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Coming from Ireland with ESL Opportunities

 
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shonaanima



Joined: 19 Feb 2006

PostPosted: Wed Feb 22, 2006 1:11 am    Post subject: Coming from Ireland with ESL Opportunities Reply with quote

Hi,
I am planning on heading to South Korea at the end of March with an Irish agency ESL Opportunites and I was wondering if anyone else on the board has come out with them and how they found them?

Also I was reading the discussion on racism and I was wondering if the fact I'm half Indian, half Irish would be a negative in South Korea?

I'm a bit nervous after reading all the horror stories.
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Yu_Bum_suk



Joined: 25 Dec 2004

PostPosted: Wed Feb 22, 2006 2:53 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

If you're slightly darker skinned it may provoke curiousity but I doubt you'll encounter much outright racism. If you're teaching little kids they'll warm up to you regardless of how different you look if you're kind and win their hearts.

Good luck with things!
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dbee



Joined: 29 Dec 2004
Location: korea

PostPosted: Wed Feb 22, 2006 10:53 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:

General Candidates pay a placement fee of �� 445 which includes a TEFL Course and an Orientation work-shop.
Candidates who already have an equivalent TEFL qualification pay a reduced fee of �� 200 which includes an Orientation Work-Shop.
Please see Training pre-departure for more information.

... I've heard about these guys before ... they are crooks. They left a friend of mine from Ireland up the proverbial creek by signing him on a dual-location illegal contract. And they were less than helpful when he complained.

I think there was an article about these guys in the times. I wasn't at home at the time so I can't be sure.

One way or the other ... paying to come to Korea is a joke. And these guys are gangsters

... can I get a chorus on this one ... ?
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Dan The Chainsawman



Joined: 05 May 2005

PostPosted: Wed Feb 22, 2006 9:16 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Amen...
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Hotpants



Joined: 27 Jan 2006

PostPosted: Thu Feb 23, 2006 4:32 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

This type of posting is quite alarming - a good warning to anyone.

Personally, I don't recommend for anyone to go through a recruiter or agency whether at home or in Korea. There are simply plenty of jobs which are easy to get by oneself.

Apply to any school directly - get the exact contract details from the people who work on site in the school you're going too, and moreover, insist on speaking to any current English teachers at the school you are considering signing to.

I hope you haven't already paid this agency?
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ed4444



Joined: 12 Oct 2004

PostPosted: Thu Feb 23, 2006 9:46 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I did an interview with them and got accepted but then I decided to come independently myself. It was a good decision.

One of my other friends insisted on using them and we ended up in the same city. She had a pretty bad contract and ended up working saturdays with much less pay than me.

Their company is very small time. Just an part time enterprise from a few ex-teachers to get cash. They depend on one woman in Seoul to place all their teachers and she doesn't have a fantastic network either.

I wouldn't call them crooks or anything but with the minimum of work you can get a better school in a better location with better pay by yourself.
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shonaanima



Joined: 19 Feb 2006

PostPosted: Thu Feb 23, 2006 12:14 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thank for all your replies.
You have got me thinking really serious about applying directly to schools.
I was heading with an agency for the extra security after reading horror stories but I think I might be applying directly to the schools after reading what you have to say.
Thanks again, as a newbie all advise is welcome.
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