Korean Job Discussion Forums

[dreaming_saturn]

Right now I am seriously considering coming to Korea in September, I have a couple of job offers that don't sound too bad and I feel I have done a bit of research, but I'd like to ask some of the experienced members of the board some advice.

1. I have five years of experience teaching mainly business English and high school in the Netherlands, experience with kids in China, a B.Ed for high school (subject EFL) - I know my experience and education doesn't really count for too much as it's not in Korea, but what kind of pay should I realistically be looking for? The main reason I'd becoming to Korea is to save up for my M.A.

2. The thing that's holding me back is the vacation days - only 10 seems to be pushing it. Any chance of negotiating this? I think I've become too European with my current 25, but 10 seems so little.

2. Ok, the big question - WHY Korea? This board can be overwhelmingly negative, so I'd like to hear the positive aspects of teaching there.

[Yu_Bum_suk]

Quite frankly you're way too qualified for most hogwans (private academies) and would probably be appalled by how most are run, given your experience. It should be possible for you to land a public school job that would pay 2.2+, at which you could easily save $1,000USD / month. Universities might also consider you, even if you have no experience in Korea. However, finding a good public school or uni gig from outside the country can be very difficult. Getting a public school job with EPIK, GIPIK, or SMOE should be easy for you, but in typical Korean fashion they all seem keen to keep away the most attractive applicants by limiting holidays to ten working days.

[dreaming_saturn]

[Yu_Bum_suk]

[VanIslander]

Ok, if your decision to come to Korea or give it up truly rested on what a few of say here then give it up, as you need (a) more resolve and (b) to do more research.

Of course, the latter you are doing with this thread and the former will come or won't come but, ideally, now is the time for doubts, once you decide, commit yourself to the idea for twelve months: we are only talking about one year, but a commitment would help you adjust, unless you wanna complain all year long about Korea on Dave's.

[dreaming_saturn]

[matthews_world]

I agree that pub. schools would love to hire you. Better hours, pay, more vacation, newer housing. I'm sure a poster could give you a link to EPIK and SMOE (Seoul).

[Hotpants]

Want to save money. Want nice vacation. The best way to do that in Korea is to get in with a private elementary school (you say you are not interested in a uni). However, most offering September starts have already advertised in the spring. Maybe there'll be a few last minute ones cropping up on the jobs board here.

Otherwise, if you are coming for the above 2 factors, why limit yourself to Korea? Any of the developed Asian countries can offer better financial packages than Korea imo, and shouldn't be too hard to get into seeing as you already have some prior teaching experience. Also, for some other countries having academic years starting in September, you might see more better job vacancies for that time than in Korea for the same period. Open your search up.

[dreaming_saturn]

[TheUrbanMyth]

[Homer]

I'm sorry but why would you ask strangers on a discussion board to convince you of coming to Korea or of not coming to Korea?

As for your questions...

1. I have five years of experience teaching mainly business English and high school in the Netherlands, experience with kids in China, a B.Ed for high school (subject EFL) - I know my experience and education doesn't really count for too much as it's not in Korea, but what kind of pay should I realistically be looking for? The main reason I'd becoming to Korea is to save up for my M.A.

You can expect to get over 2.5 if you look in the right places.


2. The thing that's holding me back is the vacation days - only 10 seems to be pushing it. Any chance of negotiating this? I think I've become too European with my current 25, but 10 seems so little.

10 is for hakwon jobs.

If you want more vacation time you need to focus on Public Schools, International schools or Universities.



2. Ok, the big question - WHY Korea? This board can be overwhelmingly negative, so I'd like to hear the positive aspects of teaching there.

Positive:

* Lots of development opportunities as a teacher.

* Availability of higher paying jobs while having low costs of living (i.e. housing is basically free).

* Interesting place to live (well that depends on each person I guess!)

* Proximity to other asian countries and relatively cheap travel opportunities

* Kind people (in my experience anyway)

Many other positives for me but those are related to my personal preferences. In fact, your experience here will largely depend on you and on what you want and what attitude you have vs the country. Having lived abroad before (you said so in your OP) I think you would have an open mind...

[Hotpants]

Better financial package?

Well, if you want money, and want to work with kids and want to start in September, and want a decent vacation, I could point to the Hong Kong NET scheme where you are guaranteed at least 5 million (includes a 2 milliion living allowance - do we get that in Korea? No.) to start, or perhaps 6 million with your qualifications - China teaching also a bonus, here. It would seem the obvious choice for me. You could even take your MA in Hong Kong, since there are many English speaking MA courses around.

Now, tell me where you'd be likely to get that type of pay in Korea without a zillion privates?

[Khyron]

[TheUrbanMyth]

[TheUrbanMyth]