Korean Job Discussion Forums

[stevehend]

Hi. Can you help? I have just received an e mail from YBS Korean academies about possible school offers in Seoul or Busan (responding to my resume. Just wondered if anyone has used them..and any thoughts about how reputable they are etc. Thanks in advance.

Steve

[ttompatz]

[chilgok007]

Don't jump head first into this job, research, research, research, and then research somemore till your eyes turn bloodshot. I made that mistake coming out here, and I'm paying for it everyday. I'm not saying your potential employer is going to be bad, but the large chain hagwons have a terrible reputation in the foreign teacher community and deservedly so ( I am currently at one such chain).

In addition to the stuff recommened by ttompatz above,
here are some more questions I strongly recommend asking. Also, I strongly recommend posting your contract on this board. There are alot of people here with vast reserves of knowledge when it comes to Korean contract law, and they always seem to be more than willing lend their expertise. You can usually tell a good hagwon from a bad one by looking at the contract.

Sorry, these questions aren't very organized. You can ask some of these questions to the school and some you can ask to the current and former teachers, or both. Use them at your discretion. You'll probably have to read between the lines with some of the responses you get.

1) Will the school provide a furnished apartment? What type of furniture is provided?
2) Does the apartment have an AC and heater?
3) What is the average annual turnover rate of teachers? How many quit before the completion of the contract?
4) What are the main reasons given for a teacher leaving before the completion of his/her contract?
5) How much of my time at work is paid and how much is unpaid (i.e. am I only paid for teaching hours, or will I be paid for extra activities, prep work, field trips, etc as well?)
6) How much breaktime do I have during the day? Am I free to use it as I choose? Do I have to eat lunch/dinner onsite with the students?
7) What EXACTLY are my duties as a teacher in the school? What additional duties must I preform in addition to classroom teaching?
8) Do I have to work split shifts?
9) Do I have to work weekends?
10) What is the average class size I will be teaching?
11) How long is each class?
12) How long has the school been in operation?
13) What are the typical complaints foreign teachers have about the school?
14) Which is more important to the school: pleasing the parents or educating the children?
15) How often will I hear some permutation of the phrase: "Parents complain, try harder?"
16) How does the school expect me to discipline children who act out?
17) Is the school authorized by the Korean government and Ministry of Education? Does it have adequate authorization to apply for a work visa?
18) Will the school provide me with a proper work visa before I enter the country?
19) Do managers/school principals have any prior teaching and/or business experience?
20) Is any onsite training provided? Is it paid or unpaid? What EXACTLY does it consist of?
21) Will the school provide me with a Korean co-teacher? What will their role be?
22) Does the school advance students based on merit, or based on the whims and complaints of their parents?
23) Am I expected to conform 100% to Korean culture, or is the boss willing to give me some leeway, so long as I'm making an effort?
24) Does the boss run the school like a tyranny or is he flexible and open-minded when it comes to other points of view, methods and ideas?
25) Does the boss care about his employees well-being?
26) How many sick days do I get? Am I free to take them any time I choose?
27) Do I have a "grace period" when I first arrive at the school to see if the school met all it's promises, during which time I am free to quit and the contract is null and void?
28) Has the school ever fired a foreign teacher? If so, for what reasons?

Most importantly of all: get as many email address of past and current employess as possible (shoot for 5 of each). Any teacher who had a great experience is probably going to be more than willing to share. Likewise, if a teacher had a bad experience, they too would be more than willing share, so if a hagwon makes up some excuse about "confidentiality" or "privacy" of current and former teachers, it's probably because they DON'T want you to hear their stories. If a Hagwon is unwilling to give you the addresses, then it's absolutly time to move on. (Remember, privacy laws in Korea are BS, as the recent posting of passport numbers on the English teacher blacklist site proved)

I firmly believe Korea is a great country, but the job you choose will make all the difference. Trust me on this.

Oh, and check out these threads too:
http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/korea/viewtopic.php?t=64417
http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/korea/viewtopic.php?t=64338