Korean Job Discussion Forums

[onlyJbear]

Hiya guys

A recruiter has been telling me how wonderful this school is. The contract seems fine, but I would be the only foreign teacher working in the school and this has made be a bit hesitant.

Does anyone have information on this school? I would be very appreciative.

[earthquakez]

This is a franchise and how the school is depends on the individual owner. These schools are all over Korea, I've heard good things about some (sorry no info on Ulsan) and bad things about others.

How inexperienced are you? Personally I love working at academies/hagwons in Korea where I'm the only foreigner as I'm a very experienced teacher and have no problems coming up with my own material etc as needed.

If you're the only foreigner then usually you're not expected to get involved in the downside of being a Korean teaching English - that is the petty rubbish that goes on like long meetings where nothing productive gets done etc.

A potential trap is trying to make friends with the Korean teachers. I don't recommend it esp if you're a female. Be nice and polite, go to the after work dinners etc with your boss and all the staff but don't make moves to hang out with other teachers if you're the only foreigner.

I've heard too many first-hand true stories of lovely, friendly foreign ladies getting hurt and messed around by group dynamics of petty, competitive, heirarchical Korean women. They all made the mistake of trying to be friends and of doing things for their co-workers that they as non Koreans should have waited to be given.

I am friendly (a male Brit) but don't get involved in friendships and relationships with Korean co workers as a rule. For a start I aint attracted to Korean women because for me they have to be confident in being their own person and Koreans are obsessed with what other Koreans in a group think.

I also find beneath the pretty facade there's not much thinking going on about the world or current events, and there's an overwhelming desire to live their lives according to how other Koreans tell them to live it. This often includes getting married because, well, Koreans must all get married even if their partner doesn't really care that much about them.

So if you have some teaching experience you should be able to handle the classes. If you are new to Korea remember that the powerplays going on in the workplace make young Koreans subject to older Koreans' opinions and as a foreigner you'll come last no matter how good a friend you are if your Korean 'friends' care more about what non friend Koreans think of them.

And in the workplace they play this game very well to the disadvantage of the foreigner. Loyalty doesn't usually apply to foreigners.

[onlyJbear]

Thank you Earthquakez. Ideally I would like to go to Busan but I'm having zero luck with recruiters. A few have told me that as I'm not American I won't be able to secure a position in Busan as it's so popular

[busanliving]

There are about 20 GnBs in Ulsan, all run independently so it all depends on which one you are asking about.

[onlyJbear]

I have decided to pass on GnB as I would prefer to work with other foreign teachers. Think it could be hard to adjust to a new life/culture if I was the only foreign teacher.

[busanliving]

Most schools in Ulsan only have one teacher, because of that its really easy to meet new people. The GnBs are usually really easy, have few responsibilities and most of the ones in Ulsan have a good reputation. A lot of the schools with several foreign teachers are the big chains which are much more likely to rip you off. Take a balanced view and not just one persons view who has scared you out if what was probably a really good job if its the GnB I know currently hiring in Ulsan.

[onlyJbear]

Thank you for the replies