Korean Job Discussion Forums

FUBAR · Joined: 21 Oct 2003 Location: The Y.C.

Back to the OP.

You would want to see how many teachers there are at the school. Larger schools generally are more stable than the local Mom and Pops store with only 1 foreign teacher especially, if you would be the first teacher to come into the school.

Talk to the other teachers. Find out how many of them have resigned their contracts. That is a big thing. If none of the teachers are resigning, yet they are going to live in the same city, there is reason to be concerned. Unless of course they are moving onto another school.

Ask the school about your working hours. If the director is vague about your hours or can't give a specific answer, odds are that you are working split shifts.

Find out if the director can speak English. Is the person you are communicating with, the school manager or the director. Many times the manager will make promises that the director doesn't know about and will sometimes not allow.

Above all, this country is about relationships. If you can get on well with the director, most of the time you will be treated well.

For the OP. Check out this link. It should provide you more than you need to know.

http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/korea/viewtopic.php?t=20656

hellofaniceguy · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Location: On your computer screen!

Come on...let's lightenup on the guy.
He spoke his two cents worth and he is right...YOU need to research the job, school, etc. and then decide. You can't rely 100% on a blacklist or white list. What's bad for one teacher and was a nightmare may turn out to be gold for the next. It's all about finesse and personality.
But...
the teachers who have been in korea for many years DO know what is going on in the hakwon scene and have experience. Their advice is worth heeding.
Land a gig..if it does not work out...move on and keep moving on until you find your spot. Pay your dues and doors will open to better schools, etc.
You need to have THICK and I mean THICK skin to work in korea to put up with all the BS that koreans dish out. Have no expectations of korea or koreans and you won't be disappointed. Remember...it's their country and no one forced you to come to korea or sign a contract.

Kim Jong Jordan · Joined: 13 Mar 2004 Location: The Internet

After reading numerous threads on this board, mostly negative, I (someone who has yet to arrive in the ROK) am fully convinced that you must simply come to Korea, take whatever shots you get, learn from them, and then become a better teacher as a result of your experiences. You can speculate all you want, but the fact that you get so many different opinions from so many different people on this board who have had so many different experiences adds light to the fact that it is all about how YOU conduct yourself, deal with your INDIVIDUAL situation, and decipher the good from the bad. The one thing I've gathered from the few monthes I've spent here is that I should expect bad things to happen, at least as a means to prevent myself from experiencing an unexpected catastrophie. I know it won't all be hunky dory, but I am prepared to embrace that and then draw out the good from that bad and have a great time. Its all about preparing oneself, in order to eliminate any unexpected negativity.

peppermint · Posted: Fri Oct 15, 2004 12:48 am Post subject:

Good post KJJ, and pretty close to the mark. Go in expectiing the worst and you'll either be pleasantly surprised, or prepared at least.

Homer · Guest

Is there...hmmm perhaps Are there would be better et techah? Laughing

As for recommending Public school for a newbie...I agree with peppermint...only a newbie would recommend it...

manlyboy · Posted: Fri Oct 15, 2004 2:31 am Post subject:

I've only been in one for a month and a half, but I'll vouch for public school jobs. After two years in hagwons, this is like a big, fat, slice of creamy chocolate cake.
I've noticed that most of us public school teachers on this forum do the bulk of our posting between 8:30 & 4:30. You know why the hagwon teachers don't post much during their working hours? Because they're too busy WORKING! Wink

peppermint · Posted: Fri Oct 15, 2004 2:37 am Post subject:

It can be great, and when it goes well, it's the most rewarding job around, but it can be a disaster, trust me.

captain kirk · Joined: 29 Jan 2003

I've been in haggies for seven years and hellofaniceguy has said it all. Totally, eloquently accurate. Smile

JaphieR · Joined: 17 Apr 2004 Location: Bundang

mindmetoo · Joined: 02 Feb 2004

Yes there are. Are there any perfect schools out there? No. Sounds like you've worked in an office environment. Hagwons are like the office environment ramped up 3x. People wait to the last moment, there's no plan, and no one seems to know who is responsible for what. The Korea teachers are over worked and paid a miserable wage. Many are highly competent teachers and see some fresh whitey who knows less about the English grammar than them earn 30% more for less work. Any sign of arrogance or whininess on the part of the foreign teacher is not viewed through the most objective lens.

I think too many ESL teachers who have no work experience end up interpreting incompetence and a lack of planning, which exists at ever job, as "my director is out to get me!"

That said there are a lot of dishonest schools and even more dishonest recruiters who will tell you anything. All in all, go with your gut feeling.

FUBAR · Joined: 21 Oct 2003 Location: The Y.C.

mindmetoo · Joined: 02 Feb 2004