Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Yu_Bum_suk]

I've met, and read here about, a lot of foreign teachers working at technical and vocationa high schools. Yet, I also hear of all sorts of academic high schools - including some really good and 'famous' schools - that don't have any FTs. I know that this is Korea and things aren't supposed to make sense or be logical, but I can't help but wonder why FT resources would be spent on students with little interest or aptitude and not on those who could most use them. Some possible reasons I can think of:

- Someone genuinely thinks that FTs might help remedy the poor level of English most technical HS students have.
- Someone knows it's largely a waste of time but figures dumping FTs at such places will make English easier for KTs.
- Someone figures that many of the better schools are better off just teaching for the tests and FTs could interfere with this.
- Someone figures that many of the better schools are already so great they don't need the services of FTs.
- Someone in FT placement is just throwing darts at a board.

What are your thoughts?

[Easter Clark]

I've wondered this myself. I can never seem to get a straight answer from any of my colleagues on this question! The only answer I did get was that "the students in the academic HS have too many *other* classes to take a conversation class."

[nobbyken]

When I was looking for my current job, I wanted 4 weeks summer vacation.
That and accommodation for may wife and daughter were my only demands.

Still it was difficult to find a suitable post. Some HSs were willing to give me 3 weeks summer vacation, but I resisted.

I was offered a job, by a nice lady on daves, about a position at the school she was leaving. It's an information/technical HS and is under private ownership. I signed the standard Gepik contract with 14 days vacation, but I'm taking 5 weeks this summer and 2 months in winter.
Jobs a bit of a no-brainer, but nice-sized apartment and long vacation: why work anywhere else?

A publicly owned school may be too anally retentive and be worried about the public purse, sticking to the contract, lesson plans etc..
Very relaxed here.

[Otherside]

Perhaps because those students will be the ones most likely to use English in their future careers...

"Would you like fries with that?"

Seriously though, I hardly ever encounter any English from Koreans (apart from ones I know personally) outside of a fast food restaurant, and often they speak better English than the bank tellers I use or even the Doctor's I've consulted with (with his Degree from a US! university hanging proudly on the wall..)

[Fishead soup]

[Yu_Bum_suk]

[Easter Clark]