Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Scotticus]

So a friend of a friend is thinking of coming to Korea. As a total newb, he'd need to go through some sort of program for his first year, I'd imagine. I was a sucker who went through a recruiter and got burned my first year, so I don't wish that on him and I figure the public school system is his best bet for a smooth experience.

So... my question is this: what are the different public school programs and what are people's opinions on them?

I know GEPIK and through Google I found EPIK and SMOE. I've never used any of these systems (I got my public school job on my own) so I can't really help him a ton. Dave's search function doesn't help much, so I come to the folks here for some hopefully good info.

[R. S. Refugee]

Some people have expressed the opinion that teaching in a public school where there are generally no other native English speakers and likely no English-speaking KTs (or students) except 2 or 3 KETs who may have extremely limited English speaking and comprehension skills can make for quite a bumpy dose of culture shock with its many, many potential misunderstandings and problems for a newbie who's never experienced the zaniness of Korean culture.

But, who knows.

[tob55]

You fortunately or unfortunately know as much about the various systems as everyone else. The country works towards equality in the different programs, however, they often show a canny ineptitude to accomplish that task efficiently for numerous reasons.

I have been in Korea over 4 years now, working in both hagwon and public sectors, I know people who have worked in all of the main systems, I have helped people get jobs they liked and disliked, I sat and spoke with happy campers and unhappy campers. In the end, it's a crap shoot. Throw the dice and see what works out for you. No offense, but you question is going to generate as many different opinions as it does replies to your post.

What's the magical secret for me? Feeling satisfied and content. I had the opportunity to switch jobs many times and decided staying in my position was best. I know of people who have been in a large number of contracts over the same period of time, looking for "the right job."

IMHO you find the "right job" when you realize that you can only do what you can do. I am a public educator with more than 29 years of professional and practical teaching experience in both private and public sectors of education, and the older I get the more I realize that I have made some difference, but not as much as I would have liked to have made. My life in Korea is good, and I am happy to have obtained my permanent residence, but everything could change in such a short period of time depending on economic, politics, health, and any number of other things.

Tell your friend not to worry so much about what the "programs" have to offer. They will learn new things, hate some things and love other things. It is up to them to decide what is best for them.