Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Eric from Minnesota]

Hello.

I am hoping to move to Seoul in June. I am a licensed k-12 ESL teacher and licensed social studies teacher from Minnesota. I have taught for 12 years, but the majority of my work has been with English speaking high school students. I have taught adult ESL conversation classes, part-time, for over three years. My resume will be up by the end of the week.

I am looking to find work in Seoul. I am best suited for work with High School age youths and adults. I expect to be paid a higher salary based upon my credentials. Anyone who might offer their assistance or services would be greatly appreciated.

Eric C.

[email protected]

[Ya-ta Boy]

[Eric from Minnesota]

If the school is offering a range of 2.3-2.7 million a month, I expect to be nearer to 2.7. Also, I'm going to play the field to find the better spots.

Thanks.

[Ya-ta Boy]

Ah. I thought you were talking about real money.

[Eric from Minnesota]

LOL

No, not talking about real money. If that were the case, I might try getting work at one of international schools. However, I'm not sure I want the workload or the 2 year contract.

[Wisconsinite]

The international schools in Korea offer many of the same benefits and better pay scale including some of the salary in USD. In addition, they get regular school holidays off (about 8 weeks over the year, maybe more) and you probably work a standard US school schedule..8-4 with 4-5 classes a day with prep built in. I would imagine it is run fairly the same as day schools in the US. A couple in Seoul are NAIS accredited, I would go with those ones. Not sure which ones but if you check the NAIS site, it will tell you.

Hagwans will make you work about 120 hours a week. Pay will be in won (which fluctuates) and many times it turns out badly (but some turn out good, I worked for a hagwon for 3 years and no I wasn't paid more because I had a teaching certificate). You get maybe 10 days of vacation per year. Teaching hours are weird, early morning for adults and kindergarten, late nights for school kids and adults.

Public schools will be about 22 hours a week of teaching but you have to be at school from 8-4, even if you don't have classes. You will get probably 21 days of vacation a year and you will be paid more for a teaching certificate but only about 300 or so per month. In the actual school it will not matter if you are a "real" teacher or not.

At hagwons and PS you will not be more revered for your teaching certificate. In fact, it can be quite hard to create a quality program because of the deeply rooted beliefs in how education should be. PS was hard for me. I couldn't do what I wanted, I wasn't respected for what I knew, and I had no real power over the curriculum and when and who got taught. Coming from schools where I run the classroom was very difficult.

Ultimately the decision is up to you where you want to work but finding a job in Seoul should be no problem. Keep checking Daves for job postings and apply to what sounds good for you. You are going to have to do the research yourself. Read the boards, see what people are saying (then disregard 75% of it, it's rubbish) get on blogs of people who live and work here. You have enough time to take your time and choose the right job and find out as much as you can. Good luck!

BTW: Where are you from in Minnesota? I'm from Wisconsin.

[Eric from Minnesota]

Thanks for you feedback. I'm just in the beginning of looking for work in Seoul.

[Straphanger]

[definitely maybe]

[bassexpander]

OP, fire me a PM if I can be of help. Heading out the door now........gotta meet my buddy at I-Park.