Korean Job Discussion Forums

[justagirl]

Monday-Thursday

1. 3-9 pm, be at the school by 2:30
2. 10 classes a day, 25 minutes each, same students every day in the classes, and 1 hr. of adults.
3. 6 teachers (3 Korean, 3 Native-English)
4. All the standard stuff, like round-trip airfare, housing, severance, pension, health care, etc
5. Boss speaks fluent English, and has lived overseas for more than 10 years. He's really cool--never a problem
6. Lots of teaching supplies (books, tapes, copy machine,etc) provided.
7. In Cheonan (38 min. to Seoul on the KTX)
8. 1.9 million a month (I have 2 years experience)

9--NO KINDIE! All the kids have been through phonics and are at least 8 years old.

What do you think? Just looking to compare/see if you guys think I have a good school.

[teachingld2004]

you seem to have a great job. 1.9 for 4 days a week. If you are happy, its a great job. If u are not, it stinks. So, are u happy?

[trevorcollins]

[Ilsanman]

yes except for the location, but if you get a 3 day weekend, I'd work it too

[chronicpride]

[the_beaver]

[justagirl]

I'm very happy--best place I've worked in over 3 years. I've been at this school for a year and 4 months. The other places weren't bad to work at either, but this school is my favorite.

The administration is good, the co-teachers are all fluent in English and eveyone gets along really well. The kids are fun and well-behaved (I'm a stickler on discipline, so they've been whipped into shape). Like I said, they can all read and most are between 10-12.

There's no strenuous paper work, program planning or the like. I do a bit extra because I like to. I've made some tests and study guides for the upper levels, for example.

The 3-day weekends are the best. Friday is the de-tox day for relaxing, Saturday I can really start to enjoy the time off and have a bit more energy at hand, and I still have one more day before going back to work. Love it.

[chronicpride]

If you're as happy as you sound and you've got 4 long weekends a month, everything else looks rosy, IMO.

If I had a gig like that for my last year, I'd buy a motorbike and take my camera and go to all the nooks and crannies of the country that I never got a chance to see. Spend 1 long weekend a month doing regional trips. Vladivostok. Shanghai. Osaka. Any place that I haven't seen, but might want to cram in to 3 days.

I'd take that job if it was a travel/experience year, but maybe not a money year. Unless you load up Friday for privates. You can maybe pull 2.3+/mnth and still have your weekends.

Good for you, regardless.

[the_beaver]

Forget my earlier comment.

You have a job you really like so you're lucky.

[justagirl]

No problem, Beaver.

I was just wondering if this is comparable to what other people have, and if it would be a desirable job for people who are looking.

I haven't checked out the job boards lately, so I don't know what's being offered. Does anyone else have 3-day weekends (working at a hakwon)?

No, I don't do privates on Fridays, but dang, someone could haul in a load of they were into that. I prefer to have the time with my husband (we both work there, so we both have the same schedule).

[VanIslander]

THREE ADVANTAGES:

(1) They don't expect you show up before 2:30? (You must have a set curriculum, which might be good, depending.)

(2) You get to teach the same students four days in a row? (builds relationships and aids learning)

(3) Three day weekends?

THREE DRAWBACKS:

(1) 25 minutes isn't long when some are late; little time for review games.

(2) Cheonan is too close to Seoul.

(3) 1.9 with two years experience is low end.

All of the above is IMO.

You are clearly not unlucky, all things considered, given what you most want. Good job!

[Zyzyfer]

[teachingld2004]

So here is my question. why are you asking if you are lucky? You can say that you ARE lucky. I know you are a bit far from Seoul, but not everyone (me included ) likes swoul. You work with your husband and you both have 3 day weekends. Of corse u are licky. You only have positive things to say about the job.yes u are lucky. You dont want to do privates, that is your choice. But like some one said, if u did them on fridays you would have more money. So, if it is not money your are after, yes. you are lucky. If you made 2.1 and you were working fridays and you loved your job, you would also be lucky. Money does not come into the question all the time about happiness.
So, here is MY question to YOU. Do you think I am lucky? I make 1.9. not a very good salary. But there are many beaches close by. I LOVE the sea. My apartment is great, and the air is fresh and clean . The people I work with are great, and the owner is a gem. Yep, some times I am not too happy with things at work, but i'd say that 90% of the time I am happy. The minor things that bother me are just that, minor. Will I stay one more year? I'm almost sure. I wil;l get more money I was told. But then again, people may not think I am lucky, but I do. I have peace of mind and I am in a great school. Would I do things differently here if I could? Sure. I have to follow this crappy learning program, but I manage to do other things too. The kids love me, I love them. I am happy. So, am I lucky? My answer to that is yes. I have friends making 2.2 with less hours but they hate their school. My stress is nill.

[crazykiwi]

3 day weekends? wow, thats awesome. my gig is so sweet my mates have asked me to stop bragging!

at work at 2 leave by six.
tuesday thursdays, 3 classes.
40 minutes long.

same set curiculum the whole year with lotsa room to move.
no wang jung nim, ever!
3 teachers, me and 2 koreans. all get on very well.

no report cards, no paper work, no interviews.
my lessons can be planned in 15 minutes.

if i want something, 9/10 i usually get it.

all in all, 1 million times better than my ecc last year (which is noty that hard really!)

would love the 3 days though, then i would really have something to brag about!

laterz
crazy

[justagirl]

Well, like my signature says, we're leaving. I'm going home to get my MA in Teaching, so if anyone would like a great job, just pm me.

I tried to get some of my friends from home to come over, but they're all married, in grad school or something like that. I came over right after college, so I wasn't settled into anything yet.

I'm sure someone could be very happy working here.