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endo
Joined: 14 Mar 2004
Location: Seoul...my home
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 Posted: Sat May 06, 2006 6:38 am Post subject: Public School Questions |
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This November, I will be completing my second year in Korea and am ready to make the jump from hagwons to the public schools.
With that said, I have a few questions about my likely move:
(1) I understand that schools hire for September and February when the new semesters begin (I could be wrong on this). What is the best time to apply? - i.e. a month or more before the new semester.
(2) Is it best to apply directly directly though the schoolboards? And will it be difficult to choose a specific area of the city to work in?
(3) When are vacations and (is it true that you get one month off in January and another month off in August)? And are these month long holidays paid for?
(4) How difficult is it to find positions in middle or even high schools? I enjoy the little kids and all, but I need more of a challenge.
Finally, the best part of my current job is the staff I work with. It's honestly a breath of fresh air to interact with native english speakers on a daily basis. For those who currently work at a public school; do you feel lonely or isolated working in an environment where you are the only foreigner? How do you deal with this, and are there any schools with large waygook populations?
I really appreciate anybody taking the time to answer some of my questions. thanks |
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tzechuk
Joined: 20 Dec 2004
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| Posted: Sat May 06, 2006 7:55 am Post subject: |
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You will find that they are hiring all year round... go to work n play and there are lots of public school jobs in Seoul and Gyeonggi...
You have to just distinguish between whether your job is going to be a part of the school curriculum or if it is an after school programme.
Personally, now that I am doing an after school programme where I work from 11-5, I won't bother looking for a mainstream school teaching job where the working hours are from 9/10 - 4/5. The pay is the same but I work fewer hours. |
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Ya-ta Boy
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: Established in 1994
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| Posted: Sat May 06, 2006 3:02 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
(1) I understand that schools hire for September and February when the new semesters begin (I could be wrong on this). What is the best time to apply? - i.e. a month or more before the new semester.
(2) Is it best to apply directly directly though the schoolboards? And will it be difficult to choose a specific area of the city to work in?
(3) When are vacations and (is it true that you get one month off in January and another month off in August)? And are these month long holidays paid for?
(4) How difficult is it to find positions in middle or even high schools? I enjoy the little kids and all, but I need more of a challenge.
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1. The semesters begin in late August and early March.
Because the paper work takes time, I'd say 2 months minimum is better. Three months even better...but I doubt many Korean schools work that far in advance. It goes against the 'last minute' philosophy that seems to prevail here.
2. Applying to a school directly would certainly guarantee you control of what location you end up in. However, many schools hire through the 'school board' or county ed department. I'd give a look at both.
3. Yes, vacations are paid. They come during the winter break (Jan-Feb) and summer break (late July-late Aug.)...but most teachers have to teach winter/summer camps during part of that time. It is true that most people get more vacation days than the contract stipulates, it depends on the school. I can tell you that I got quite a few more days vacation from my high school, but wasn't told till the last minute. The result was that I couldn't make plans to take trips till the last minute. And my vacation days were not consecutive during the winter.
4. My impression is the government wants a foreigner in every school; that includes middle and high schools.
Good luck. |
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crazylemongirl
Joined: 23 Mar 2003
Location: almost there...
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| Posted: Sat May 06, 2006 3:42 pm Post subject: Re: Public School Questions |
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| endo wrote: |
(1) I understand that schools hire for September and February when the new semesters begin (I could be wrong on this). What is the best time to apply? - i.e. a month or more before the new semester. |
Feburary is a good time to start for March. Employers here are really bad about getting started on things early. I applied to a public school where the teacher was leaving and got knocked back because the prinicpal had 'other plans' (I gave them my CV well ahead of time) but then they turned around later and asked me to find a replacement
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| (2) Is it best to apply directly directly though the schoolboards? And will it be difficult to choose a specific area of the city to work in? |
Recuriters have got their slimy claws into the public school jobs. Chances are you may have to deal with one of those.
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| (3) When are vacations and (is it true that you get one month off in January and another month off in August)? And are these month long holidays paid for? |
Most public jobs I've seen only advertise for 2 weeks. For the rest of your time you'll be teaching camps. Some places let you have more time, but they are drying up fast around Gyeonggi Do.
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| (4) How difficult is it to find positions in middle or even high schools? I enjoy the little kids and all, but I need more of a challenge. |
Lots of positions. Also the middle and high schools get lots more random days off for tests etc.
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For those who currently work at a public school; do you feel lonely or isolated working in an environment where you are the only foreigner? How do you deal with this, and are there any schools with large waygook populations?
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Nope most public schools I know of there is usually one teacher, sometimes at the bigger ones you might get two but they are few and far between. I actually enjoy being the sole foreigner. I'm responsible for my classes. I don't get involved in office politics. I just come in do my thing and leave. |
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