Korean Job Discussion Forums

[shakenbake021]

Hi, I'm hoping to teach with SMOE next year and was wondering if I should opt for the housing allowance. I'm leaning towards it, but I'm concerned that this will limit the schools and districts I can be assigned to. (I'd like to be in one of the more urban/commercial areas.) This is because I will only be able to teach at a school that's unable to provide its own housing. Is it likely that a school not being able to provide housing is a red flag?

Also, are there any SMOE teachers out there that went with the housing allowance? Do you have any regrets? I know that you don't get to find out your school assignment until the last day of orientation, so how did you go about finding a place near your school in time for your move-in?

THANKS!

[pjmancktelow]

it largely depends on if you are already here in korea or not. you have to pay a large amount of 'key money' as a deposit. which you get back at the end. i work for SMOE and took the allowance. but i was already here and could stay with friends until i found a place. plus i had key money. like i said, the big thing is if you are here.

when i interviewed, here in korea in person. they asked where i'd be living and i said the district to be vague. they pushed and i said an actual location. again they pushed and asked if i 100% had this place. it was my firends, so i said yes. i got really close to this location. but i was lucky. i also transfered my visa from my previous job to SMOE so i knew my school before orientation. others like me also got a good location. i think the housing is a better option. but in truth. if you are not already here and or dont hava a good support network of friends to live with. best to take the housing option.

if you get your own. you need to often furnish it too and can be expensive.

[climber159]

I assume that it is still the case with SMOE that you are told where your school is after orientation is finished. If this is still the case and you opt for the housing allowance you could very easily find yourself with a miserable commute to and from work. If you take the school-provided housing you will likely be within walking distance (or at least a short subway/bus ride).

[shakenbake021]

Thank you so much for all the helpful info! No, I am not in Korea yet. My reason for wanting to find my own housing is that I don't want to take a chance and potentially end up having to stay in a horrendous, run-down apartment without any say. (I read that old thread on Dave's about the Dongdaemun co-op building, and it really scared me!) I'm willing to pay the key money and supplement my monthly housing allowance if it'll mean that I don't have to stress about my living situation while teaching. I don't mind staying at a motel for a few weeks before finding a place either.

Ideally, I would love to live AND teach in central Seoul. Do many SMOE NSETs get placed in this area? It seems like a large number of them get assigned to Nowon-gu, Seongbuk-gu, Gangdong-gu, and Dongjak-gu (according to my SMOE facebook group research). Is it unlikely that I can get matched with a school near Gwanghwamun (Jongno-gu) or Hongik Univ./Sinchon (Seodaemun-gu)? I would like to teach at the elementary level.

THANKS for any feedback!!

[climber159]

Why do you want to teach in central Seoul? Because you want easy access to the "cool" places in the city? It doesn't matter much where in Seoul you are because between the inexpensive subways, buses, and taxis it's a pretty easy place to get around.

I'd go with the provided housing. Chances are that you'll get a place that is fine. If you stay longer than a year, then, after your first year you can get yourself set up in a place more appropriate to your individualized tastes.

[prideofidaho]

Only apply to SMOE if you don't care where you end up and what level you will teach.

[reactionary]

[shakenbake021]

But I'm really set on teaching at a public school rather than a hagwon. And I really want to be in Seoul, so SMOE seems like the perfect fit. Is there some 3rd option that I don't know about (excluding university teaching)?

I understand that a PS job is unpredictable. I'll just have to accept that. I only wish they could tell me where I'll be teaching--at least the general area--sooner!

Thanks for all the warnings, though. I'm bracing myself for the unexpected.

[prideofidaho]

You could try applying to schools directly, but I think that might be hard to do if you are out of the country.

You could try for after school programs in the PS system? You'd likely eb working for a company that farms you out to elementary schools where you would conduct after-school classes. Now, I don't know if it's possible to 'request ans receive' a placement...someone else might know, though.

Sorry to be blunt, but being so far away you're really in no position to expect to be placed anywhere in SMOE. What right do you have above all other applicants to get placed in x gu? SMOE is not able to sort out placements until the last minute, and people only find out about their placements beforehand in very special cases (i.e. visa transfers, etc). Plus, if they tell you where you've been placed and you don't like the area, well you might not even show.

[byrddogs]

[Xuanzang]

[prideofidaho]

[byrddogs]

[prideofidaho]

that's nice! It probably helped you were in country then eh?

Somehow I'm just not too trusting of SMOE and following decisions these days. Those who currently work for them now might know what I mean.

[Bibbitybop]

Does SMOE still put teachers in the horrible Co-op Residence?