Korean Job Discussion Forums

Ro2 · Joined: 23 Jun 2009

I've been asked to go for an interview at a school near Seoul. The offer in general sounds standard in terms of pay etc, but one thing I'm a bit uneasy about is that I would be the only non-Korean teacher there. A few foreign teachers I've met here have told me to aim for a school that has plenty of other foreigners there, because obviously (a) it's a good way to meet other people who are in a similar situation to yourself, but also more importantly (b) it's a sign that the school is trustworthy and treat you well.

In other words, a school with no other foreigners is more likely to be unreliable, may end up treating me badly. Does this sound accurate to anyone?

Carla · Joined: 21 Nov 2008

andrewchon · Posted: Wed Sep 02, 2009 7:11 pm Post subject: only foreign teacher

Is this a public school or a hagwon?

Ro2 · Joined: 23 Jun 2009

thanks for the replies.

Andrewchon, it's a hagwon....and i've also heard they're a bit more likely to be unreliable too, compared to a public school. Any thoughts?

Also, they're trying to get me to go for an in-person interview tomorrow....I don't think I can cos I need to find a place to wash clothes etc, don't wanna turn up in backpacker clothes....Any ideas for good reasons to delay it until monday???????

Carla · Joined: 21 Nov 2008

iggyb · Joined: 29 Oct 2003

I'd worry about a hakwon that has no other foreign teachers. It has to be a small operation. That isn't necessarily bad, I guess, but I'd wonder about its financial stability.

Another thing about a hakwon like that --- you don't have any expats to contact to ask questions about the school. If you are going to work in a hakwon, you'd like to talk to or contact at least two of the foreign teachers there. 1 at least, but with 1, you can't tell if the boss is paying them to say nice things or not (which happens).

If it were me, I'd pass.

I worked in a hakwon with only two NETs and liked it better than ones with 5 or 6. I was teaching adults in it, and I got to know them and Korea well that way.

But, you can't scout a 1 NET hakwon well and you don't know if the owner hasn't expanded because he can't afford to or not or what his financial foundation is like. I'd pass...

If it were a public school, I wouldn't have those fears...

saw6436 · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Daejeon, ROK

I've worked in almost every imaginable situation in regards to schools here. Public elem, M-S, H-S, Hagwon, Uni', Business, etc... My best experiences have generally been when I was the only foreign teacher.

The reliability of a hagwon has very little to do with the number of foreign teachers at that school. But, I do think it is true that having only one FT is an incentive for the school to act in a manner that benefits the FT.

Carla · Joined: 21 Nov 2008

See, Iggy and Saw are both right, even if they are saying opposite things.

No rules.

The biggest thing for you to decide is if you "need" to be around other foreign teachers.

The first time I came to Korea, I was with a friend from home. We worked in differnt places. Both were the only foreign teachers. With the exception of one Korean teacher who had lived overseas anyway, she hung out only with other foreign teachers and dated military guys. I hung out with most koreans and dated koreans.

Just two different personalities. I do not think she would have done well if she couldn't have other foreigners around. I did fine.

If you think you need other foreigners, then go for a larger school. It will make you happier. If not, then the small schools are rather nice IMHO.

iggyb · Joined: 29 Oct 2003

For me, the key is the ability to scope the school before signing a contract.

Hakwons of any type are very hit or miss. You need to try to vet them as well as possible. That means contacting teachers at the place and most usefully more than one, because some hakwons will give one NET a better schedule, pay, whatever to get them to sing the praises of even the most crappy institute.

Since hakwons are so hit or miss, I think you have to check them out, and with only 1 NET, you can't really do that well. Even if you are in country and visit the school, you might be able to tell something from appearances or you might not...

I'd feel more secure if I would talk to at least 2 NETs at a school...and that still isn't foolproof by any means...

Ro2 · Joined: 23 Jun 2009

Thanks for all the replies. I should add, maybe it's relevant, the school currently only has one native english speaker, and I will be REPLACING that teacher if I take the job.

