Korean Job Discussion Forums

[liehtzu]

Hi folks. As many of you know, it's a risky venture to try to find a job in Korea when one is in another country and can't see the school, meet the higher-ups etc. I've been looking around for jobs and resigned myself to probably only getting a hagwon job, but I've insisted on trying to find a good location. Someplace small and nice but not too far from Busan or Seoul for the occasional spree.

So far I've settled on three possible offers in three cities that sound nice (I've been to Gyeongju so I know it's nice, the others I've just heard/read). Pay/benefits are pretty much standard at each of them. Despite three years of experience looks like I'm getting 2.0 mil again. Fine, I don't mind. One hopes for more, but...

I've talked to a foreign teacher from each of these academies and administrators for two of them, and they all seemed stand-up folks. The schools each sound nice but each has its quirks:

Wonderland Chuncheon: teaching seven 40-minute classes a day four times a week. Yes, the class times are shorter than average, but 7 classes a day?

LCI Kid's Club in Suncheon: four foreign teachers, no Korean teachers. First time I've heard that. Reckon that's a good or bad thing?

Herald English Institute in Gyeongju: I'd be the one foreign teacher there.

Any info about these cities (or better yet, schools) would certainly be appreciated.

Cheers

[the eye]

the three cities you have mentioned are rather small. have you considered spending a year without abundant western conveniences such as good bookstores, western food, movies...etc??
those cities will offer very limited choices. do you want to immerse yourself more into korean culture?

Chuncheon:
- beautiful, city and surrounding area nestled in the mountains....the locals actually drink their tap water
- lots of clean rivers and fresh air...good skiing nearby.
- big university town (lots of young people).
- relatively small small foreigner population

Gyeongju:
- historic capital of Korea...tons of sightseeing and parks.
- again, not a lot of western things, and few foreigners compared to larger cities
- i'd be apprehensive about being the only foreign teacher there. small schools don't offer as much security. or, the foreign teacher you are replacing may be having a rough time and wants you to take his place. i'd only work at a small school if i had the chance to see it in person beforehand.

[BigBuds]

I know both Gyeongju and Suncheon are about one and a half hours away from Busan by bus. Suncheon is actually a little farther away. I don't know how far way Chunceon is though. Both are nice cities, Gyeongju more so than Suncheon but like the previous poster said quite small foreigner communities and not a lot in the way of foreign conveniences.

I have also sent you a private message so check your message inbox on this site.

[animalbirdfish]

[margaret]

I know nothing of these schools but I'd rather teach 7 40 minute classes than 6 50 minute ones. 7 times 40 is 280 and 6 times 50 is 300. I've noticed that the last 10 minutes of a class are often the hardest to keep them interested.
Margaret

[Yu_Bum_suk]

There is no educational institution in Korea that has a worse reputation than Wonderland - they have smashed some very fierce competition to earn this honour.

Just a few accounts:

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

http://www.angelfire.com/journal2/naww/

I haven't heard anything good about Kids Club, either. Be very wary of these chain hogwans.

[liehtzu]

Thanks for the replies, folks.

[just because]

Gyeongju is on the east coast:the old capital of Korea...I nicer city

Chuncheon is a city right in the north, it will be very very cold in winter and snows a lot but if you like that sort of thing...very natural

Suncheon is right in the south, you won't get any snow but a little bit warmer in winter..

All the cities are about the same size, pops of about 300 000...

[Hyeon Een]

[just because]