|
Korean Job Discussion Forums
"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Teachers from Around the World!"
|
| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
Qinella
Joined: 25 Feb 2005
Location: the crib
|
 Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2005 1:19 pm Post subject: |
 |
|
freebeerandchicken, just to give you something else to consider ... I'm the only foreigner at my school, with two KTs, just like in contract #1. They want all students to see the foreigner, so that means I end up teaching 5-6 classes a day while the KTs only have to do maybe 2-3 every day. Yours will proably be the same way since there is more of them and less of you. Also, if you ever need a sick day or a vacation, it's gonna place a huge burden on the KTs who must each take on numerous additional classes to cover you. If you went to a school with a larger staff, it would be easier for the others to absorb the burden.
And, also being a first-timer, I really wish I would've gone to a school with other foreigners that could show me the ropes. The KTs have a much easier time controlling class, mainly because they can speak the language and threaten the students, so when I asked for tips they just told me, "Don't worry about it." Not very helpful.
Remember, you're in this for a year once you sign up. Don't be a in a rush. There are a thousand and one job offers out there - just wait for the one that feels right. |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
shortskirt_longjacket
Joined: 06 Jun 2004
Location: fitz and ernie are my raison d'etre
|
| Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2005 2:21 pm Post subject: Re: decision time is nigh... please advise! |
|
|
| freebeerandchicken wrote: |
So I have three jobs lined up and all of them would like to hear a final decision in the next 24 hours. This will be my first time in Korea, and first time teaching. The two things I have insisted on are: 1) that i be in Seoul or nearby; 2) that i have single accomodation. Any advice on this would be like a little slice of heaven for me at this point. Heres the juice:
Job #1
- school is located in Suwon
- M-F, 120 hours/month, 6 hours a day
- work schedule is not specified.. "Daily teaching hours are 6 hours per day. However, working hours is flexible in accordance with the institution's schedule and in this case both parties must mutually agree."
- 2.0 million Won/month
- single studio apartment (basic, standard furnishings)
- apartment is 5 min. walk from school
- 12 vacation days
- 60 days notice required to terminate contract
- branch of a chain of schools with a good reputation, no bad reviews found
- I will be the onlyforeign teacher at this school - and their 1st ever
- It will be me, and 2 or 3 Korean female teachers on hand
- The contract is detailed, thorough and seems very fair for the most part (except for the 60 days thing, I know..)
- The recruiter who i have gone through for this job was suggested to me by a member of this board. I went to him, with said board member as my reference. This seems a little more solid than being in touch completely randomly.
- I have not been in contact with the director or the teachers at this school
Job #2
- YBM.ECC Seokgye (I have no qualms mentioning ECC specifically, they can handle it)
- Closest subway stop: Dolgoji Station, line 6
- 1.8 million Won/month
- 200,000 Won relocation allowance
- 50,000 Won to subsidize visa application expenses
- Schedule:
12:00 pm to 2:00 pm Kinder classes (Mon to Fri)
3:00 pm to 7:30 pm (Elementary classes) pm M,W,F
3:00 pm to 6:30 pm Tues, Thurs
1:30 pm to 4:30 pm Saturdays (Maximum of 6 months straight)
- bonus pay for (mandatory) Saturday classes
- 142 40 min. classes a month - equivalent of 95 teaching hours/month
- Single studio apartment (basic, standard furnishings)
- Apartment is located in Nowon ("It takes about 15 minutes to get to the academy from the apartment by bus")
- Staff: 7 foreign teachers; 12 Korean teachers
- It is a franchise - not owned by ECC
- Theres a gym and swimming pool in the same building as the school (not sure if we pay for this ourselves or not)
- Decent training period upon arrival before I start teaching
- 10 days vacation
- note that all salary related info in this description came from the ECC sample contract available on their website (except the 1.8 a month, which was confirmed by phone)
- I've dealt with Danny Kim... Haven't spoken to the director or any teachers from the actual school.
Job #3
- school is located in Pyoungchon, near Anyang
- M-F, 120 hours/month
- no kindergarten
- teacher i spoke with said he works 2pm to 9pm/10pm
- He has worked Saturdays when needed, but said that it was completely up to him. (the 2 Korean teachers didn't have the choice apparently)
- hours not specified in contract
- overtime is 20,000/hour "for each hour worked over and above agreed upon schedule" --- but schedule is not in the contract
- "incentive" of 100,000-200,000 Won added on at pay period sometimes, for good teaching, making director happy i guess.
- School has been open for 3 years. Has about 100 students. Its a single independent school, not part of a chain.
- Interview was between me and a foreign english teacher at the school.. All contact was through this one teacher - not the director
- School currently has 1 foreign teacher (who is signing back on for another year), and 2 Korean teachers.
- 10-14 vacation days
- Single studio apartment provided... 5 minute walk from school
- Training will be minimal. They are short staffed. 1 day trainign probably.
- I also spoke with a former teacher from the school.. She had some problems with the director being overly money focused, less education focused (as I assume is the norm for hagwons). Anecdote: One kid was severly misbehaving; the teacher finally took him to the director's office; the director blamed the issue on the teacher having a bad day - kid doing nothing wrong; kid gets candy from director and goes back to class; gloats to his classmates.. Bottom line: director wants the money!
- consistent pay every month, never late..
- the teacher that i spoke to who is presently working there told me that it is a 20 minute bus ride to Seoul.. i've learned since, from people here on Dave's, that its more like 60 minutes. hmm.
So there you have it.. I guess what it comes down to for me is -- should I go for the good looking contract at the school where I'll be the one and only foreigner; or the school that is is reliable but not as attractive otherwise (ECC); or finally the small independent school that isn't perfect but at least has been up front with their issues.
