Korean Job Discussion Forums

[bcjinseoul]

Seems to me a few years ago people used to get a ton of time off, great overtime, the ability to choose any school or city anywhere, very simple letters or reccomendation were acceptable.....


These days, virtually everyone in GEPIK, SMOE, and most EPIK schools get just 4 weeks off after summer and winter camps, and mandatory desk warming as well. That's just 2 more weeks off than a hogwon. Virtually every EPIK/GEPIK/SMOE school that has their foreigner do overtime is getting 20,000 an hour -- the new flat rate. Although, there are plenty of hourly gigs almost as low on worknplay.co.kr as well these days. The whole thing with letters of rec, that have to be signed and with official letter heads of the respective school, scanned, then sealed and mailed off is quite the thorn in ones side, not to mention the fact that EPIK/GEPIK/SMOE checks up on every job you ever had in Korea, and you better not have any broken contracts...especially with another public school, or forget about it.

The amount of people EPIK and SMOE seem to be hiring is at a low that hasn't been seen in years, in the semi-saturated market with lots of renewals and college grads coming over. There seems to be very little control of what school or city you can have, and it looks like some people are so desperate they'll settle for Gangwondo.

It's amazing when you talk to someone who taught at a public school in 2002 and had 8 weeks off or someone who taught at one in 1997 and had 12 weeks off. Not like that anymore. Guess public schools aren't the best job to have out here anymore. EPIK and SMOE are somewhat merged, and combined, countrywide are only hiring some 550 people I think. I bet the Seoul/Gyeonggi hogwon market is even tighter than that.

ergh.....

[oldfatfarang]

Yes. The glory days of PS are fast declining. Things have certainly tightened up in EPIK. Long gone are the days of getting an extra month's paid holiday abroad (or even longer). However, I'm still sneaking in a few 'culture' days every so often.

My new school principal went to a 'meeting' in Seoul, and all the principals were told to give us camps during school recess. Darn it.

Camps in breaks aren't paid now, and neither is the 9 day compulsory orientation. Our POE got GETs to teach Korean teachers after 4.30pm and they didn't pay us overtime.

My wages have taken a real dive this year - as I've lost an allowance, overtime and paid camps etc. However, there's a recession on, and EPIK got 2,500 applicants for 830 jobs (something like that), so I guess we can expect things to tighten up.

[Fishead soup]

The IMF years were far worse. The currency lost it's value. Not to mention back then many NET's were expected to desk warm without a computer.
Lots of horrible last minute transfers too. Absolutely no Co -teaching it was sink or swim.There was also a push to take NETs out of the schools and put them in these Teacher training Centers and living in shoe box dormitories. The early years of EPIK were Nightmarish.

[Senior]

Thankfully my school still rules, for the most part.

A little bit of desk warming, but I show up late and leave early. I wag quite a lot as well.

The going rate for extra classes has dropped to 25,000won, but I was going to knock those on the head, at any price, next semester anyway.

The school owns my contract now, not the POE, so the POE mostly leaves me alone.

[Fishead soup]

[Xuanzang]

The add on holidays is maybe the only thing that makes PS attractive. Meaning the days added on between Chuseok, Seollal and foundation day/school's birthday. Those days off are nice breathers that don't come at hagwons.

[dirving]

I hear you on that: It's the little thngs (read, "...tiny t'ings...) that makes a b'ye happy.

DI

[TheChingu]

I love public school.

The teachers and kids are laid back.

We play volleyball Wednesday and Thursday. Work 8:40 to 4:40 with about 12 o'clock on being "desk warming" time. I do a few lesson plans and work on my Korean, its really not bad for being paid to sit there.

Oh and free lunch! That's a nice and often overlooked perk, I would estimate it saves about a million won per year of free lunch. The food at my Elementary schools is pretty dang good and all organic.

I think I'll stay in public school rather than haggling with an overlord hag-won owner and getting yelled at every time attendance drops.

As for vacation? I don't know but I don't think having two more weeks paid vacay would swing me over to the dark side. It's about quality of life, I'd rather get 10 days off a year and work at a great school than get 20 off working at a shithole.

[dirving]

Friend:

You have a sweet deal! Attempt to stay in the same gig until you feel completely homesick.

Good for you, and take good care.

Sincerely,

dirving

[The Gipkik]

My public school is very easy going. My principal is a good ol' girl. She is a very pleasant person. Co-teachers are good and very helpful. I only make 20,000 Won/class for 2 overtime classes a week, but it's during school hours, which means less desk sitting, so that is fine. Heck, it's 20 grand on top of my salary, so it's actually more than 20. I get a few extra days vacation here and there due to a very relaxed policy. I get to try out all kinds of ideas in class. Lots of resources. No friction. No stress. Lovely students--although a wee bit TOO friendly. A pretty good job. That's enough.

[Fox]

[Xuanzang]

Lunch isn't free. You do pay a monthly fee for it out of your paycheck.

[Cerulean]

I'll take PS middle or high anytime over a hogwan. Yes, pay and perks have declined however, I think there's still much more down time than in the hogwan system.

[ippy]

Its a matter of perspective. If you were here before all the perks were taken away its probably not so worth it and you may feel its time to move on, but if youve just arrived then its just a job. A very VERY easy job with lots of ups and downs like any other job - well, thats not true, the sucky days here are phenomenally sucky, and the good days are awesome! The mediocre run of the mill days dont happen so much, so its like a bi-polar job

Public school is well worth it. At elementary theyre ridiculously hyper, wont listen for longer than ten seconds but are insanely good natured and great fun (actual mileage may vary on that last statement).

At middle school theyre a bit more serious, but where i live they dont really give too much of a crap about english but LOVE chatting to you and getting attention from you. Its all fun and games when youre not actually teaching them.

I havent taught high school, but one of my friends is absolutely delighted she can do actual stuff with her students and have something close to a normal conversation with many of them.

Theyre all still kids at the end of the day, and they still have loads of interest in you, so its great fun. Yeah, teaching can be a pain at times especially if theyre low level and just want to play with their mobiles or listen to music, but the gig is more than made up for by just how receptive they are to you everywhere else. I know thats not the greatest selling point, but its still fabulous.

Saying that though, if your only concern is the cash, my mates are on 2.4, teach 4 hours a day (from 5-9) and go home. Im on 2.3 and 'teach' from 9 to 5 every day. I have 17 classes a week and the rest of the time even though i have to be here, i can pretty much do what i want. Also no one is watching me through a camera and coming charging in to tell me im doing it wrong every time the kids look like theyre enjoying themselves or when more than one of them is at my desk
If money isnt too much of an issue, then public school all the way. Plus not EVERY school follows the edicts on deskwarming, sure youll lose the extra class pay and winter camp pay, schools arent charities and if they dont have to pay you they wont, but some principals wont see the point of having you sit at your desk when you dont need to be there despite what the boe thinks. So yeah, you might get lucky.

Basically money is less, job security is probably better sight unseen (though if you live here already and keep your ear to the ground youll probably get a nice safe hagwon gig), and the holidays are pretty nice (all of feb off for me is great since i love snowboarding). I can suck up the camps and after school classes for all that i reckon.

I honestly wish though i didnt arrive last year when all the changes happened. It always makes me wonder what it might have been like having all those perks

[TheUrbanMyth]