Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Matman]

dd, the important thing about Korea is not coming with high expectations. If you're not expecting much and just make the most of whatever comes your way, you'll do well. People often end up sulking because they were taken in by the "Land of Morning Calm" rubbish and weren't expecting the Land of Barber Shop Brothels, the Land of Spitting in the Street, the Land of Annoying Shop Assistants, the Land of Korean Food Tasted Good at First but Now I'm Bored of It or the Land of Racial Purity and Superiority So Do Not Defile Our Women. It's best to be both cynical and positive at the same time. As for the "cheeky" thing I was just dismayed that anyone would consider it "cheeky" to go out and have a drink. Are we employees or slaves?

[ddeubel]

Matman,

You are dead right. That would be rule number 1, come with lower expectations. I guess I was trying to articulate this so awkwardly in my post. Also the corollary to this -- which is, "don't make demands", try and understand and create a climate of exchange/compromise in your professional life.

I attended the orientation last year and yeah, there was a lot of worthless stuff etc........(i've been teaching 15 years) . But I also used it as an opportunity to reflect on my own teaching and to share. Also just to chill out and be somewhere else, breathe, think, live without the stress of class, kids and all the hundred other things.

Nobody will expect you to go drinking and all that. Lots of different types of people there and gradually everyone found their own types/groups........

That all said, Public school jobs are hit and miss. I don't want to say that it is all roses. Depends and some teachers did get put into a situation/school that really was impossible, even given their attitude. Still, teachers can do things at the start to make it more possible to have a great year.

But it is only a year and SMOE does help teachers with issues and also will get you the hell out of there if you see it through a year.

This is just my take. One thing for you to weigh when thinking about your decision.

Cheers,

DD

[Matman]

Just to clarify my "cheeky drinks" point, I'm a very sociable person (really) and would love to go out for drinks with other teachers. I was just surprised by the phrase because it suggested the teachers thought they were doing something really naughty by going out and having a drink. It just adds to the impression that SMOE seem to control the lives of their teachers 24/7, at least for that one week.

[ddeubel]

Controlling the drinking was ANYTHING but the case last orientation. A few irishmen and others can swear to that.....but I won't tell stories.

Still, this might be the case at "some" schools and you'd be right to demand complete control over your private life. Not just because you are not Korean but also because you are an adult and you ain't owned by anybody....

I agree, does happen sometimes and SMOE needs to do a better job educating its professionals to be professional regarding not just foreigners but its own teachers. Things are changing slowly.....

DD

[Halford]

The SMOE scheme rewards genuine English teaching qualifications and experience better than any hagwon and the vast majority of universities. Because of this, you are far less likely to find young, raw, teaching novices there than probably anywhere else in Seoul. Where else in Korea can a qualified and experienced English teacher earn 2.7 million won per month for a maximum of 22 teaching hours per week? Not many places I know. Even most of the universities here seem to be run more like glorified language schools. I�m on 2.6 and I�ve never taught more than a 20 hour week! Imagine how many hours you�d have to do in a hagwon for that!

And I wouldn�t worry about the Orientation Matman. Most people there will have exactly the same reservations as you, and will happily spend the evenings drinking and chatting. Obviously you won�t need to be �introduced� to Korea but that just gives you more free time to relax and unwind - either on the golf course, in the bar, or in one of the pools.

[superdave]

halford

while what you said is true, the organisational aspects of the SMOE program means that many teachers find it very difficult to work effectively.

in that sense, a good hogwan is better than a bad government school.

remember, quality of life isn't just money. i'd accept a lower paying job if it meant my days were happy and stress free.

if you read these forums closely, you'll see that there's lots of discontent in SMOE, EPIK, GEPIC and other government run projects. that's because they're not organised at keeping the programs together. an example i hear often is principals changing the contracts or ignoring the contracts. this simply shouldn't happen.

financially, working in the government IS better, but other elements are yet to show that they're worth the problems.