Thanks for any advice you can lend! |
None of the above; search on. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
inkoreaforgood
Joined: 15 Dec 2003
Location: Inchon
|
| Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2005 5:17 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Not the best of choices, in the end. #1,#2, not that great at all. Only (and first) teacher vs ECC, ewwh!! #3 sounds okay, but why the teacher said it's closer to Seoul than it actually is, that's weird. If the former FT only has problems with enforcement of discipline, well, that's everywhere. Most hagwons won't enforce discipline if they will lose the student.
I'd say no to 1 and 2, # 3, well that's up to you. You can always keep looking. Good luck. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
freebeerandchicken
Joined: 02 May 2005
Location: Seoul
|
| Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2005 5:42 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Qinella wrote: |
freebeerandchicken, just to give you something else to consider ... I'm the only foreigner at my school, with two KTs, just like in contract #1. They want all students to see the foreigner, so that means I end up teaching 5-6 classes a day while the KTs only have to do maybe 2-3 every day. Yours will proably be the same way since there is more of them and less of you. Also, if you ever need a sick day or a vacation, it's gonna place a huge burden on the KTs who must each take on numerous additional classes to cover you. If you went to a school with a larger staff, it would be easier for the others to absorb the burden.
And, also being a first-timer, I really wish I would've gone to a school with other foreigners that could show me the ropes. The KTs have a much easier time controlling class, mainly because they can speak the language and threaten the students, so when I asked for tips they just told me, "Don't worry about it." Not very helpful.
|
Thanks Qinella, this is actually a huge deal to me and what is likely going to steer me away from Job #1. I hear what people are saying re: don't rush things.. Only thing is, I really have to begin teaching by about September 1st. Reason being, I am loosely planning on returning to school myself the following September. So I do have a deadline and its approaching. I also think that its highly unlikely that I'll find the perfect job and I'm not really expecting to. Especially not my first time 'round the block. I'll let you all know what the outcome is! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
StephPoet
Joined: 14 Jul 2005
|
| Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2005 6:24 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| If it was me, #1. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Qinella
Joined: 25 Feb 2005
Location: the crib
|
| Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2005 8:52 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| freebeerandchicken wrote: |
| Qinella wrote: |
freebeerandchicken, just to give you something else to consider ... I'm the only foreigner at my school, with two KTs, just like in contract #1. They want all students to see the foreigner, so that means I end up teaching 5-6 classes a day while the KTs only have to do maybe 2-3 every day. Yours will proably be the same way since there is more of them and less of you. Also, if you ever need a sick day or a vacation, it's gonna place a huge burden on the KTs who must each take on numerous additional classes to cover you. If you went to a school with a larger staff, it would be easier for the others to absorb the burden.
And, also being a first-timer, I really wish I would've gone to a school with other foreigners that could show me the ropes. The KTs have a much easier time controlling class, mainly because they can speak the language and threaten the students, so when I asked for tips they just told me, "Don't worry about it." Not very helpful.
|
Thanks Qinella, this is actually a huge deal to me and what is likely going to steer me away from Job #1. I hear what people are saying re: don't rush things.. Only thing is, I really have to begin teaching by about September 1st. Reason being, I am loosely planning on returning to school myself the following September. So I do have a deadline and its approaching. I also think that its highly unlikely that I'll find the perfect job and I'm not really expecting to. Especially not my first time 'round the block. I'll let you all know what the outcome is! |
If this is just a one year deal, I'd look for a school in Seoul with other foreigner teachers and no split schedule. That way you can maximize your enjoyment while you're here. It should be pretty easy to do. I'll take a look at the board and see what I can find for you. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Qinella
Joined: 25 Feb 2005
Location: the crib
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
astroboyfan
Joined: 19 Apr 2005
|
| Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2005 9:08 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Personally, I would take option 3, a big part of you liking Korea is where you live. It is a good area, and lots of things to remind you of back home.
| bosintang wrote: |
| #3: The foreigner on the phone lied to you. He told you it was 20minutes to Seoul when it's more like an hour. |
This is not technically a lie. Sadang station is in Seoul and is technically 20min by bus or subway away. It might be shady but not a lie. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
freebeerandchicken
Joined: 02 May 2005
Location: Seoul
|
| Posted: Fri Aug 05, 2005 2:17 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Hey all!
Just to bring this thread to an update: After all, I ended up going with Job #2 --- at Seokgye ECC. The advice given to me on this thread made all the difference and I thank you all! I decided against #1 because I was going to be the only foreign teacher there (and the first ever foreign teacher). To me this meant no training, and no inner support network, and a big risk. Job #1 sounded like a pretty good gig for an experienced ESL teacher who is confident in their planning skills and their "controlling the kids" skills. All of these I am not. I nixed Job #3 because in the end I got the gut feeling that the director is a jerk who will give me a hard time. I also felt that the teacher whom I spoke with might not have been being completely honest with me. Job #2, with ECC, may not look like the greatest job ever and yeah I'll have to work on Saturdays but they are professional, upfront, hopefully a limited amount BS to deal with, so I went with them. Other things that attracted me to ECC:
- Departure date works out perfect for me.. a little later in August.
- They have an orientation/training period of at least 3 days or so... Glad I'm not going to have to rush into it.
- Pre-paid flight to Seoul (as opposed to "pay you back when you get here")
- 200,000 Won relocation allowance
- 50,000 Won visa application subsidy
- bonus at the end for having no (or very little) absences during the year.. you get 300,000 Won for no absences.
- couldn't find anyone who would say anything bad about the school.
So thats it.. Any comments? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
