Korean Job Discussion Forums

[michellegm15]

Anyone ever worked in a new hogwan??

I just got what looks like a pretty nice job offer in a new school in Jeonju. The contract is pretty nice. Good pay, more sick days than usually offered, short working hours, very reasonable contract with much consideration toward my as well as his interests, very friendly and nice director who has lived in the USA for many years (nice to shrink the cultural boundaries!!) who has given me a few references from his American colleagues but obviously cannot give me any refs from English teachers.

The references have been coming in positively, and I have a pretty good vibe from this guy. It will be me, one other English teacher, and the director teaching in this school.

Has anyone worked at a new hogwan before? Anything I should watch out for...like chances of shutting down, etc.? Any other ideas of feeling out the situation?

[ttompatz]

[munybse]

Living in the USA dosen't always "shrink" the cultural boundaries. It just may mean they speak better English than most.

[Skippy]

New hagwons can be both. Things can start great then slowly or even quickly sour. Owner/Boss wants to change things up so decides to try new things like Kindergarten classes - so now you have to come in early. Or not enough students but owner has a friend who needs a teacher across town once or twice a week. Now you are travelling.

Even just the basic of business does not grow and the school flops. You will be a big drain of resources so they will want to let you go.

Also the problem of what to do with things like immigration/apartment/banking etc will be more problematic as they have no experience wrangling whitey/waygooks. That can so easily blow up in your face. Boss does not understand rules about immigration and does no register or do the proper paperwork and you could be facing fines or even deportation.

Try the job BUT I would prepare for the worst. Get more paperwork ready, keep an eye out for future jobs, learn all the details of living in Korea from immigration to pension to banking, and so on. So when the fecal matter hits the fan you are ready.

[Nester Noodlemon]

Imagine someone opens a new parachute factory, that will produce newly designed parachutes. To market this parachute, the boss of the factory needs a Native English Speaker to jump out of an airplane wearing the newly designed item.

Do you want to be that person?

[michellegm15]

Think it's any better if he took over an existing academy to transform it into an English academy?

His personal references came in, glowing reviews, so I'm seriously thinking about it...

[murmanjake]

i came in as the first teacher at a start-up and it's been going well. I'd worked with the owner previously, and she busts her ass to keep afloat, but we're still here after about a year.