Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Koreaboundandgagged]

Okay, so here's an idea or two that might encompass a couple of suggestions y'all have made.

1. We have two daughters. If one of us works at a hagwon (preferably Jeju Island...anybody worked there?) and "sells" them on the fact we will always bring at least one daughter to class, would that give us bargaining power?

2. The other spouse would stay at home with the other daughter (they being on a rotating schedule between home school/hagwon) while "schooling" them along with a select few (dozen?) students with parents that think it's a super-cool situation? I mean, even IF we had a single studio since only one of us would be contracted. Does the "home schooler" need a work visa? How could this work? I know single studios are not large, but seriously, with two of us at the hagwon, two of us home, how many kids could we jam into a session like this?

I have come to the realization that I probably will not be able to land one of these posh, high-paying-relatively-low-commitment jobs until I am there. With that said, location (near nature/mountains--away from burning jet fuel/smog) and a good hagwon are of utmost importance. Any ideas?

Thanks,
Koreabound-and feeling-less-gagged

[cazador83]

i 2nd the idea of contacting www.parkenglish.com (and i know a lot of you dont like recruiters). it doesnt hurt to at least contact them and see what they can find for you though, right? and its reassuring that you have someone who speaks korean and english there for you, in korea, whenever you need it.

[TheUrbanMyth]

It is likely that your daughter would be quite lonely though at the hakwon. Sure the boss might go for it, but what about the kids? If they are playing at recess they are not going to want to practice their English.
And if they can't make themselves understood to her, they're probably not going to bother.

Some foreign children do have a "good" time here according to a few other parents, but not all do. Just a thought.

[Koreaboundandgagged]

Thanks but no thanks, Urban. Please take no offence, but negative energy like yours gives positive places like this a bad vibe. Again, please NO PARENTAL ADVICE unless you have experience with this (children). Just a thought.

[Hotpants]

Ha - you suggest we are perhaps not 'qualified' enough to give an appropriate response to you situation - or at least we are not prepared to paint purely a rosy picture of all things glory about Korea. Yet, why did you ask your question on this forum of all places? Because even though not all of us are parents, some of us have been in Korea for many years and know what we are talking about, so some of the posters may have some valuable advice to give you. Inevitably there will be negative comments amongst them.

Heck, I don't want to get into any argument about coming over with an MA, wife and kids. From my point of view, having taught in 4 Asian countries across my EFL 'career', having taught predominantly kids, having taught in one international school, and having been very close to teachers with kids of western citizenship, I know for a fact the pros and cons of raising kids in each of the places, and I would say without hesitation, that I would least like to raise my own kids in Korea. It's not a 'disaster' by any means to bring your kids to Korea. As you say, they will have benefit in learning the culture wherever they will travel. I'm just saying that compared to some surrounding countries, I know for a fact that you could get a much better deal and nicer lifestyle. That's what you were asking about, right.

I think you should change your name to 'hellbentonkorea'

Good luck with whatever you decide. I'd like to hear your opinion again once you've worked across several countries for comparison. I've said my 10cents worth and will not say anything further as I will only add to the negativity, and you don't want that, do you?

[Koreaboundandgagged]

So, did you walk to school or bring a lunch? No kids? No thanks.

[Son Deureo!]

You will disregard my advice to because I have no kids and I am not telling you exactly what you want to hear, but the previous posters just didn't want to see your children treated like zoo animals.

They also assumed you didn't either.

Your call.

[tzechuk]

Don't quote me on this, but I rather think that Jejudo is more relaxed about *rules*.

Sometimes the same school hires couple teachers - you may be able to work some kind of a deal out with them and if you do, they will be able to provide you with couple quarters - i.e. a bigger apartment (2 or even 3 rooms - my friends, a married couple, worked for a University that provided them with a 35 pyong flat, that's over 1000 sq. feet, which is pretty big). Jejudo's living expenses will be slightly lower, too.

Urban - I think I have to disagree with you about hagwon children not wanting to mix with the OP's children. I seriously believe that the opposite is true. They will be so curious about her/them that they will want to hang out all the time. Eventually after all the newness has died, the children will have found a couple of close-minded friends that they want to be friends with and they hang out. Children pick up new languages like nobody's business, OP's children will, I am certain, pick it up within 3 months of being here.

[tzechuk]

[jinju]

[TheUrbanMyth]

[TheUrbanMyth]

[jinju]

[Hyeon Een]

Some of you folk are overly harsh on the poster, and the potential pitfalls of their kids being in hagwans/kindergartens in Korea. I've only known one person, so it is obviously an isolated example, with a kid old enough to be in education in Korea. Her child was about 7yrs old korean age, black, and he went to a Korean kindergarten. He picked up the language in a few months, became his mother's translator, and had an awesome time at 'school'. This was in the 'country' not Seoul or a big city.

As I said, that's an isolated example. But it's the only one I've seen. However from the detractors I haven't heard any specific cases of kids having a bad time here. I'm sure some do, but I have no idea what kind of 'risk' it is for the kid. I've only seen one 'foreigner kid' and he had a great time.

[jinju]