Korean Job Discussion Forums

[head-in-the-clouds]

Hi guys,

Ok this is my first post, so please be nice. I'm arriving in just a couple of weeks to start my new hagwan job. I know it's probably been covered elsewhere but i find the searching on this site isn't the best so...

What kind of money should i be looking at aariving with so im ok till my first payday?

What preparation should i be making generally?

Should i try and learn some of the language before i come and if so do you have a good site i can use?

Is there a good site I can use for some basic teaching plans/skills to explore before i arrive?

Should i buy gifts for my new employer/co-workers and what would be appropriate?

Could I PM an experienced soul with my contract just to double check its ok (I know it's already signed but just for peace of mind...). Sorry if this post is boring and repetetive but what the hell!

Im late 20's and have been in a career for six years and wanted to live abroad for a year so my attitude will be to work hard and expect to be treated decently in return, is this the right way or should i be more suspicious of the new boss?

Thanks for reading...

[butlerian]

[quote="head-in-the-clouds"]

What kind of money should i be looking at arriving with so im ok till my first payday?

Hagwons, on occasion, can turn out to be dodgy, so it would be wise to bring enough for a plane ticket home should things not work out. Assuming all works out OK, and you receive your airfare money back in the first week or so, you won't "need" any more than that. It is easy to live in Korea on less than 1,000,000 won a month as long as you don't go on too many weekends away.

What preparation should i be making generally?

That depends. Some hagwon jobs require you to make little prior preparation in terms of teaching - when you get there, they will tell you what to do. That may simply be: here's a textbook, go teach it. There's nothing like being put on-the-spot in order to gain experience and learn what you will need to do. Alternatively, if you're going to be teaching higher levels, it might be a good idea to work on your grammar and how to teach it.

Should i try and learn some of the language before i come and if so do you have a good site i can use?

Yes, but most people don't. It's always a good idea to learn a bit of the language of the country you're going to live in. Learn how to read (relatively easy) and a few basic words and Koreans will be very impressed with you (initially). A textbook to read on the plane might be a good idea.

Is there a good site I can use for some basic teaching plans/skills to explore before i arrive?

This site has some things. This question totally depends on where and who you're going to teach.

Should i buy gifts for my new employer/co-workers and what would be appropriate?

Unnecessary. That said, if you somehow have luggage/bag space for things like that, by all means bring them. There will always be a time when they will come in handy.

Im late 20's and have been in a career for six years and wanted to live abroad for a year so my attitude will be to work hard and expect to be treated decently in return, is this the right way or should i be more suspicious of the new boss?

You don't need to be suspicious, but remember that you're entering into a business. Businesses are there to make money, not to be nice. Expect differences of opinion, expect culture clashes. Try to be reasonable and adaptable. That said, if you feel that you're clearly being taken advantage of, don't be afraid to give your opinion. Just make sure that you do it in an appropriate way that does not cause too much loss of face.

[Zaria32]

I agree with Butlerian with a couple of minor exceptions...I think a small, token, gift for your boss is in order. I brought an umbrella emplazoned with "From the Big Apple." My boss was a woman.

Also, I would not be suspicious of your new job/boss etc., I would just be quietly cautious. Always be pleasant (Koreans yell, but if you're a foreigner, if YOU yell you usually lose.)

Over time you will learn that some things which would be considered rude and/or nasty in the west, are simply not viewed that way in Korea. For example, a math teacher at my academy sent his math class, after class was over, to a stationer's store to buy something he thought they needed...he knew they were due in my class, which of course they missed.

I complained to the boss, quietly and pleasantly, and while she seemed a bit unsure of why I was complaining (part of this may have been language) she called him in. The math teacher was genuinely clueless as to why I thought he had been in the wrong.

However, because I didn't show that I was really upset (I couched the whole thing in terms of I-can't-help-them-with-their-English-if-they-don't-come-to-my-class) no one's feelings were ruffled, and we call got along fine after that, as we had before...and he never did it again.

As far as money is concerned...if possible bring enough to buy a ticket home plus about $500 US. If you can't bring that much, then you must be very insistent, pleasantly, about being reimbursed for your airfare within, say, one week of your arrival. If they push the reimbursement even one day beyond the 1 week, I would be very frank with them...I'm so sorry that this is the situation, but our agreement was...and I have enough $$ to buy a ticket home...without being reimbursed for my ticket here, that's what I'll have to do...go home this week. Despite what some Koreans seem to think, you are not an indentured servant, and they can't force you to leave. A threat to leave is a big threat, so you don't want to pull it out indiscriminately.

[head-in-the-clouds]

Thanks for your responses.

I should be clear when im asking about money to bring over. I've managed to pay of all my debts and close my credit cards

My flight is pre-paid, so no issue there. After becoming debt free i will be bringing about �300 GBP with me ($600). Is this enougth for my first month till payday?

Because im now debt free do you think it will be unreasoable to make �5000 in my first year?

Also does anyone mind if i pm my contract.

Thanks

[Bread]

Good site to learn Hangeul and basics: http://korean.sogang.ac.kr/

Need to use Internet Explorer, or at least I had to.

[ttompatz]

[cruisemonkey]

[Otherside]

300quid is VERY tight. As Ttompatz said, it can be up 40 days from when you arrive till you get paid. Rather be safe than sorry, I'd recommend $1000, with $800 being a mininum. If you haven't already closed your credit cards, DONT. keep one, just in case.

Yes, its definitly possible to save 5000pounds. General rule of thumb is that W1,000,000 is enough to live comfortably (I'm pretty frugal and I'd see 800,000 as a monthly minimum excluding trips etc). On a basic 2.2mill salary (2mill after deductions) that leaves you with 1mill a month, x12+2 for severence = 14mill won, which is just over $10,000 at the current exchange rate. If the rate gets better, good for you, if the rate gets a worse, you can tighten your belt and reach that figure, if the won crashes...well we are all up the river.

Agreed, its a bit late to post the contract, but might be worthwhile, just for interests sake...and if you have an absolute stinker, you can pull the plug.

Lastly, good luck

[head-in-the-clouds]

[Korussian]

Welcome, in a few weeks, to Korea! As others posters have mentioned, you have quite a bit of leeway in how much money you need your first month, depending on your lifestyle.

Unlike in London (in my short experience of London, that is), there're plenty of ways to seriously save on food in Korea, which will be your primary expense before your first pay. However, you may find there are many people (Koreans/Foreigners) who wish to take you out during your first few weeks, which will cut into your budget more than you might guess. Koreans will pay for you the first time, and you'll need to return the favor soon thereafter. Foreigners who are not that close usually split the bill as back home.

My best advice is to bring one credit card with you and gauge how much cash you're spending. If you're half way to your first pay but have spent more than half of your cash, then switch to the credit card - it will be accepted almost anywhere. Also, to be safe, assume that, due to unforeseen complications, your first pay will take one week longer than promised to get into your account.

[head-in-the-clouds]

[withnail]

Withnail's tips:

Check out "Let's Speak Korean" on youtube for basic language.

Bigger sized clothes / deodorant can be difficult to find - stock up.

Read good blogs about Korea like the one by Brian Deutch at blogspot.

Read the online Korea Times newspaper.

Devote time to reading the many positive threads on this site.

Keep posting your questions however minor and don't be put off by rude people.

Bring a digital camera and take a lot of photos especially at the beginning.

You will love it!

[head-in-the-clouds]

[withnail]

Anything I can do to help, just holler...