Korean Job Discussion Forums

tugboat · Joined: 08 May 2006 Location: orlando, florida, USA

Hi everybody!

I got a job offer to teach at a brand new school that is opening up
in July. How can I check it out and make sure it's a good place to work
if it's brand new? I haven't seen the new employer's Korean name on the Blacklist website, but as far as talking with a former teacher, well that looks impossible.

Would you guys take a position at a brand new school and under what conditions?

Any advice is much appreciated. Very Happy

stumptown · Posted: Wed May 31, 2006 10:47 am Post subject:

Find out how much experience the new owner has. If this is his first time out, don't do it. Chances are, he won't know anything about pension, immigration, insurance, or taxes. Also there's a possibility that the business could fail halfway through and you're stuck. Even worse if they don't have enough to pay you. Trust your instincts. Do some thorough research and ask your director if he knows about what I mentioned above.

ontheway · Posted: Wed May 31, 2006 11:13 am Post subject:

Tugboat,

If I am right that you are new to ESL then it would probably be better for you to go to an established hogwan that has a teaching system, program, students, other foreign teachers and a track record that you can verify with other foreign teachers at the school.

Going to a new school is risky.

Someone has to create a program, lesson plans, establish a teaching style and system. Is it going to be the owner, some Korean teachers or you? This is a huge task which can be very rewarding for an experienced teacher who can finally have control and do things his or her way. It would be quite difficult for a newbie in my opinion (at least it would have been for me when I was new to ESL).

Someone has to bring in the students. This might seem to be the director's job, but it's the teacher more than anything that is the magnet to draw students. You will have to go the extra mile every day, smiling, interviewing ... face it, YOU are the product. You, plus that program above that you are teaching.

Someone has to provide the CASH, the start up funds to pay for everything while the school goes from zero students to a break-even cash flow. The owner, of course, should provide this funding. But, it's his money, and he doesn't like seeing it fly out the window while you get paid, the other bills get paid and the students don't seem to come in fast enough. So the pressure will be on you to perform and bring in the students. Or, if things proceed too slowly for the patience of the owner, the pressure will be on to delay your pay, or ask you to take a pay cut.

And what if the business fails.

For an experienced teacher, this could be a dream job. IF: you get lots of guarantees and controls, in writing in a tough business contract; you get to build the system your way - in the contract; you get some control on cash and expenditures - in the contract. You also work hard and make certain guarantees to the owner. The risk and challange can be fun and the psychic and financial rewards can be great.

Choose wisely.

jajdude · Joined: 18 Jan 2003

If your boss does not speak English worth a damn, I'd pass.

tugboat · Joined: 08 May 2006 Location: orlando, florida, USA

Yes, I am a newbie.

This new hogwan has agreed to hire my friend as well, so we would be
coming to teach as a team. We would be the only teachers in the school.

The contract looks decent enough. It simply has no reputation or credibility for me to know what I am getting into.

It's probably just too risky for someone just breaking into the field.

Thanks for the comments.
Smile

ttompatz · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea

stumptown · Posted: Wed May 31, 2006 2:24 pm Post subject:

Sound advice, ttompatz. The OP would be a fool not to follow it. If he had a few years experience, then it might be possible. But not knowing the "system" here he's setting himself up for a big fall.

redlightorchestra · Joined: 16 Jan 2006

My well established hogwan was just sold and a new hogwan bought it and are in the process of setting up a new one, one week off for renovations, and the classes start today, we have yet to see a schedule telling us what classes or levels we will be teaching, and when, and all of our old materials and syllabi, and schedules were thrown out with the renovations.

It really sucks, sucks hard! you know what I'm saying.

The only thing we have now, is the books we will teach, not even the teachers manuals!

It is exciting and scary at the same time.

stumptown · Posted: Wed May 31, 2006 3:38 pm Post subject:

Big Mac · Joined: 17 Sep 2005

My first job was at a new hogwan.

This was the director's first time running a hogwan, and there were issues around pension, medical insurance, etc. He also didn't speak very good English, which caused problems.

However, because the school was part of a larger chain, it had a good curriculum already developed. So there weren't too many issues around drawing up new lesson plans, etc.

We also didn't have problems with attracting new students or with gettting paid. In fact, we grew much quicker than they expected.

So I guess it depends. There will be challenges, but I think if it is an established chain you might have better luck. Just make sure your contract is solid about things like pension and medical insurance.