Korean Job Discussion Forums

AustSaint · Joined: 26 Jun 2003 Location: Yongmun

I have just got accepted into GEPIK, which is cool and I am happy about it. The problem is that I wanted elementary and have only been offered MS or HS. I think that might be all they(KorVia) will offer me. The location is not bad, Ilsan. I lived there in my first stint in Korea, the problem is I can"t think of which level I want, or if I should wait for an elementary gig. Any advice would be welcome, thanks in advance.

bassexpander · Joined: 13 Sep 2007 Location: Someplace you'd rather be.

Do it... high school is the best. If you get that, you'll love it (and the random days off that come with a HS job). If your school is cool, they'll let you off those days. If not, then you'll have a lot of time for Dave's.

I'd go for it!!!

kaosjin · Joined: 06 Sep 2007

Take the MS or HS. After teaching both elementary and MS, I wouldn't go back to elementary. Many I know would agree that HS is the best though. Good luck!

BrianInSuwon · Joined: 10 Jan 2006 Location: Korea

I think it depends on your teaching style. I've taught at all three. I think I enjoyed the elementary school the most. It's easy to structure lessons around phonics, songs, flashcards, and easy question and answer dialogues.

I think you should be communicating with more than one recruiter. Each recruiter is given a set number of schools to pitch for. The government divides them up and passes out a stack of schools to each recruiter it has a contract with.

Ya-ta Boy · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Established in 1994

My advice is to turn down the offer. The level a person teaches should be based on who you best relate to. Most relate to one age level better than the others. Some can relate to more than one level. Only you know which age level you are most comfortable with.

There are many jobs available at each age level. Hold out for the one you prefer.

Good luck.

PS: There is NO such thing as a 'best' level. It's about the interaction between the teacher and the student.

ontheway · Posted: Fri Mar 27, 2009 7:16 am Post subject:

AustSaint · Joined: 26 Jun 2003 Location: Yongmun

Thanks everyone, your advice has been great. I have narrowed it down to either the MS job or an elementary school gig in Anyang. The problem is that I will have to have a phone interview fort the Anyang job, is this normal?. I actually don"t know anything about Anyang, which might be a good or a bad thing Very Happy

. If anyone has any other advice, please let me know.

blackjack · Joined: 04 Jan 2006 Location: anyang

AustSaint · Joined: 26 Jun 2003 Location: Yongmun

Blackjack,
thanks for the information. I am Australian, which in Korea can mean a lot of problems because of most places wanting a NA accent. I might try for the Anyang gig, an interview is not that bad. I can"t pm you as I don"t have enough posts to qualify!. I would like to know about Anyang, as I really don"t know anything about it.

buymybook · Joined: 21 Feb 2005 Location: Telluride

Go for the Epik job and teach middle school, it's a public school therefor more reliable. If you accept the hagwon elementary job you could run into problems with money/benefits.

Don't go through any other recruiter to get an Epik job as BrianinSuwon may have suggested. You can go through other recruiters for other jobs though, just not the Epik job. If you do they may throw away your application.

Should you still want the Anyang job...
http://en.anyang.go.kr/new/

Hey Trevor, nice avatar! Laughing

blackjack · Joined: 04 Jan 2006 Location: anyang

AustSaint · Joined: 26 Jun 2003 Location: Yongmun

Buymybook,
I don"t think the elementary school jobs are hagwon related, I believe they are also GEPIK positions in school. That is what I am led to believe.

AustSaint · Joined: 26 Jun 2003 Location: Yongmun

D'oh!!!I juct checked and the job offer is either Ansan(not Anyang) or Ilsan, Ansan has the elementary schools and Ilsan has the MS. So does anybody know about Ansan?

tomato · Posted: Sat Mar 28, 2009 5:02 am Post subject:

I agree with Ya-ta Boy.
You can't wear clothes that fit Bassexpander or Kaosjin, you can't take medicine which has been prescribed for Bassexpander or Kaosjin, and likewise you can't accept a job which would be good for Bassexpander or Kaosjin.

If your age preference is as deeply ingrained as mine, then you can't change your age preference any better than you can change your blood type.
I prefer elementary, also.
One time, I took a university position, thinking it would broaden my horizons, and it was a disaster.

Draz · Joined: 27 Jun 2007 Location: Land of Morning Clam

You don't know until you try. I've now taught every age except kindy and high school, adults are the best and elementary and middle are basically equal for me. Not the same, but equal in how much I enjoy it, which is NOT what I would have expected. I thought elementary would be the best for me.