Korean Job Discussion Forums

[stevieg4ever]

Is there a reason why SMOE have such a bad reputation? Are they demonstrably worse then EPIK or GEPIK?

What should prospective SMOE applicants keep in mind when they are applying to SMOE? I have an interview for them (or EPIK) soon so thought I would ask.

[nomad-ish]

i honestly have no idea. i've found SMOE to be much better organized and run than a certain other public school program, which shall remain nameless here. orientation was painful, but the classes taught during it and another workshop i went to, were pretty useful. it was the first time during an orientation i actually learned something about teaching.

i suppose some people complain about SMOE because they have problems at their schools and SMOE will not go above and beyond to side with the foreign teacher in a dispute. but isn't that the same with most public school programs? as far as i'm concerned SMOE runs a good program and is way more organized than the other korean school boards.

[yfb]

Ignoring the fiasco last year where 100 people came to Korea only to be told they had no job with SMOE...

They check for AIDS from foreign teachers EVERY year.

[oldfatfarang]

A couple of years ago SMOE had an attitude problem towards native speakers. This came directly from the top guy, if I remember.

I don't know if my SMOE school was typical - but it was basically a childrens' prison - and the kids were beaten all day - everyday.

As a NET, I was treated as a human tape recorder. Oh, and let's not forget the SMOE camp: 14 + 1/2 hour days, locked in the dorm with students at night - for 19 days straight. Also, forced to eat with the kids and make pointless conversation with them. At night, a lovely top-down meeting where the SMOE hierarchy read orders to the NET's. (We eventually got one day off when another camp came and they were shamed into giving us a break.)

Oh, how could I forget the infamous 're-signing' interview - where I stupidly showed the SMOE supervisor my lesson plans, and all she said was: "We're not interested in that, we only want you for your voice."

Housing: an office-tel in a university style dorm. Try no sleep for a year and having your school fob you off and not do anything about it.

Good luck with SMOE. They were the worst, most culturally insensitive employer I've every worked for. Period.

I'm not too sure if SMOE has grown since then - but I very much doubt it.

[balzor]

[balzor]

[Sody]

[Sody]

[balzor]

[egrog1717]

http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=182018&start=15

^----- Read through that... You'll get a better picture of SMOE HQ's view towards NSETs and why a lot of people have had a bad time with it...

[mmstyle]

[oldfatfarang]

[SW]

I haven't had any personal problems with SMOE administration re pay, vacation time, etc. I've met quite a few people who like their schools, or at least find them tolerable. Interestingly, based on what I've heard, gyopos seem to do better at SMOE - but I wouldn't make a generalization about this and maybe others have experienced the opposite.

As for my school though - my experience has been similar to OFF's, though not quite as bad (yet). They've done the following:

-Moved me into an apartment left so filthy by the previous teacher that it was unlivable. I had to hire a cleaning crew on my own dime;

-Increased contact time over 22 hours with no OT pay;

-Attempted to force me to use my own time and money to purchase a textbook for my after-school class (and then make copies for all the students);

-Corralled me into weekly teacher's meetings where five ajummas (one of whom doesn't even work with me) basically roast me and try to mess up my lessons as much as they can. When their ideas don't work, I get blamed;

-Spent God knows how much on "beautifying the campus" when I can't get a textbook budget for my students and the copy machine falls apart when you think about it;

-Rewarded me for eating with them by nitpicking at my food choices EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. (I was recently chided for eating too much kimchi. I'm not kidding).


Also, the atmosphere of the school does indeed feel like a prison, except unlike OFF, my kids never get hit. In fact, they run the show. Most teachers seem to be afraid of them. I've observed other teachers' classes in which the kids were allowed to massage each other, sleep, pass notes, talk while the teacher is talking, etc. I also hear them calling teachers by the their first name (maybe this is common these days, I don't know). My co-teachers micromanage my disciplinary practices, and I've been censured more than once.

Then there's the infuriatingly annoying practice of having to get three signatures every time you leave the building for any reason (I think some other schools in EPIK and GEPIK do this too, but I doubt it's universal). It's not just a prison for children.

If you're a male, even an experienced one, there's a strong chance you'll be teaching middle school, the absolute worst age.

That's been my experience but I think I got caught in a bad school, and I also think I'm more a hagwon type of guy anyway. If you're not scared away, I'd say the best you can do is apply for SMOE and have a wad of cash stashed away in case you need to escape early. I could have done that, but I foolishly put it down on debt after the honeymoon feeling overcame my initial instincts. Best of luck to you.

[balzor]

[b-class rambler]