-prep school began at a small hogwon and worked for a big chain his second year.
The third time/school was the charm. I believe he started off in the test-pep at around 2.5 (extra for extra classes) years ago. He had a lot of interviews and put in some effort before settling with this job. I have asked him when he plans to return home. He always tells me this job pays him more than he will make back home and it's probably easier than anything else he will ever find. |
My last question has to be: why on earth are you pounding the pavement and door-knocking hagwons when you've got an MA in Secondary Education? I thought that would be the desired route for those with a BA of Lesbian Dance Theory with zero teaching experience.
I'm not having a go at you at all; it just seems a slightly strange way to find a well-paid job in Korea with someone with such good qualifications as yourself. I am to believe that quals don't matter so much in Korea?
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It's okay. You have put up good and sincere questions.
The intensive job searching was years back. I have more than enough to keep me busy. My spouse and I have a school that has been up and running for approximately 17 years. We have only 1 foreign teacher. He has been with us for 7 years. |
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Cardinal1990
Joined: 06 Oct 2017
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| Posted: Sat Oct 14, 2017 4:04 pm Post subject: Yes, stagnant |
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I have an uncle who taught in Korea in the late 80's / early 90's. He taught for Samsung. We discussed this "stagnant" issue.
He says when he joined Samsung as an ESL teacher in 1987, his pay was 1.7 million won / month. The exchange rate was around 700 won to the U.S. dollar. The average Korean was earning about 750,000/month at that time. That means he was earning about 2.25 times more than the average Korean. He was provided with a free apartment owned by Samsung. The apartment was in Kangnam and considered top of the market at the time. A driver picked him and a fellow teacher up each morning and dropped them off again each evening. The general manager met with the five foreign teachers at Christmas to give them a bonus and some sort of Samsung products as gifts.
The average Korean earns about 2.5 milliion won / month (going by a chart I pulled up on the net). So, if you were to earn 2.25 times what the average Korean earned, you'd be making 5.6 million won / month just from your primary job. Then you toss in the "top of the market" apartment and private transportation. And of course things were cheaper back in the late 80's as well. (My uncle jokes for example that a girl on "hooker hill" in Itaewon could be had for 10,000 won. Thank God he survived that and he's happily married now.)
So, yeah. Not just stagnant, but declining.
My friends teaching in Thailand report the same stagnancy in wages, with things stuck at 30,000/Baht a month forever (about US$900/month) and the schools more frequently turning to non-native speakers such as Filipinos and certain Africans, who they can pay 20,000/month. |
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edwardcatflap
Joined: 22 Mar 2009
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| Posted: Sat Oct 14, 2017 6:22 pm Post subject: Re: Yes, stagnant |
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| Cardinal1990 wrote: |
I have an uncle who taught in Korea in the late 80's / early 90's. He taught for Samsung. We discussed this "stagnant" issue.
He says when he joined Samsung as an ESL teacher in 1987, his pay was 1.7 million won / month. The exchange rate was around 700 won to the U.S. dollar. The average Korean was earning about 750,000/month at that time. That means he was earning about 2.25 times more than the average Korean. He was provided with a free apartment owned by Samsung. The apartment was in Kangnam and considered top of the market at the time. A driver picked him and a fellow teacher up each morning and dropped them off again each evening. The general manager met with the five foreign teachers at Christmas to give them a bonus and some sort of Samsung products as gifts.
The average Korean earns about 2.5 milliion won / month (going by a chart I pulled up on the net). So, if you were to earn 2.25 times what the average Korean earned, you'd be making 5.6 million won / month just from your primary job. Then you toss in the "top of the market" apartment and private transportation. And of course things were cheaper back in the late 80's as well. (My uncle jokes for example that a girl on "hooker hill" in Itaewon could be had for 10,000 won. Thank God he survived that and he's happily married now.)
So, yeah. Not just stagnant, but declining.
My friends teaching in Thailand report the same stagnancy in wages, with things stuck at 30,000/Baht a month forever (about US$900/month) and the schools more frequently turning to non-native speakers such as Filipinos and certain Africans, who they can pay 20,000/month. |
The world has got a lot smaller and more convenient for those living abroad. life in 80s Korea must have been pretty grim, despite the cheap hookers and Samsung freebies. A lot of young people working abroad thesedays probably wouldn't hve considered it back then without internet, skype, relatively cheap air travel etc.. etc.. consquently a lack of people wlling to live in a place like Korea would have driven wages up. Similarly an interest in Korean popular culture may have allowed employees to keep salaries static and still manage to attrract newbies. |
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