Korean Job Discussion Forums

[E_athlete]

I'm leaving in a few days but I just can't help but think I chose the worst time to come to Korea. I read an article that says the # people applying from my home country (Canada) has quadrupled over the last 6 months.

This means I can be easily fired & replaced. There are more qualified people dying to get my job and my employer will know this. If he doesn't like me for whatever reason I can be canned easily for no reason.

So to avoid being fired what can I do? What do you after you've been fired, do you take on another job in Korea?

[halfmanhalfbiscuit]

Explain "more qualified".

[VanIslander]

solution: get hired by a small mom&pop hagwon as their only foreign teacher and they'll do their utmost to have you stay, will not fire you, as they have to pay over a million to fly you over and about just as much for the recruiter to get you, so they're quite financially committed to you, and you can be incompetent with a friendly demeanor for six months before they'd even think of doing anything about it.

[AgentM]

[harlowethrombey]

[Ecomdan]

Yeah, I have zero teaching experience... just finishing off my online TEFL course and graduating college in a year or so. Hope I can find something decent over in Korea... or maybe Japan who knows?

[E_athlete]

Since you wont hear it anywhere else Ill tell it to you straight - Canada is very bad when it comes to job prospects. There will be MA's coming over here because they can't find a job in their field or because of underemployment. Unemployment is at 8.7% and underemployment is around 14%. Canada like to glorify itself as one of the best places to live in the world but when it comes to stuff about employment you will barely hear a peep out of it on t.v or the papers.

I have a Bachelors degree. I'm a EPIK level 3 @ 2.1m won/month working at a public school in Iksan korea. There will obviously be several other people more qualified than me dying to get here with the bad economy. The only edge I have right now is that I'm willing to work in small cities that have 300k or less people. Many foreigners won't take a job unless it's Seoul or some big place. It's that choosy-ness or self entitlement of westerners that will hopefully allow me to keep my job. Other than that I'll have to try my best to be an attractive English teacher that's popular among the students and staff.

[Ecomdan]

Am I right in thinking that with my bachelors degree + my ITTT TEFL certificate that I'll qualify for EPIK level 2?

I will also be doing the additional business english add on course (well it is free!) would that have any real effect on my EPIK level?

[lithium]

[Yu_Bum_suk]

[Fishead soup]

In Korea Image is really important. If you're in a public school try to wear a suit. In summer dress shirt and dress pants is OK.

If you're a guy always shave they really dislike 5 oclock shadow.

If your co-teacher is really busy try to teach the lesson alone. Some people will say this is technically illegal. Although you will be viewed more favorably if you can sometimes manage the students alone.

Never argue with your co-teacher. If he/she makes an absurd request smile say "yes" and go back to what you were doing.

Don't worry if your students like you make them respect you

[Ramen]

[halfmanhalfbiscuit]

You'd be surprised how employable being young and Canadian makes you. You'd be closer in age to the students which they like, the female middle-aged teachers will see you as a good source of gossip at lunchtime, and in general the school will see you as kind of maleable.

Contrast this with an older,qualified "teacher teacher" at a school with no idea of how things should go other than classes should be fun and who doesn't see why they should put up with being treated akin to a driving instructor and in reality lower than the most junior teacher.

Don't concern yourself with getting fired-that requires a special effort. There's more risk that you'd have had a gutsful after 6 months

[Demophobe]

You are not even here and you are thinking of being fired?

Then educate yourself; read some books on teaching young learners, learn about teaching Koreans particularly. There is a lot of good advice in this thread regarding looks, but teaching well will give you some self-respect; enough that if you are let go, it won't be for lack of effort or knowledge about the job you chose.

Work really hard.

You seem a little too hand-wringy. Change that.

[yingwenlaoshi]

I am not the OP.