Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Meggiebea]

Hi there, I was offered a job teaching at the Korea Herald School in Ansan. Has anyone else worked there?

What is Ansan like, expensive or cheap?
I am hoping to live off of $1000 a month including all deductions (tax, pension...etc), utilties, food, entertainment etc. Is this possible?

Thanx guys.

[gregoryallen]

I live in Ansan right now. Never heard of Herald school. These schools are all over the place. Ansan is okay. It's cheaper than the Seoul area and you have everything at your disposal, parks, places to buy stuff, PC bongs, even a movie theatre. You can live os 1000 EASILY. Piece of cake.

greg

[ttompatz]

[SpedEd]

Ansan is in Gyunggi-do, the huge ring surrounding Seoul itself. In my opinion, the schools here are hungry for native speakers, so its no problem to get work in any school in Ansan City.

I've been in Korea for almost a year and in Ansan for the last five months. I've done the hagwon routine since I started and I have to say that I've lost my taste for most all of them. However, I've been in some decent hagwons to have a looksie. Basically, its a good idea to go in person if possible to get a gut feel for the place. As luck would have it, I've been to the Korea Herald in Ansan (only 1?); it seemed run of the mill to me but I've also heard good things about this franchise. Have you been talking to the school's resident recruiter, 'J.K.'? I dealt with him, and I think he's a snake - pm me for more detail if you want.

As for money, it shouldn't been any trouble at all to bank $1000/month. I was banking probably somewhere like $1600 USD/month, weekend soju included. Lastly, try to come to Korea with a positive attitude - it'll make your time here better. I can over on a dark note and it took quite some time to shake off the culture shock and the bad run ins (knocking on wood).

[wylies99]

Herald schools are included in all of the blacklists online- and for good reasons.





The Herald chain of hogwans is notorious for cheating teachers out of pay, health insurance, pension, and a LONG list of other activities.


MAYBE you'll find a good one- but why take that chance?

[Aussiekimchi]

I have never placed a teacher there, but I can remember the boss seeming like quite a nice bloke. If it is indeed the same guy. Perfect English. Lived in the US for a long time. Think he had an English name. Teachers seemed happy too. But this was over a year ago.
As I said, not a client of mine, but recalling now, it seemed like a normal run of the mill place to take a job in. Nothing special, no disasters waiting to happen.
Herald schools are usually crap. Be more wary of them, but some are ok. Boss and staff you work with are crucial. Talk to them. If in doubt, apply elsewhere.

[Meggiebea]

Wow!!! Where did this all come from??? lol I totally forgot about this thread.

I was offered a position at Ansan Herald. I requested time off for my brothers wedding and they agreed to two weeks extra paid holiday for me. However when I got the contract there was no mention of this. I sent the contract back and asked them to include this holiday that they promised me. That was in late October, still have not heard from them

I wasn't that upset since I had gotten a lot of negative feedback from people about the Herald School chain. I just got over anxious because it was my first offer. I signed on with a different school, in Uijeongbu, making much more money.

[Demonicat]

Just a warning meggiebea, if you go out of Seoul, you better be good at alone time. Now, don't everyone jump on me at once, but lets face it, Ansan is BORING and LONELY. If you don't have coteachers from the west (or friendly K-teachers) then you are screwed. Furthermore, it is a perpetual killer having to make the $1,000,000 decision of whether to go out on Saturday (but have to stay out until no earlier than 6am) or stay home. Man, ansan is a killer. Reccomendation, if this is your 1st time in Korea, look for SEOUL. Not a sattelite city, not Daegu (or another "large cosmopolitan city") Seoul.

[SpedEd]