Korean Job Discussion Forums

[mslaoshi]

For all you teachers in Korea (or for you who have taught)

I was offered a job teaching kids (grades K-- from 9--5 M-F.
I will get 5 weeks off a year, $30,000 a year, and my own apartment. The interviewer said I will teach 4--5 classes a day, but I don't think he really knew. It is for a non-profit, funded by the government.
I have sent 2 emails with questions attached, but they never replied.

I may be like many of you when you started: I want to pay off student loans, experience a new culture, travel. Looking at the forum, it is confusing, discouraging.

Any hints?

Ms. Laoshi

[PEIGUY]

i'm not by far the expert person on this board, from what i read that looks too good to be true? maybe NPO's are good, but government's are corrupt i wouldn't trust any gov't ina foreign country, hell i even have trouble trusting our own gov't. Just do your research more on teh company i guess..

[kangnamdragon]

$30,000 a year? Is that American? If it is, not likely.

[mslaoshi]

Yes, I need to do more research...but how?
Englishtown is well regarded by most Japanese and Korean people I speak to. Does this mean it will live up to it's word? I don't know? I am asking the forum but not many people seem to know. This is a brand new development, so I am not sure if anyone is out there who has had experiences with Englishtown. If anyone knows how I start my research, let me know!
mslaoshi

[mr.bojangles]

if it's a school, it should be registered with the government, especially if they fund it. do a websearch for the school and try to find out what ministry it's funded through, just to check if they're b.s'ing. chances are good that they are. if you can avoid korea, i would. also, if they haven't written back for 2 emails, send them 1 more saying you're not impressed and then move on.
take everything they say with about a handful of salt-
good luck

[Saxiif]

[mslaoshi]

Well, I got a very detailed email from them today from a supervisor or curriculum specialist. He answered all of my questions. Now, I just wait for the offer letter.

I had a Korean friend call yesterday. She told her, in detail, the accommodations. It sounds nice. I have a couple friends in Seoul who are going to help me buy a used car so I can travel out of Apartmentown into the city.

Englishtown is the same as the web-based company. This is their first actual school.

It still feels scary, but I will feel more at ease after I do the research.

What do you guys think. Is there really SO MUCH reason to be so skeptical. It is hard because this development is brand new and no one seems to have had any experiences with them, good or bad.

What is the worst that could happen?

If I sign the contract, then back out, what would the repercussions be?

Hopeful,

mslaoshi

[PEIGUY]

[schwa]

My knowledge on this is patchy, but for what its worth:

The concept of permanent english-immersion camps under the auspices of the ministry of education has been on the drawing board for at least a couple years now. The Gyeonggido Englishtown is meant to be the flagship & its a year ahead of similar undertakings in other provinces. My supervisor is watching its progress carefully as he's on the planning committee for the Gangwondo version.

The basic idea is to build a permanent facility with themed areas (airport, hotel, bank, etc) & dorm accommodation for the students, to simulate an english camp experience abroad. Small groups of select students (grade 5 & 6 elementary, 1 & 2 middleschool) will spend maybe a week there & I think I read the Gyeonggido village is meant to be open to the public on weekends. There was an article in the Korea Times a while back but a search didnt turn it up.

I'm surprised to learn that Englishtown itself appears to be a private company -- everything I'd heard up to this point suggested purely a govt operation. Englishtown has a slick-looking web presence but its almost exclusively in korean. As far as I know Gangwondo is proceeding without any private affiliations. The education office here will be looking to hire 4 native speakers directly next spring.

Theyre still hammering out a lot of broad details here but working conditions wouldnt be any less than standard native speaker contracts now -- ie 22 contact hours a week max, probably office hours bringing it up to 40, & a pay scale thats quite generous at the top end. With the ministry's heavy involvement in this scheme, I dont think you need have concerns about reliable pay & medical, pension, etc being done by the book.

As its an untested program, I think you can anticipate trial & error & a good bit of chaos at the outset. Koreans are notorious for cobbling together projects on the fly. This might be good or bad -- you might get some considerable say in helping create a cool program, or much of it might just seem wrongheaded & frustrating. Promises to be an interesting challenge.

I liked the tone of the response you got from the coordinator that you posted in another thread, sounded sensible, realistic, & articulate. In your shoes, I think I'd give it a shot.

[mslaoshi]

Schwa and friend,

Thank you! I expect chaos in the beginning. Like you said, this could be good or bad, depending upon how I look at it. Generally, I deal well with ambiguity. Sorry about putting up the same thread. I guess I was freaking out a little bit. Also, I didn't want to solely put up a post with the long email because I was afraid it would scare people away--it was so long!

To tell the truth, I've never traveled outside of the U.S. I used to travel around the country, but I started school full-time (while working part-time) 6 years ago, and I've become a little static in my sedentary state. I think this experience is just the jump-start I need. So far, I love teaching English in Chinatown. And I LOVE kim chee.

mslaoshi

I just got another email. I may post it to see what you think.

[Wishmaster]

Yeah...but just wait until you get to Korea. Then reality will strike you. By the way, they will say anything to get you over here. Anything. Remember, the contract is a working agreement and is not definite. As most people know, the contracts are equivalent to toilet paper here. Not worth anything(except in the school's interest). Just be sure that you really do all of your homework before you come here.

[just because]

Funded by the government......have you seen the political scene here lately and don't even start about EPIK.

I can see one big failure happening with this Englishtown project. Sounds like one big hagwon to me.

Sorry to dampen your enthusiams but I have been here long enough to know.

[Bunnymonster]

check with them, we had adverts for Englishtown Kicking round our staffroom a couple of weeks back that wanted you to work SEVEN days a week. Take everything with a *big* grain of salt, keep smiling at all times and if worst comes to the worst leave yourself outs (in particular your airfare home) then you minimise your potential losses. If the job is as is claimed it could be fun, unless you get a kindie class like mine.....................................
P

[mslaoshi]

Bunnymonster and friends,

Scary! I am not sure how to check that out. I guess I need to make sure the contract is very specific. They said it was 9--5 m--f. I have an out if things go wrong. Please get back to me if you hear anything else.

Thanks,

mslaoshi