Korean Job Discussion Forums

[briguy]

It was mentioned in a post below that some of the "better" hagwons are looking to hire couples. If so, it would be greatly appreciated if someone could provide the names of some of these hagwons b/c my girlfriend and I are planning on comming over shortly. And whats the general perception by hagwon employers about couples teaching together. Same, better or worse?

Thanks!

[LiquidSunshine]

as a fellow employee i wouldn't have any problems with it but i just don't understand why someone would want to work in the same office as his/her partner. it's asking for trouble.

[briguy]

Thanks LiquidSunshine for the response. Why would we be asking for trouble? Trouble between ourselves or with the Hagwon?

Also:

[u]Thanks for the folks that are answering the poll. If you could give me a brief explanation of your vote that would be most helpfull...as it may help in bargaining power.

Thanks again!!

Brian

[The Great Wall of Whiner]

Hagwons like it.

For one, it's often cheaper for them. Secondly, they get two people at the same time.

On the down-side, if they do a midnight runner, it's a double whamy.

Personally, I am completely indifferent to couples teaching together. It is about as important to me as the bird I can see sitting on the power pole outside my window.

Yes I can see it. But it does not affect me one bit.

[Len8]

I'm living in Kyungju and the institute I work at part time has a couple teaching' and they get along just fine. The owner of the institute was so tired of the spate of the crazy men hungry females and women hungry males she seemed to get, she got feed up and advertised for a couple. I work part time with them ,and they're great. They are what the Koreans would call "dinks" which is the abbreviation for "double income no kids". I went to the institutes christmas party and the two of them did a good rendition of a pop song much to the delight of all the kids and parents. I have also observed how they interact with the owner, and she looks so relieved.
Another couple I met got an even better deal in as much as he got to do your regular hours, and she got lesser hours giving her a lot of free time to pursue other interests. I think the director picked up on how stable they were' for the institute and gave them a break.
Generally though I've heard that the couples who fit in , and are here to teach are really appreciated. There have been the odd one or two though that I've heard of who were here just here for fun and games' and who were eventually dismissed.

[waterbaby]

I know of a few couples who came to Korea together and taught at the same hogwan and then broke up... caused all sorts of bother. I guess it depends on how solid the relationship is. But generally, when I meet couples in Korea who came here together and are still together after a year, well, I just want to shake their hands!

[weatherman]

[Ody1966]

housing.
i voted "better" because sharing housing is a sore point for many.

DINK huh? that's what my brother calls himself. in the 80's he'd say, a tad defensively (who could blame him), we're not yuppies we're dinks!"

[canuk2]

I am the female part of a couple. It has been a good experience for us. But it has also been difficult. Very little space as you are in each others back pocket. Coming to Korea was a make or break for our relationship. In the end it has made us an engaged couple.

We are returning home early due to my Dad's health and other reasons. Not a bad hagwon though.

Our boss opened his school with a Canadian couple that we replaced. He liked the couples as they gave him both a female and male teacher, people who could work well together and liked spending time together.

Down side was that we are affectionate with each other and that made the Korean teachers uncomfortable with the looks, and passing touches. we toned it down if deference to our surroundings.

But if you are not in a commited relationship, being here will make or break the relationship.

He was looking for a couple to replace us but after 6 weeks of searching he hired two male teachers and rented another apartment.

pm if you have questions.

[BCgirl]

Hi,

My husaband and I are teaching at the same hagwon. It's seems to be going quite well. As we both are here to teach, hopefully learn the langauge and experience Korea. We are very very new to Korea, only have been here just over two weeks. The biggest thing I have noticed with him and I teaching and living together is no time alone. It does strain a relationship but we are working on it.

At the hagwon we make it a point not to spend time together. We are teaching of course different classes and we are in different programs. To me that has been the life saver. To have that time apart. I am sure once we start going out a little bit by ourselves it will help as well. Anyways, those are my thoughts on the subject. Though we are so new here I am not sure our take on it will help.

Tara

[steroidmaximus]

Everything everybody has said so far is bang on.

like the great wall said, hiring a couple saves the hakwan money. They get two teachers, only pay for one apt. It also saves the hakwan from some potentially embarrasing situations, such as a teacher dating an adult student, or gettin' into trouble some night out. Usually folks in a couple situation are more reliable this way, not running around till all hours of the night, not getting into fights, etc.

It's also better for the teachers, because the director has more impetus to keep you happy: if you run, they lose not one but two teachers.

Canuk2 and others also expressed the flip side nicely: it can seriously cause you problems, being in each other's back pocket. I did a year and a bit with one of my exs at a hakwan, and we split shortly after our contract was over. We were both adults about it at the time however, and didn't let our decision affect the way we worked or behaved with one another, even though we had decided about 2 months before leaving that leaving was really leaving. No one knew this was going to be the case until about 4 days before we left, when we spilt the beans. Many were surprised, since we seemed so good together. C'est la vie. It wasn't about being tempted, either, although after the split we both ended up running around fairly soon after

Anyway, in my experience, Korea does seem to take a heavy toll on relationships, in my case and what I've observed. I know there are many couples out there who are still together, but I've seen many couples explode, implode, dissolve insert appropriate adjective here, so be warned. It ain't no cake walk.

[Derrek]

Has anyone else noticed that the original poster mentioned he is not married to the other partner???

It seems to me that hagwons want married partners -- not boyfriend/girlfriend situations, which are less stable.

[briguy]

Thanks everyone for your insight - its very helpfull. I can certainly see how hiring a couple can be a benefit to both the Hagwon and to the the couple who is teaching, especially since you have a built in support system.

As some of you mentioned, if the couple is unstable and unprepared for living - let alone working - abroad, there can certainly be some difficulties within the relationship.

Derek, to answer you question, we are not married nor engaged. However, we do consider ourselves "partnered." While I am sure that means nothing to a Hagwon director the significance for us is akin to being married.

Fortunately, we have both traveled and lived abroad and are doing our best to prepare for being visitors in someone elses "home." We are very much looking forward to the culture shock!

A follow up question: How much more bargaining power is there for a Hagwon who is looking for a couple and has had trouble finding suitable candidates....i.e. better salary, accomodations, vacation etc?

[LiquidSunshine]

vacation? what's that? smiles. you could have some power in the housing department. but it would be best if you were already in korea so you could go look at all the possible apt. in the neighborhood. money...you can't, i don't think, ask for more than you deserve (years of experience, education...are variables here)

as for what i meant about asking for trouble....it's just like everyone said...spending so much time with another person is bound to crack the freedom barrier. but if you're secure about it all and you don't mind doing things apart, from time to time, then you should be fine. but again, like evryone said...it won't be easy.

but anyways, good luck and enjoy yourself out here it can be fun

[iammac2002]

If you're working for the same hagwon, but in different branches, you'd get the benefit of not working in the same space (a building next door or a building a subway stop away), but still for the same employer.