Obviously, I need to talk to this teacher. Also, it's in a neighbourhood in Ansan, or at least roughly in that area. If anyone knows anything about that area it'd be great to get some info.

iggyb · Joined: 29 Oct 2003

If the teacher you are replacing made it through a full contract, that is a plus. I'd still want to hear from more than 1 NETs and you can't do that there.

Ask if he ever received pay late.

Ask if he met the person he replaced and did that person finish his contract.

Ask if the schedules are ever changed at the very last minute.

Ask if the teacher has to go to other institutes or locations to teach -- this can be a big one for a small school like that ---- you don't want to be farmed out all over creation - unless the travel time is included as work time, which it almost never is...

Tigerstyleone · Joined: 01 Feb 2009

NOthing to worry about unless youre scared.

roadwork · Joined: 24 Nov 2008 Location: Goin' up the country

Again, I second the opinion about the benefits of being the only foreign teacher. I've worked in hogwans and public schools, regular and afterschool, and the only job I hated out of all of them was the first job where I had to work with other foreign teachers. Nearly every one of them could be a prime candidate for the Freakiest Waygookin Thread, in fact, I think I did post a couple of them on there.

For one, if you do work with other foreign teachers, there is a BIG probability that the school will put you in the same apartment building as the other teachers.
Not a good idea:
Buttkisser (in the teacher's room full of foreign teachers and Korean teachers):"Hey Joe, sounded like you got in late last night. What time was that 3am?"
Joe: "Nah, earlier than that."
Buttkisser "I opened the door and it looked like you were hammered and couldn't get in your apartment."

Everyone seems to know everyone's business and you can't trust anyone.

Julius · Joined: 27 Jul 2006

Chambertin · Joined: 07 Jun 2009 Location: Gunsan

I skipped ahead some as I want to post on the positive.
My experience may be a rarity here but it is fun and horrible at the same time.

First off don�t be afraid of small Hagwons. Based on what every person I have talked to has said about theirs I am in a better situation per work conditions, pay, hours, and the list goes on. My feeling is that parents send their kids to the small places when they want that one on one service and I am guessing they pay more for it as per my salary.
Sometimes I think that�s wrong due to the troublemakers but lets face it rich people have some of the most troublesome kids.

Second off if you are the only non native teacher it could be a blessing. You are there to be the proof that the school has real native speaking. They may only expect you to be a record player. No matter what people say about this it is a good gig as you have no stress and can fill your head with whatever you want as you mindlessly recite PELT pages.
If you are real luck then they just want you to be there for pictures and parents to look at as they pay the bill. Completely ignored and completely happy.

If that is not the case and they want you to teach then it is up to you how it goes. Chances are you will have lots of alone time with the kids, as in no co-teacher. This means that your day is as wonderful as you make it, and it can be hard to make at times. That�s my school.
I get a book, a class, a marker and a schedule that says the level of the students. I'm lucky if it is in English though.

Don�t get me wrong though I love it much more than I hate it. Just be careful what you wish for. Complete freedom can have a backlash if you don�t have the co-translator, I mean teacher to make you look good. Many people complain about showing up early, or other aspects of the day. I like it. When I get there early I get to go over my lessons for holes, and there are many. I also try to refine just what is that I have to expect today.

The other interesting thing is that you are the only one of your kind. You get to have fun with the kids. Their attention and curiosity is set on you, DON�T give away all your info at once and make silly jokes about your mom dad, age and other aspects. My father is Barrack Obama, and my Mother is Bill Clinton just to keep them interested for now.
So much fun to see them drop the Aigoo when I wont give the real info yet. Information is a better prize than cookies for good work. Make every few days an �ask the teacher day.�

I went off topic a little.
Being the only foreign teacher is probably a benefit. Just make darn sure you get good info on the school. Not second hand stuff from someone who had a bad time, but real time info. Pictures of apartment, address of the school to look up on Google map, etc.

Know the area, the place and most importantly what you expect. If you have no hard info and aren�t flexible with expectations then you will have a rough time at least.