Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Natasha Compagnon]

Hello!

I'm a new member, though I've been reading the boards off and on for months. I've found some good advice and things to remember, thank you all.

I've tried to decide what I should be doing from reading the FAQs and all, but I wanted to get some direct advice:

I want to teach in Korea starting in January, and I'm planning to travel over with a friend who also wants to teach. We're thinking of applying together - I've read that some recruiters and schools are happy to have two young female teachers wanting to travel and stay together. Would applying to work in the same area or school, if possible, be a good idea?

Also, I'm looking for some good recruiters. I've only contacted one thus far - Haan - and while I got a reply to my first email, they've since stopped talking to me. I'm a bit hesitant about applying directly to the schools, but I've read that it might be a good idea. We want to make sure we get good contracts - what is the best way to go about this?

Would anyone help me out, please?

[Son Deureo!]

I'm sure it's doable. Especially since female teachers are in such high demand. It will limit your choices, though, if you insist on being in the same school.

One thing to watch out for, though, is that if you're coming together, your boss will probably want to put you in the same apartment in order to save money. Be sure to push for single apartments if you don't want to be living AND working together.

[Natasha Compagnon]

[Son Deureo!]

Asking for single apartments is a very common request, and I know very few teachers who have had no choice but to share apartments.

There have been a lot of posts before about how to negotiate contracts, so for a more detailed answer to this use the search engine and the FAQ. Here's my quick and dirty answer.

The most important thing to figure out is what you require in a job, and are willing to walk away from a job if you don't get it. As a woman, you have a bit more latitude. If you also happen to be North American, you will have a lot more latitude.

However, if you insist on being in the same school, this reduces your latitude drastically as your pool of schools has now been reduced to only schools that require two teachers at the same time.

The things I would consider to be bare minimum requirements for a kiddy hogwon job as complete newbies.

*Salary (2.0-2.1 million)
*Single housing, not shared, paid for by employer.
*No weekend work
*Block shift/no splits (Hours starting no earlier that X:00 and ending no later that Y:00 enshrined in the contract. How wide that gap should be is up to you, but I'd say nothing longer that 8 hours is reasonable for first-timers, no kindy will mean shorter hours.)
*Round-trip airfare, ticket to Korea provided upfront.
*Two weeks vacation time. When this vacation is to be given should be in the contract.
*No damage deposit.
*Health insurance and pension split 50/50 between you and the boss.
*The phone numbers and/or email addresses of at least two current or former foreign teachers that you can speak with to make sure that the school is trustworthy. If they can't provide this, they've either burned someone, or they're brand new. Brand new schools can be difficult to work at if you're a first time teacher.

If any school you're looking at can't or won't provide all of this for you in a contract, keep looking. You can do better.

By the way, having what you want in a contract is not a guarantee that you'll actually get it. But it's a good place to start.

[teachingld2004]

I would not insist on 2.0 or 2.1.
If you read peoples posts, some great jobs will pay 1.9.
You have to first (i think) decide on the location. look at maps of Korea. Do you want the beack? These areas may pay less. Do you want the city? Decide.
Thank get a job via the internet. I do reccoment youtalk to present and former tehachers. Just know they may lie, and you dont know if they really are present or former teachers.
Have the school pay for your airfare. You can work near eachother in different schools.
Do you want kinder? (i love kinder)
Ehat ages do you want?
The money 1.9 or 2.1 is not that much of a difference. The job for 1.9 may be less stressfull. Who knows. The first job is "luck of the draw"
Of corse young pretty females have the best job choices, not fair but that is what it is.
Good luck

[ajuma]

teachingld2004 I REALLY try not to be a "grammar" or "spelling" police person, but geez!!! Do you actually teach in Korea??? Typos, the occasional mis-spelling (I checked "occasional" to make sure it was correct!) I can understand, but....all I can say is "I'm glad you're not teaching at MY school!!!"

[teachingld2004]

Yes, you are right. Usually my spelling is bad and my typing is worse. That email was a bad one, hit send by accent...I did want to fix it.
I am a great teacher. Thank God I teach English, and not typing.
When I did write papers for school, I did use "spell check" and a dictionary.
Next time I post some thing I will double check before I hit "send". Sorry I offended you.

[Natasha Compagnon]

Thanks, guys.

My friend and I are both young, Canadian females. We don't break mirrors when we look in them, so that might help, too. =) I don't think she would insist on working in the same school, and I don't mind if we don't, so long as we're in the same area.

Both of us want to pay off our student loans quickly, but I'm willing to take a slightly lower salary if it means good hours and whatnot. Also, we don't get along very well with small children, so we're going to ask for older kids. Maybe adults, but I'm not sure how I'd handle split shifts.

[chronicpride]

Natasha, rather than trying to remember everything, advice-wise, I'd recommend doing what a lot of new teachers do, and post here for assistance at every step of your process. Posting contract offers to get feedback, posting any confusing/potential misunderstanding that you have with a recruiter or school, etc...You will get good feedback over the course of 24 hours.

[shawner88]

http://www.geocities.com/prisonerofwonderland/


Sounds like you're trying to avoid this situation.

I would suggest coming here first, getting a yeogwan together and going out looking for a job. My friend did it this way recently and he landed a great job in a great area. It took him about 3 weeks.

[Gollum]

[Natasha Compagnon]