Korean Job Discussion Forums

sjk1128 · Joined: 04 Feb 2005

I've been talking with a Korean English teacher in a hagwan in Ulsan for a few days about a job - my first in Korea but not my first teaching ESL, and I'm trying to make a decision.

Here's what's important to me (in order of importance):

1. Apartment
2. Money
3. School conditions
4. Location

He said the apartment is really nice. I hashed out the contract with him, and they are agreeing to pay me 2.1M won and 23,000 won for any overtime which will include any hours over 30 or outside normal working hours of 2-8 Mon-Fri. I'll be the only native English speaker. He said I can work overtime hours at home if I choose to do so helping the director develop a curriculum for a new class, but it's not required. All in the contract...

I insisted on seeing some photos of the apartment, and the director took these and sent them to me. They say it's got two bedrooms, and a living room/kitchen plus a bathroom. There's a double bed in one bedroom and a single in the other. It's also fully furnished including an a/c! They apologized profusely, but said they could not reach the current teacher (who is out of the country on vacation) for permission to go inside and sent me these photos:

http://us.f810.mail.yahoo.com/ym/ShowLetter/ETN_house1.JPG?viewimg=1&box=Inbox&MsgId=7908_48082440_46377_1305_5540562_0_60722_7180463_1623843203&bodyPart=2&filename=ETN_house1.JPG&tnef=&YY=36358&order=down&sort=date&pos=0
http://us.f810.mail.yahoo.com/ym/ShowLetter/ETN_house_2.JPG?viewimg=1&box=Inbox&MsgId=7908_48082440_46377_1305_5540562_0_60722_7180463_1623843203&bodyPart=3&filename=ETN_house_2.JPG&tnef=&YY=36358&order=down&sort=date&pos=0

I like that part about not having permission t go inside, I think. Should I be happy I've found what I want - and the best I'm gonna get for my first stint in Korea - or still worried?

nrvs · Joined: 30 Jun 2004 Location: standing upright on a curve

We can't see those photos because we don't have access to your Yahoo email account.

I'm wondering about a 2 bedroom apartment for one person. Are you sure it's not a housemate situation? Maybe rent's real cheap in Ulsan, I don't know.

In general I wouldn't take the director's word about the apartment. I've been living in a pretty sweet place since November. It's provided by my school. However, I found out they're moving me at the end of the month (or April at the latest) to a different apartment. Read my post about it here. I'm not too excited.

some waygug-in · Joined: 25 Jan 2003

The part about not being able to contact the present/former teacher should raise some concerns. I'm not saying that it's not true, but that's just the point. How do you know?

If the teacher is gone on vacation, what are they doing for a teacher now?

I suggest you check the Job Information journal on this site and also look up some of the black list sites and see if there are any complaints about that particular school.

It's better to err on the side of caution than to get here and find you've been lied to from the word go.

Good Luck

sjk1128 · Joined: 04 Feb 2005

Well, they said the school is closed this coming week for the new year, and that he took his winter vacation days this week to have an extra-long vacation.

It sounds plausible enough, but that's just it: there's no way to know.

I have heard many horror stories, but if they lie about the whole shebang, at least at the start it would seem to me they have more to lose than me. I could fly on to Japan for two weeks to visit relatives, return to the US, and go to Korea next year. Why would they risk that and have to go through the whole hiring process again if they really need someone next month?

Am I missing something here?

sjk1128 · Joined: 04 Feb 2005

Okay, thanks for the responses guys. I appreciate hearing some opinions on this one since I'm new at this. I think the link below will work to see the photos they sent me (although they're both of the outside of the building). My first contact told me I could kill him if he's lying when I get to Korea and that he's a Christian, so he's not supposed to lie - both of which I thought were pretty funny.

The director is the one who actually sent me the photos because my contact person had to go see his parents for the holiday.

And they did make it very clear that the two bedroom apartment is just for me. It is listed in the contract as such along with these furnishings specified:
TV, refrigerator, two beds, a sofa, phone, stove ,a table, a washing machine, chairs, air conditioner, sliver ware, furniture, etc.

http://www.ulsanapartment.mypicgallery.com/Route.asp

I welcome all opinions. I think I'm ready to make the leap....

Daechidong Waygookin · Posted: Sat Feb 05, 2005 10:44 pm Post subject:

All they sent you was the outside. You will presumably be living INSIDE, right?

sjk1128 · Joined: 04 Feb 2005

From my first message

peppermint · Posted: Sat Feb 05, 2005 11:08 pm Post subject:

It's entirely plausible that the school is closed for the week, and if so, it's a mark in their favor- they only have to give Tues, Wednes and Thurs off. Still don't sign anything until you talk to the teacher there.

the eye · Joined: 29 Jan 2004

we can only judge your deal if you post the contract.
did you ask the current teacher why they are leaving the hogwan? how many teaching hours was in the contact? in reality?
how does the school run? how many levels/ages in one class?
how long has the school been in business....enrollment size??

Son Deureo! · Joined: 30 Apr 2003

Hours of 2-8 are pretty sweet. If they're telling the truth about the rest, I'd say take it. Try to talk to the outgoing teacher if you can, of course.

The Man known as The Man · Posted: Sun Feb 06, 2005 10:12 am Post subject:

Tiberious, here's my criteria for determining if someone is crazy

shakes with uncotrollable rage
talks incessantly about himself in the turd person
abuses steroids
challenges people to barbed wire matches
shrieks into the telephone
borderline mental retardation

Am I forgetting anything, Sparkles?

tomato · Posted: Sun Feb 06, 2005 1:02 pm Post subject:

Okay, so maybe the teacher is on vacation.
But he or she is still in the same place in Cyberspace.
Why can't they give you the teacher's e-mail address?

John Henry · Joined: 24 Sep 2004

Dude, talk to a teacher.

I don't have a lot of experience, but I am interviewing for my first job right now.

True story:

Recruiter tells me how wonderful the job is. Teaching 8-15yos.

Talk to teacher. He tells me he really loves the job, esp. the part where he teaches all ther kindergarten classes.

Dude, talk to a teacher.