Korean Job Discussion Forums

[sonshine20]

Hi.

If you have worked at Kyung Hee University (especially the one in Suwon) and are willing to share your experience a little, please PM me.

I have an interview there... and have read both good and bad things about the school...

Thanks,
Chante

[doctor bacon]

With your grammar and spelling mistakes, I would just stay at home instead of going to the interview. You will be more productive that way and will be doing Korea a favor.

[sonshine20]

It's hours past my bedtime. Give me a break!!!!!! (I admit the mistake in the title was pretty bad.) But there is no reason to be rude.

[ttompatz]

[sonshine20]

Thanks, Ttompatz! The info. on the commute from Seoul is very helpful since I may be commuting from Kangnam.

I don't place much faith in the rumors, but I have heard significantly more rumors about Kyung Hee than other universities. I just want to do my homework.

[ttompatz]

[Francis-Pax]

[I_Am_Wrong]

Yongtong is a nice area that is utter s-h-i-t-e to live in. Transportation between it and Seoul is terrible, as is between it and the rest of Suwon. If you're coming from Kangnam station or Sadang, you'll be looking at a minimum of 1 hour commute by bus. Some days it might even be faster to come down on the subway and take a bus from suwon station.

I've never taught at Kyung Hee but I did take Korean lessons there. It's a nice campus and the student body seems friendly and outgoing. Sorry I can't be of more help.

[sonshine20]

Thanks, everyone.

I'm wondering if a Uni job with a LONG commute would beat out a public school job with medium commute. I'm thinking that it would. Especially if I use the commute time to study Korean, which is one of the reasons I'm going to Korea in the first place.

There must me someone on this board who has worked at Kyung Hee. Anyone???

[Len8]

Public schools are a good way to learn Korean. Younger kids aren't quite as shy as the university students, and they will practice with you as often as you want. They wont want an English lesson return either, which is probably what you will get at a university.
If you can master the language your time at the university will be a lot more enjoyable. Students appreciate an explanation in their own language, and they will fraternise and socialise with you more.

[tzechuk]

I have a friend currently teaching at Kyung Hee University..... although I don't think she is teaching in the general English department.

There is an international / global school of sort and she is teaching there. She really likes it and I believe this is her 3rd year there.

HTH.

[sonshine20]

Len8- That is a good suggestion. I really wish I had a couple years in Korea instead of only one. I'd love to work at a public school for a year while I'm working on the language and then try for a university. But, alas, I can only stay one year. I will probably end up at a public school anyway.

tzechuk- Thanks. That's good to know.

I had a phone interview last night. I highly doubt I'll get it. I definitely feel like I don't have enough EFL experience. Oh well.

[spliff]

[sonshine20]

I wouldn't do that. I take my job seriously. But speaking Korean can definitely help in developing relationships with co-workers.

[Len8]

Many of your Freshman English classes are comprised of Korean students who haven't got a clue about anything you say. The polite ones will sit and endure and the others will probably fidget and look out the window or look at something else. The exceptions of course are in the minority.

If you do know some Korean it will break the ice, and many of the students might then try a little harder out of respect for the fact that you are trying to understand their culture.

Many universities when they interview will tell you that they prefer you to use some korean in their classes to help put the students at ease. Most freshman students go into shock when faced with a waegukin teacher for the first time.