Korean Job Discussion Forums

[truecolors]

I just started contacting recruiters for a first-time teaching gig in Korea. One of them said that he would only have public school jobs for me and I should wait to apply for August 2012. Now I know he's only one person so his word is not the end all and be all of teaching opportunities out there but any ideas would he think that I wouldn't be good for hagwon jobs? I don't have any TEFL certifications or specific prior experience teaching ESL... so I don't know if that's a factor. Or it could just be my race (I'm black).

[safiresteele]

I am half korean and black and I ran into a similar issue last week. In my case though, the recruiter didn't want to bother with me at all. He told me that he did not have any private institute jobs available even though there were quite a few on their website. He gave me EPIK's website and told me to apply there even though I told him that I have no interest in working at a public school. I questioned the recruiter about this and below was his response.

"Straightforwardly speaking most private institutes prefer caucasian native teachers. That is why you were recommended to apply for public school position through www.epik.go.kr. EPIK is a government organization that manages hiring process for public schools nationwide. Public schools welcome F4 and E2 holders."

All I can do is keep applying and hope that I will be offered a job soon. Good luck to you.

[overdrive2023x]

Unfortunately, the recruiter is right. Hagwons prefer caucasians, and many times discriminate against other races of people, even Korean Americans (which is ironic). Because parents can choose to pay or move to a different hagwon, this largely controls how Hagwons operate. They want their students to learn from what in their mind is a true "American, Aussie, Brit, etc."

About a year ago, in the ESL Institute I work at here in the US, a Korean teacher that was taking a TEFL program at our school, even told another student who was interested in teaching in Korea (who was black), that there was a slim chance that she would be able to do so. I was kind of shocked by how blunt she was, but then again, she told her her country's general opinion on an issue.

So I would just try to initially go there as a Public School teacher. Make a difference in the average kids' lives that don't have rich snobby parents wanting a "white" only teacher. Remember when we were growing up in school and we had that one standout teacher that made us think differently about a subject because they were so cool? Be that guy... or girl.

[jrwhite82]

Sorry to hear about your troubles. But don't let one recruiter discourage you. There are black teachers in Korea that work at hagwons, (quite a few actually).

Apply with [email protected] and inquire about this position (Don't know what's up with the formatting):

SUNCHEON/mid- to late-Febr uar y ****PREFERS AFRICAN-
AMERICAN
Location: Suncheon city, J eollanamdo
Name of the school: Let's Talk Language School
Salar y: 2.2 mil won
Star ting date: by end of Febr uar y, 2011
Type of students: Elementar y & Middle school students
Maximum teaching hour s per week: 30hour
Wor king hour s: 1:30pm~8:30pm
Wor king week: mon~fr iday
Over time payment: 18,000won~20,000won per hour
Number of cur r ent for eign instr uctor s in this institute:1
Type of housing: Single housing
Air far e: Pr epaid/fr ee of char ge
Contr act Completion bonus: yes, one month salar y
Holidays: 10 days of paid vacation in addition to public holidays
Medical Insur ance: 50% paid by employer

As for the poster above who is half Korean, you should get your F4 visa and you will find a lot more freedom in finding work, especially if you are here on the ground. There is a stereotype here that African-Americans don't speak "American English". (whatever that means...) If they heard you speak in person, they would be less likely to let this stereotype influence them.

But unfortunately, your race will work against you here during the job search. And there are no laws in Korea barring discrimination on the basis of race.

[truecolors]

Thanks for the tips. I've been doing my research so I'm not surprised. Just gotta keep looking. I'm not against public schools, I just want to look for as many opportunities as I possibly can.

[northway]

Star Teachers is willing to work with minority candidates, FWIW.

On edit: my school doesn't have an issue with minorities either, if you're looking for a March position (and, preferably, if you're female).

[AsiaESLbound]

I'll take the PS job any day over the hagwon gamble. While PS is bit of a mystery for you to solve on your own all by yourself with no peers nor feedback, hagwons are sure to work the frak out of you, play intimidation tactics on you, and then play you down that you are an embarrassment when you have to remind them to pay you and how much. I wish I had the answer other than telling one to fork over $$$ for their own trip over there to interview in person in approaching the job search as YOU shopping for the right job fit instead of school directors shopping for you on account of your appearance alone. Good luck finding the right job fit for you.

[jamasian]

I'm black and when I started applying I had a few offers from Hagwons so they are out there. One of my recruiters is still sending me offers. I picked up a public school job in yeosu though. I live in suncheon about 20min away from work.

If you want I can look through my recruiter list. I kept a list of who was helpful and who wasn't hehehe

[cdnesl]

[ThingsComeAround]

@ the OP & safiresteele

find a new recruiter.

Some hagwons and Some public schools prefer Caucasians. They are actually in the minority, however recruiters are as shady as used car dealers. They only want to push what they think others want, so it could slow you down a tad.

Parents actually don't care what race you are. If you are patient and kids like you, then they will always go to bat for you.

[rayne]

[jrwhite82]

[ThingsComeAround]

@jrwhite

They are still in the minority. Hagwon owners aren't stupid- if they are good they won't fire you because a parent complains about skin color.

I've known several non-white teachers here- Overseas Korean, Chinese, Black and Hispanic people that have good jobs and aren't suffering workplace discrimination.

On the flip side, I've also heard of places that refuse to hire non-whites (public schools too) so you really have to take it all with a grain of salt. Apply, apply, apply and don't stop until you get here

[jakeciana]

There is even a post caucasians are preferred. LOL.

[Weigookin74]