Korean Job Discussion Forums

[viva]

This is a message to all you vetran ESL teachers:

I'm a newbie to the ESL game. I am currenlty in the process of seeking my first job and will be flying out at the end of next month (hopefully).

I'm just wondering.... If you knew then what you know now about the job searching process, and coming to Korea in general, what would you have done differently?

Do you have any advice that you wish someone had taken the time to share with you while you were seeking your first contract and getting ready to come over?

[NickRandom]

Take your time and shop around. Contact the schools, ask to speak / email teachers who work there. Don't take the first offer that comes along. Research, research, research. You can find more advice at the link below.

[sillywilly]

bring allergy medicine too. Also bring a year's supply of good cheap underwear.. You dont want to be sporting an expensive bikini cut thing that doesn't fit come mid year.. or maybe you do, I don't know. I miss Wallmart.. Oh yeah, bring shoes if you have big tootsies.

[Zyzyfer]

I third the medications thing. This time around, I brought Nyquil, Debrox(for removing earwax), Benadryl, and pads for removing warts. It's stuff like this that you'll miss the most if you happen to get hayfever or catch a cold.

If you're a boxed Mac and Cheese fan, I suggest you bring the cheese powder/sauce with you. With some industrious searching, you can find the macoroni noodles in a supermarket cheaply.

[SWF]

If I knew then... I would have chosen another country.

[william beckerson]

bring a lot of good deodorant.

Dont listen to your recruiter about a school. Find out yourself.

Bring good smut with you if you're into that sort of thing.

Check your pride and dignity at the door.

[tomato]

1. Get a VISA card from Industrial Bank and order picture books from Amazon.
2. To get mentholated cough drops, ask the druggist for "Hall's kichim alyak."
3. Don't expect your director to know anything about foreign language education.

[Captain Obvious 2.0]

Be prepared to be the foreign language teaching expert and not dependant on the school to provide anything. Take control of the books, discipline, games, and classroom speaking from day one.

Be a teacher, not an overpaid babysitter. Things go a hell of a lot easier.

[some waygug-in]

Easier said than done, but I agree with the Captain. If you can do these things, it will make your life a lot less stressful. It's somewhat doubtful however, that a hagwan is going to give you that much control, especially if you are new to Korea and a new teacher to boot.
Do a lot of checking on a school before you decide to work for them. That's a lesson I am learning the hard way.
Check the black lists/gray lists , check for previous posts about a specific school, check the job info journal, and last but definately not least, try and talk to someone who works there or has worked there and has some idea about the place. Always try to get at least 3 opinions and talk to someone over the phone so you can get a better idea of what they are like.
I hope this helps
cheers
Don't rush to sign any contract. If they are trying to pressure you, that should be your first clue that trouble is near.

[Derrek]

I know you're talking about supplies and stuff, but just a quick note about dating. Whether your are male or female, don't take dating any korean seriously for a looong time. Date them with a 1950s mentality. Guard your heart. Some are lucky to meet a good one, but many of these "conservative" koreans can do a 180 turn from on to off in a heartbeat. Trust me and be careful. Take your time and just consider a relationship "friends" until you learn a bit more about the culture -- which may take months.

Had I known this before, I would have saved myself some pain and would probably be better off on the relationship front as well.

[mokpochica]

If you are getting ready to go over to a foreign country for the first time, sometimes going with a (*reputable*) program, even just for the first year, can be helpful. It will offer you a support system, perhaps some language instruction in the country's language, and is many cases a more reliable paycheck. With a reputable program there is really no need to come over and check out the job before you take it. Programs tend to place people in schools rather than private language academies. This can be a good thing, depending on what you are looking for. One advantage is that you will probably get much longer vacations than those who work at hagwons (private academies). The downside of programs is that the application process (especially with the good ones) is quite time consuming and requires you to plan quite far in advance.

For people from the U.S., the Fulbright ETA program in Korea is a good one. If you want to go to Japan, the JET program is excellent. And I know there are others in other Asian countries as well. All it takes is an internet search, a look at your University's (or another University's website) about teaching abroad. Check out this page put up by the University of Michigan
http://www.umich.edu/~icenter/overseas/work/teach_no_cert1.html

If you are the kind of person who is comfortable without having this back-up--i.e. you're very self sufficient, mature, flexible, able to solve problems, sometimes under duress--then going on your own should be fine. You will probably want to do a little more checking on the schools that offer you a position and the people that work there. If you can come here and check out jobs before commiting to anything, you will probably have a happier experience for it. If you are motivated to study a foreign language on your own, at least for 'survival' level skills, then you are all set as far as that goes.

As for other tips...I think bringing a lot of teaching materials (books,videos, etc.) from home can be a great thing. Penny Ur's books ("Five Minute Activities, etc.) are a great source of ideas. You can easily access stuff from websites here, but having games, etc. readily available is a life saver at times (you never know when the printer or copier will die on you---or if your job will even have one!). Picture Bingo, Scrabble, Twister, and any small games or aids will likely be very helpful.

[Easter Clark]

[Roving_gypsy_gurl]

...I'd do it all again!

[antgonz]

This is good advice

[Spryguy]