Korean Job Discussion Forums

[ActionInternational]

To all teachers!

This topic is sincerely intended to find out what agents and hogwans can reasonably do or provide to make teaching jobs and life experience MUCH BETTER for foreign teachers in korea and/or for prospective foreign teachers wanting to teach in korea!

What kind of extra services can be provided? What kind of help or facilities would you like to make your life easier and more comfortable? From before going to korea, to living and teaching in korea, up until when the teacher leaves korea upon the completion of the job contract.

I have taught english in korea for a year, and can certainly understand the difficulties that foreigners face or will face in korea. Some enjoyed their stay, whilst quite a number of teachers have negative experiences and impressions of korea. I have been fortunate that my experience has been a good one overall.

Please, I would like to hear from everybody! Especially all those who applied through an agent. All sincere feedbacks are welcomed!

Cheers!

[peppermint]

A really small thing that would make a huge difference is making sure that there are a few essentials in the teacher's apartment. The basic furnishings, including a clean blanket and pillow, a bottle of water, a roll of toilet paper, a little food- even if its only ramyeon, and a map to the school. I don't think that's asking a whole lot.

[McNasty]

The mailing address and phone number for the apartment would be nice upon arrival. School , agent, and embassy contact numbers would be a big help as well. Also, a guided tour of the neighborhood would be a great way to start off the working relationship.

It doesn't take a lot of effort, but common courtesy always seems to get overlooked.

[manlyboy]

[Saxiif]

Make sure something gets set up for moving the teaher's stuff. Some of us have a lot of stuff and some bosses have very small cars.

[Dalton]

This goes straight to the heart of the matter:

[Son Deureo!]

[Demophobe]

Unfortunately, the answer is easy, yet perhaps impossible.

Somehow, recruiters have to CARE about the teachers and not only about the money they get for pimping them out. If they (you?) truly cared about foreigners impressions (and if they backed up their Korean pride with some humanistic, positive-Korean-impression actions), they would realize that they are often on the front lines....they are the first link to this country for a foreign teacher.

It's a huge moral and patriotic responsibilty. You can often make or break how people think about your country, as well as offering good service from one human to another.

Do unto others as you would have them do to you. If you were the one going to Canada, and you had to work through a Canadian recruiter, what woulf you want? A money-hungry, uncaring scoundrel tossing you into the private school lottery? Not that recruiters are all scoundrels...far from it, but just for argument's sake. That, and the OP implies that the services currently avaliable are less than adequate.

You syntax and small errors lead me to believe that you are Korean. "feedbacks"...it's uncountable and "k" and "s" aren't neighbors. If I am wrong, then I apologize.

Anyways, it's good that you care enough to post this, but if you are a Korean recruiter and want to be a better service to the foreign community here, the answer may be somewhere between your mirror, your wallet and your conscience.

Pretty harsh post.....sorry all....venting? Not really.....I for one am tired of teachers a) getting stuck into terrible situations and b) having a scapegoat when they "*sob*just aren't happy*sniff*". It does go both ways....I'm sure that for every valid complaint against a recruiter, there are an equal number of whiney insatiables out to blame anyone but themselves for the mess thay are in.

Interesting how some people have nothing but good experiences in Korea....hagwons, recruiters, Koreans generally, while others just suffer.

I'm not a big fan of "luck", so it must be something else.


Haha...."bitter Demo"....enjoy it while you can....I will probably wake up tomorrow and delete this post!

[SweetBear]

Simply being paid on time and in full would go a long way toward easing tensions and difficulties for many. Recruiters and hogwans who abided by this principle would find that ultimately it's a win-win situation.

[Grotto]

Things I would like to see teachers getting when starting at a new school.

1. Name and address of apartment in both Korean and English of a business size card.

2. A guided tour of the area you are in.

3. Basic supplies for a week, when you arrive there should be some toilet paper, basic food would be a bonus. Many times people arrive late at night, are exhausted from the trip, wake up and there is nothing in the apartment. A dozen eggs, some ramein, a can of tuna, a bottle of juice and water would go a long way to welcoming someone.

4. A list of buses, where they go, times to catch them. Helping the new teacher get a bus pass.

5. A list of things to do in the area. Shopping centers, folk villages, temples, palaces etc.... Many of these items can be picked up for free from the local tourist bureau.

6. A list of contact numbers, school, director, teachers etc....

7. An introduction to another foreign speaker in the area.

8. A clean apartment, clean sheets etc....

9. An offer of a cash advance. Many newcomers dont have much cash and they are embarrassed to ask for an advance.

10. Take them out for lunch the day after they arrive.

[peppermint]

Have someone that speaks English well meet the new teacher at the airport- especially if it's their first time, Don't bring them to the school right away- let them go to their apartment and get a few hours sleep first.

[paperbag princess]

if recruiters actually cared about teachers being happy in their school, instead of placing as many as possible, that would be better.

i second the motion to have basic supplies at the apt (toilet paper etc), also showing the teachers how to work the hot water heater (especially in winter) would be nice.

[ActionInternational]

Thank you all so much for your feedback so far! Really helpful and valuable suggestions from Peppermint, McNasty, Manlyboy, Saxiif, Dalton, Son Deureo!, Demophobe, SweetBear, Paperbag Princess, and especially Grotto! This is by no means the last post, so please keep the feedback coming! The more suggestions, the better.

Yes, it's amazing how all these simple provisions, common courtesy, and basic good services, which all can be provided VERY EASILY but aren't by most recruiters and schools, can make that much a difference for us foreign teachers in korea. And I'm sure not just for english teachers, but also for teachers of other languages, such as chinese, japanese, and spanish. Teachers of other languages are also very much welcomed to join this thread!

For me, various important contact details, my own contact details, having my phone setup, basic provisions, information about transport and shopping, entertainment and internet access, how to work the washing machine, and how to work the heater during winter, were some of the things that would've really helped me out. It was frustrating and challenging trying to work out all these by myself. Most of the time I had to ask for help directly, as no one offered. I didn't go through a recruiter to find a teaching job in korea, but instead went there directly and job hunted there by myself. Would've been nice if someone can help about these things from the very start!

--> Hi Demophobe, I really appreciate your honest feedback. Harsh post? Not at all. Your views are absolutely valid and perhaps shared by many teachers. A little about me. I'm not korean and was very much a foreigner in korea. No worries about that, ok? I have also faced difficult times and bad experiences whilst in korea, in a totally different, at times alienating environment. However, there are also times that have been very positive and rewarding for me, as well as making some really close friends that I still keep in contact with. I know without the help of my school or korean friends, my life there would have been more difficult. I meant that 'overall' I have gained a valuable experience.

Cheers!

[mezdupa]

[prosodic]