Korean Job Discussion Forums

[baedaebok]

Have the university salaries not increased in the past 5 years?

I left Korea in 2003 to teach in the lucrative Middle East. At the time, I was making around W2.0 million for a university job. On the Job Board, the universities are offering the same. Has nothing changed? How about inflation? Is there more competition? Are there other sources of jobs?

[Mi Yum mi]

Seriously this questionis asked every two weeks. The uni jobs offered on Dave's are the ones that nobody wants to vouch for. They are the crap ones. All good jobs are offered via word of mouth.

[DrunkenMaster]

I think the O.P. missed the one month period in October where a few of the "good" schools advertised on Dave's.

3.2 + housing at H.U.F.S. Department of English Translation for example, as long as you don't mind being CANNED after three years.

The really good ones are posted on the university websites.

O.P.: find the schools you think are good, and go check their websites in a month.

[PRagic]

The topic has been done, but it is something to chomp on. When I got my first university job in Seoul in 1999, I was making 2.5 plus housing for a 15 hour, 3 day a week sched. We also had fully paid summer and winter breaks.

Reading the board now, that offer would be deemed pretty good, yet nearly 10 years have passed.

[Kenny Kimchee]

We got a 10% raise last year.

[Soft Machine]

To the OP, may I ask what your salary was in the ME and/or the average salary of qualified ESL teachers? I know it's a tosser of a question, but I can't seem to get a straight answer on the ME boards. Also, what were the working conditions like?

I know that a PM would probably be more appropriate, but that function isn't working for me.

Any info would be greatly appreciated.

[justin moffatt]

The University salaries are decreasing. Even HUFS as someone else has mentioned on this board. If you are considering coming back to South Korea, rethink other options . . .

[TECO]

I was pretty disappointed with HUFS and their 2 year contracts which, if they like you, can be extended to a 3rd year.

A lot of the university offers on Dave's, most, are not all that attractive.

[justin moffatt]

Regarding HUFS, both the English Department and English Education department increased their base hours while decreasing the yearly salary. "If they like you" means "if you do EVERYTHING they say without question". Of course don't forget the only 1 month a year allowance to LEAVE THE COUNTRY during holidays stipluation.

Recently, some departments are demanding yearly publications from the foreign professors as well . .. .

[TECO]

[baedaebok]

I haven't been monitoring this board reguarly so I missed the good univ jobs and the previous similar discussions.

Middle East salaries? Going rate for avg job in emirates: US$4500/month but it's quite competitive. Oman is less at maybe 2-3000. Saudi is somewhere between. Two weeks ago, I interviewed at TESOL Arabia for 11 EFL jobs and have only heard 3 "NO"s so far. If nothing pans out here, I'll see you guys in Korea in September! I miss Korean students. After teaching these local Arab (spoiled Emiratis with 5 housemaids) for 4 years, I miss hanging out with Korean students. I worked at HUFS for three years and it was something else (2000-2003).

Benefits: villa or apartment (much bigger than those holes in Korea), schooling covered for your children, annual airfare, free utilities, health insurance covered

Conditions? Hot but no winters! Dusty and you need a car (I never owned a car in Korea).

[justin moffatt]

Baedaebok:

Would you mind elaborating more about your experience in working in the Middle East? What are the working conditions like? Do you have relative freedom? I had an opportunity to work for the Royal Family in Saudi Arabia years ago, but turned it down due to the many stories I had heard about restrictions there.

[PRagic]

Kenny Kimchee, are you sure you got a 10% raise? Give us your salary info. Just to be sure. You never know. People LOVE to say they got a 10% raise!

[PRagic]

And, Justin, ANYONE who has ever considered working in the M.E. has 'turned down working for the royal family.' Deep inside, you have to know that your post is b.s.

[justin moffatt]

Pragic:

Not all of us have lived sheltered lives. I worked in Vancouver for an educational company which tutored students from Saudia Arabia trying to get into top Universities in Canada and the US. The owner had strong connections to high ranking officials in Saudia Arabia. One student was studying to be an architect, and also wanted to improve his academic writing skills. He also liked to party (due to the extreme intolerance of drinking in his own country), and often saw me at nightclubs which my close friends owned. Purely coincidentally, we happened to cross paths in Montreal at the W hotel (after he showed me his $3,400CD room service bill) and we became fast friends. He revealed that he was a member of the Royal Family in Saudia Arabia (he showed his Saudia Arabian identification). This was further corroborated by the educational company owner and all the students there. Eventually, he asked me to come to Saudia Arabia to work for his family instructing academic subjects and possibly English. However, my best friend had just purchased a home for 3.4million CD dollars and asked me to housesit during the week while he managed his company just outside of Vancouver. That combined with the stories my other Saudi students had expressed to me, made me reluctant to go to Saudi Arabia. However, I still have his e-mail for future reference . . .

Some people forget that there is more to life out there than Korea . . .