Korean Job Discussion Forums

[wanna_teach]

Does anyone have a job teaching adults or at least mostly adults? I am thinking about coming to Korea, but want to get experience teaching adults. Is it even possible to get a job teaching adults?
I have read some horror stories on this forum about broken contracts and horrible apts etc. Does anyone have any positive stories about teaching in Korea?

Could anyone recommend a reputable school that treats teachers with respect and provides half decent housing?

Does anyone happen to know if it is possible to come to Korea from Japan for a weekend to find a job? I am thinking about applying to westgate in Japan and working there for a few months and then coming to Korea. At least then I could meet the owners of the school and check out the apts.

Any info/advice would be greatly appreciated

[alphakennyone]

Pagoda, YBM, and others. Generally adult schools don't provide housing, so if you put yourself in a crappy apartment, that's your own fault.

Teaching adults involves "split shifts."

Try the FAQ section of the forum. A lot of the information regarding teaching adults is still up to date. Or even look in the job section and find the ads for Pagoda.

[wanna_teach]

Thanks for your reply

I know that I would have to do split shifts, but I thought all schools paid for housing. Do they at least give you a housing allowance?

Does anyone know of any schools where I can teach mostly adults and older kids? I am willing to teach young kids also, just not too many classes.

[Ya-ta Boy]

Also check out company jobs. They are jobs with few or no kids classes. Another place to look is the military.

I teach highly motivated adults during the day with no evening classes and no kids. The admin, however, is pretty typical. That is to say, abominable.

[Theo]

Working for YBM was the single worst mistake of my entire life (and I'm old!). Don't do it!

Prior to Korea, I had five very challenging years in China, but nothing compares to (or prepared me for) my expereince with YBM in Seoul.

And as has it been mentioned already, not only do they NOT provide housing (if you work in the adult division of YBM), they won't make an effort to help you find housing. Just as I was leaving they decided to give FTs a 200,000 won housing allowance, but in Seoul that figure is quite paltry. They will post up to 10 million in key money and will deduct a 300,000 won deposit from the FT for doing so, which I suppose is fair enough.

The YBM nightmare began as soon as I arrived from the airport and continued to go downhill for the months that I endured their lousy treatment.

[Toon Army]

[wanna_teach]

[alphakennyone]

You might want to consider staying in Japan if you want to teach adults (at least 50% of your classes or so). The pay is without a doubt higher these days considering the exchange rate, and the hours are much, much better. AEON, GEOS, ECC. Gaba could be all-adults, but they seem like a risky place to work for.

[Big Pun Lives]

I teach adults at a private institute, it is a large international chain. I don't have many complaints. I show up teach and then leave. I get paid on time. Insurance, pension and I don't think my severance should be an issue. They offered housing but I took the 400K instead.

The head teacher is cool and my supervisor I see only twice a month, (during our meetings). They have never given me any complaints, and I have complete freedom for my curriculum. All of my students are advanced.

The splits are no picnic, but the teaching has zero stress.

Decent adult jobs are available. If I was committed to making ESL a career, Universities or Corporate gigs would be my next job. But, my school is a great first job. I have a friend who got a job making 4 mil for working 6-5 shift at a company.

Just my experience.

- Big Pun

[alphakennyone]

Which large international chain would that be? Berlitz? WSI? How's the base pay/hours?

[asylum seeker]

I moved to an adult hagwon for the adult teaching experience but the management are complete dickheads and they're ruining it for me. They really don't seem to have any clue about anything. I turn up to work for a certain class that is on my 'schedule' and they'll be like "oh, that class isn't starting for another three weeks, didn't anyone tell you?" Then they'll be like "oh, you have to do an extra three classes (that aren't on the 'schedule'), starting from tonight". Sometimes the classroom I'm supposed to teach in gets shifted without warning so I look stupid in front of the students and they're always pressuring us to do overtime because they're short staffed.

My last boss managed to run the whole institution by himself and everything was always well-organized but at this place, even though there's about five managers, it's complete chaos. Already three teachers have bailed out on working here in the last few months. I can't speak for all adult hagwons but I would say be careful before you sign up for one.

Also the split shift is a killer. I knew it would be tough beforehand but it didn't realize until I started quite how exhausting it is. First class is 6:30am so it's hard to have much of a social life during the week as well.

[alphakennyone]

Yeah..my hours were 2:00-9:30 in Japan. Started with adults (retired folks or whoever else wasn't at work/school), kids after their classes, and adults in the evening. I could've stuck with that schedule for a long time I think - especially if some people would've quit and I could've switched my off days to Sat-Sun rather than Sun-Mon.

Too bad crazy management isn't exclusive to Korea.