Korean Job Discussion Forums

[OculisOrbis]

Ok, So I interviewed with this school and they are brand new (four months). Cuurently they have 40 students and plan on starting full classes in Sept. They say they will have seven english speaking teachers. They pay was good and the holiday time was great. Here's my concerns so far:

1. What is the likelihood of getting pay on time or at all for a new school like this?
2. They advertised single apartments and during the interview told me apartment had two bedrooms and I would likely have to share. I said I preferred single and was told he'd talk to the Director.
It's a boarding school and the students go home two weekends a month. When I asked about if I would be required to do activities with students in evenings and weekends, the response was "it's going to be voluntary for now - other candidates have already said they would"

I forgot to ask if they had all the curriculum prepared ie lessons, tests, etc. and they want a "devout Christian". They requested a statement of faith and a testimony (when asked they said it how god affected my life).

I'm pretty nervous about a brand new school, but the teaching part would suit me because I'm a qualified teacher and would be teaching other subjects - not ESL. He said the english ability of the students is pretty good and they are improving. Hopefully the curriculum is already done.

I also wouldn't consider mytself 'devout' but have worked in Catholic Schools before with no problems. I just hope that I won't be pressured to do things or be punished if I refuse with the reasoning that "jesus would have done it if asked'. I also know that Evergreen is some sort of missionary organization, which I hope doesn't mean I would be recruiting followers during my free time.

Haven't seen the contract yet, but they said they would email me copy when I emailed them my religious statements. They just sound like they are generally not very organized yet. Should I turn tail and run from this offer or seriously consider it? There are many positives in the offer, but lots of doubts in my mind.

[laogaiguk]

[Yu_Bum_suk]

'New' and 'Christian' aren't two words I'd want to see re: a Korean school I was working at.

[justagirl]

Hi there,
I don't see how they could have 7 English-speaking teachers and only 40 students and have a prayer of staying afloat.

Personally, I would suggest not working for a Korean Christian organization, unless your heart is mission oriented and you true desire is just helping others. If you are going to Korea more for money and exploring another country, look for another job.

I am a Christian and first went to Korea with my church and worked at one of our universities. I think it was a safe place to start my life in Korea, but I don't think I'd encourage people to work there.

Many times the Christian guilt trip was laid on, and we were asked to do things, "out of the goodness of our hearts," or as, "a service for God." I really don't mind doing things for God, but not when it's an organization's expectation, and it's actually a, "you'll do this." It doesn't lend well for my own willingness to give freely of my heart.

In addition, there were things that "normal" teachers in Korea got that we didn't, because, "it is mission work," etc. For instance, I got paid $1,000 USD a month, and after deducations, I got about 1-1.1 million won a month. I was paying $400/month on my school loans back home and after tithe, I ended up having under 500,000 won a month to live on.

I do think where you'll see the difference is the extra "help" you'll be expected to give. You'll probably be expected to share the same goals and mission as the school. If other people are willing to do 5-10 hours of extra help a week, you'll have to match it or you'll look stingy, uncaring, uncooperative, etc. If I were in that boat, it would be hard to have a good attitude to do this extra expected work.

If you are a qualified teacher, why not look at an International school? I know that now that I have my degree in education, I'd either work at a university or accredited International school in Korea.

Oh--one other note, I worked for a brand-new hagwon (I realize yours is a boarding school, so a bit different), and it just about went under when I worked there and it did after I left. Again, 7 full-time teachers and only 40 students is rather low for income, even though it is a boarding school. I'd ask for more info, or wait for something else to come my way.

Best of luck,
justagirl

[heydelores]

I can't agree more whole-heartedly with justagirl. I worked in a similar setting when I first came to Korea. There were a lot of unwritten expectations "as a service to God" and a lot of guilt if I didn't do it. I ended up leaving before the contract ended, and the pastor of the church told me that I was disappointing God.

As for "recruiting more followers," you just might be expected to do so or at least be prepared to share your faith. Many Koreans do not believe Catholics are Christian, so not all will look at your Catholic school experience as working for a Christian organization. In the school I worked for, we were never expected to recruit church members from the community, but all the Buddhist, Catholic, and "unchurched" kids were pointed out to the teachers at the beginning of the term, and we were told to work really hard at converting these kids during our time with them.

I went to that school because it was associated with my denomination in the U.S., so I thought it would be a "safe" place to experience a different culture. However, all of it went against my own faith. If I had known what I was getting into at the time, I never would have worked there.