Korean Job Discussion Forums

bcjinseoul · Joined: 13 Jan 2010 Location: Seoul, Korea

No way am I renewing with the current high school I have in Seoul.

Has anyone transferred within SMOE? I've heard it's often difficult and they often refuse to let people transfer, and they still don't let you pick schools when you can transfer. I'm also assuming if they don't approach you for renewal sometime in May or June, you can't transfer and pretty much get the boot, right?

reactionary · Joined: 22 Oct 2006 Location: korreia

I'm considering this as well...My elementary school isn't BAD (so maybe I should just stay), but I think I'd rather be teaching either at a middle school or an elementary school that will give me more classes.

prideofidaho · Joined: 19 Mar 2008

Transfers within SMOE are possible, but don't expect to know anything in advance in terms of your new school, and don't expect to get what you want. It's a big risk. Probably better to find a new school to work at yourself, and get hired through them directly.

Bloopity Bloop · Joined: 26 Apr 2009 Location: Seoul yo

Let's say I wanted to switch to high school from elementary. Could I possibly be placed in another elementary or middle school? My current school claims to have some say in the matter of transfers. They were able to place the NSET that preceded me in a school she wanted elsewhere within the same district (Gangseo-gu).

reactionary · Joined: 22 Oct 2006 Location: korreia

Maybe i should just not make the switch...I might get something worse. I originally wanted to teach high school, but I have a major phobia of working at a technical high school.

mmstyle · Joined: 17 Apr 2006 Location: wherever

When I first started working for SMOE, I observed a great class by a Scottish woman that had worked here for may years. She did not have a fancy school. During some shat afterward, she told everyone that there were things that she would change if she could, but overall, it was okay. One thing she said struck me as very very smart, though. She said that if you are okay overall, don't change hoping to land a better gig. Chances are you could end up with worse because it is all luck of the draw. I think she is right.

Bloopity Bloop · Joined: 26 Apr 2009 Location: Seoul yo

Again, does anyone have any info regarding a change from elementary to high school?

pkang0202 · Joined: 09 Mar 2007

SMOE sucks. I asked to be transferred. SMOE tells me its up to my district Supervisor. The district supervisor will only speak with my vice principal. My vice principal didn't want me to go anywhere so she lied to the District supervisor. the District supervisor than told me that there are absolutely ZERO openings for middle/high school in all of Seoul.

ZERO.

When I inquired with J. Pak at SMOE his reply was, "Whatever the district says is right."

Good thing I applied at my current job behind all of their backs. I had a backup plan incase they pulled this kind of crap. I renewed with SMOE with the intention of switching schools. When they didn't, I immediately withdrew my renewal and left SMOE at the end of the contract.

Much better for it too.

prideofidaho · Joined: 19 Mar 2008

jboney · Joined: 14 May 2008 Location: Northern Seoul

I transfered schools. Basically, I wanted to stay another year, but my school wanted another teacher. They didn't want to fire me, they just wanted someone else.

I found this out around November or December. My contract was ending in February. I was given a new contract to sign in late December (maybe even January). All that time I didn't hear anything from the woman @ SMOE that was in charge of the placements. I worked at a prestigious public school in Seoul, it was a really big deal to work there too. I have good qualifications and teaching experience. I was told by SMOE "we don't want an experienced teacher like you to leave" Despite this, they left me in the dark about where, or even if I would have a job come March. They said weird things like "would you want to work at _________ _______ school" meanwhile I knew the teacher there, and knew that they were re-signing! I signed my contract and eventually got it back from them, still not knowing anything at all.

I applied for my visa renewal without knowing anything. They paid for my 2 weeks vacation flight home and back a week before my departure date. I was worried that while back home I'd get an email from SMOE saying they didn't have a job for me or that they'd cancel my flight back to Korea or something.

I found out on a Friday (while I was home on vacation) via e-mail where I had to go to start work on Tuesday.

I worked in a special high school. I have an M.S.Ed., 4 years of English teaching experience, and I am NY state certified teacher--I talked to SMOE about where I would like to go and teach, but it really is just random, they put me in a random middle school where they needed a teacher.

It's not nearly as great as my old school, but I hear that the teachers there have more class hours and more work and more responsibilities, so I am fine where I am. I would have appreciated SMOE taking care of it earlier, I mean for the new people coming into orientation, that's one thing, but for people already here, already working for them, to let them know just a few days before, to tell them nothing, it's really wrong. It really stressed me out.

I say if do it, do it with caution and expectations of being place ANYWHERE and possibly somewhere that you asked not to be. Also, expect to not know anything until the very last minute, and expect to move out of your old place and into your new place at the drop of a hat--not cool. I wouldn't do it again.

bcjinseoul · Joined: 13 Jan 2010 Location: Seoul, Korea

I'm going with pkang0202 on this one. It's my 4th year in Korea, 3rd in a public school, 2nd time in a row at a high school. I've worked with EPIK, GEPIK, and SMOE. I've had issues with both my GEPIK high school and most certainly my SMOE high school. I'm 29 and have a degree in business, no tefl, no license in education, no MA, nothing special....just a few years here with no plans to ever leave this place anytime soon. Having said all that, I plan on applying to a ton of colleges in Gyeonggi and Seoul within the next 2 months...only one needs to hire me.^^ Honestly, if I can't go from here to a college job, I'm going to give after school programs a shot. They might have only 2 weeks off, but most people at most public schools these day get only about 4-5, and 2-3 extra weeks off ain't cuttin' it. Hell, if I stay here ten more years and have ten more jobs out here, that's just my prerogative. I'm tired of coteachers, demo lessons, summer/winter camps, desk warming, orientations, workshops, large classes, low levels, getting up at 630 all the goddamn time...I could go on. Some recruiter on here called Hanmi Education has after school programs for 2.4 M KRW a month, working 12-4, and only teaching 1-4. 15 hrs a week and in the middle of the day for 2.4, rent and full benefits? Hell yeah I 'll take that!

reactionary · Joined: 22 Oct 2006 Location: korreia

bcjinseoul · Joined: 13 Jan 2010 Location: Seoul, Korea

^

Yes.

reactionary · Joined: 22 Oct 2006 Location: korreia

MattAwesome · Joined: 30 Jun 2008

I switched school this year. When you resign your contract, there is a section for transfers. you write down the areas youre interested in. you might or might not get transferred or the areas you want. yo uare basically in limbo until you get back.
i liked my old school but wanted to be in a better area, now i am in a worse area and hate my school. it can always get worse. rarely better.