Korean Job Discussion Forums

winterfall · Joined: 21 May 2009

Hey I was wondering if SMOE's placement is set in stone or if we can finish out the year. Get experience and transfer to another school?

I like the kids at my schools but, its a vocational hs and their levels are low. I want to go to an academic school where I'll be able to do so much more with the kids.

andrewchon · Posted: Sun Sep 27, 2009 3:54 pm Post subject:

Bit too early for you. Ask again in May '10.

winterfall · Joined: 21 May 2009

andrewchon · Posted: Sun Sep 27, 2009 4:18 pm Post subject:

Yes, on the re-newal form there is a box you tick if you want to transfer within SMOE.

Xuanzang · Joined: 10 Apr 2007 Location: Sadang

prideofidaho · Joined: 19 Mar 2008

You can switch schools earlier (say, at the 6 month mark when a new batch of NSETs are coming in) or at the end of your year, but remember that you must get the blessing of your current school.

I think your reason for switching might not be that great. They may tell you that your job is to teach English and you can't pick and choose the highest level students to teach because you're able to 'do more' with them. All I'm saying is be careful of your wording. See if you can't find another reason. The age of the students, the location, etc. Everyone wants to teach high level academic kids, but there's a good chance your reason might be taken the wrong way.

winterfall · Joined: 21 May 2009

Xuanzang · Joined: 10 Apr 2007 Location: Sadang

hapigokelli · Joined: 04 Aug 2009

halfmanhalfbiscuit · Joined: 13 Oct 2007 Location: Seoul

What will you do when you find their English is only slightly better, if at all?

pjmancktelow · Joined: 07 Oct 2007 Location: Seoul

i did 15 months out in incheon and then transferred to smoe. when you have the interview/fill in the form you put down where you want to be placed. i asked for yongsan gu as i had a place to live in itaewon. i knew it was a crap shoot and gambled anyhow. you dont find out the details of your school until the last day of the orientation (or at least was the case this august). however, as i had a visa that was still running due to a slight extension at my hogwan. i had to transfer my visa across to smoe. to do this i had to have the new schools name/address. so i knew before the orientation where i would be. i got somewhere really close to itaewon, 10 mins drive/5 subway stops. i also took the housing allowance.

from people i knew and spoke to at the orientation. it seemed that the more desirable locations were given to people in my situation. i.e. housing allowance and visa transfer. those who took the provided housing and were also a visa transfer also did fairly well as did people who took the housing allowance but normal visa.

so, my advice to you is to take the housing allowance and this way they may be more obliged to give you where you want. only my advice, its not a smoe policy. only my personal opinons and observations.

Murakano · Joined: 10 Sep 2009