Korean Job Discussion Forums

neonemesis · Joined: 10 Jan 2008

After a month of relentlessly sifting through jobs I've finally narrowed my decision down to two positions. I have been offered both of these jobs and from what I can see they both have their benefits and drawbacks.

1) Teaching for a family run business in Seoul
- Highly recommended.
- Classes are 6-10 elementary kids.
- Work day is 9-5:30
- 6 classes a day.
- Teacher of the month gets 300,000krw bonus
- Extremely new, clean school in a nice area.
- Small accommodations.
- 2,100,000 a month.
- I don't have to book or pay for my plane ticket, they do all that for me.

2) Public school position in Masan
- Its right near the beach and its warm.
- Its a smaller town.
- Korean co-teacher.
- 2,000,000 a month unless I can upgrade myself to 100hour TESOL.
- No clue about accommodations.
- Job security.
- Work day is 9-5:00

I'm a first time teacher so I don't really have a good basis for comparing these two jobs. I've heard a ton of bad things about private schools but this one seems reputable and education oriented. I like the idea of smaller classes and I can't help but thinking it would be better to live in a bigger more worldly city my first time around. Any input from more experienced individuals would be highly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

mrsquirrel · Joined: 13 Dec 2006

^ Who recommended it to you? Your recruiter?

meangradin · Joined: 10 Mar 2006

Do you want to live in a big town or small town. Personally, I don't really like either towns. The one is Seoul sounds better to me.

Trevor · Joined: 16 Nov 2005

It is impossible to accurately predict which job you would be happier with. However, I can tell you that in terms of average job satisfaction. Public schools beat hagwons hands down. This doesn't mean that there are not bad P.S. jobs and good hagwons.

Otherside · Joined: 06 Sep 2007

Just a comment?
You say the first school is "highly recommended". By whom? Did a friend recommend it? Or did your recruiter recommend it, if its the latter - that is pretty much worthless.

A public school is almost always a safer bet, you could luck out with a private school but you could also find yourself rehashing some of the horror stories that have been mentioned on this board.

Atavistic · Posted: Sun Feb 17, 2008 7:08 pm Post subject:

You might want to find out if it's this Masan school:

http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=113842&highlight=

waynehead · Joined: 18 Apr 2006 Location: Jongno

Do you know where the school is in Seoul? That could make a difference.

Generally public schools are a better way to go (much more vacation time and perks like half-days, real sick days, etc) but there are good hagwons, too. Give us more info if you have it, and if you don't, you should.

neonemesis · Joined: 10 Jan 2008

It was recommended to me by the recruiter and by 2 teachers I talked too that are actually working at the school. There are no former teachers because it just opened in September.

Additional Information:
- Its called TNL School
- http://www.tnlschool.co.kr/
- Its located in Dongbu Ichon-Dong
- Recruiters name is Sun Young (Madeline) Moon
- The apartment where I'd be living is brand new

I don't have a lot of additional info on the public school but the website is http://www.schooline.net/jungri/

nomad-ish · Posted: Sun Feb 17, 2008 7:39 pm Post subject:

seriously, go with the public school position. although there are some good hagwons out there, they're hard to find. you can get screwed at a PS too, however it's less likely.

boyne11 · Joined: 08 Jul 2007

OP stay away from Masan public schools.

There are good schools where several foreign teachers who are renewing their contracts. However, the only vacancies are at the crappy schools that have treated their foreign teachers badly and people aren't renewing.

If you don't renew, they'll shaft you like this: http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=113842

just because · Joined: 01 Aug 2003 Location: Changwon - 4964

Just some comments on Masan..
Sounds like the recruiter is making it out to be a nice seaside city...that is highly wrong.

- Its right near the beach and its warm.
Hahaha...it is still frigging freezing here in winter. And the water you can't swim in as it is filthy dirty. Plus there is no beach. just a concreted coastline...

- Its a smaller town.
It has 500 000 people and is a port city. One of the dirtiest places I have been to in Korea.

Look Masan is OK but it isn't the place it is being made out to be. It is an old city in the most conservative part of Korea. It does have its charms but as a first-time city i would say look elsewhere.

boyne11 · Joined: 08 Jul 2007

NightSky · Joined: 19 Apr 2005

Neither choice sounds that good to be honest. First one, your problems are: family run business, small accommodations (read: husband and wife team so you have two bosses you have to kowtow to, hole in the wall). Second one: Masan...well...nuff said really.

PRagic · Joined: 24 Feb 2006

Option 1: Money making operation that will cut you loose first sign of a problem. Also, as another posted mentioned, it's never good to work for a husband/wife team.

Option 2: Be serious. It's a beach...but it's IN KOREA. Nuff said.

cbclark4 · Joined: 20 Aug 2006 Location: Masan

There's a beach in Masan??

I'm from Florida, Masan ain't warm.

No snow, but far from warm.

It's not like Florida cold.

It felt like New Hampshire cold last night.