Korean Job Discussion Forums

[daejeonsv]

I was wondering if anyone knew the fate of whether or not we're going to get re-signed or not.

Yes, I have heard of the cuts in Seoul and Busan. No, I'm not living there or close to either city. I'm teaching at a high school in Jeollabuk-do and would really like to stay here another year if it's possible.

I'm trying to get a feel if anyone has heard about re-signings, budget cuts for this province, or anything related to the subject.

Thanks!

[Weigookin74]

WHy don't you email your POE supervisor or co-ordinator and find out? They'll prob answer better than hearsay will. (But, wait a month until after the election settles and they'll be better able to answer your questions.)

[daejeonsv]

1) As of last month my province didn't have a coordinator for foreign teachers. I called to ask a question about housing and there was no one to speak to. I was told to ask my co-teacher. Lovely.

2) My co-teacher said to ask the provincial office. Again, lovely.

My main purpose was to see if anyone from the province had heard anything about their own contract, not if anyone had heard a rumor. Just trying to see if anyone had the option to re-sign or if they are in the dark as well.

[YTMND]

That's the thing. Chances are you won't know about it. Schools with people already proficient in English will cut costs and not hire native English speakers.

I would try to get a Korean friend to call them up and ask.

[Modernist]

Hmm, are you on a contract with the province directly? I heard about a provincial program for Jeollanam, but not before for Jeollabuk. Or were you hired through funding from the city/county?

If you used a recruiter, you COULD at least try to see if they've heard anything--they often have connections and can see how the wind is blowing sometimes.

I agree with YTMND that the English proficiency of the students and teachers may play a role. If it's pretty bad, that's better for you. If it's quite good [especially that of the teachers], maybe not.

And then the standard stuff. Do you get along with the CTs? Do you make nice with the principal and VP? Do you keep your head down and not make trouble? Do the kids like you [within reason]? Do you wave at them and say 'hello!' two hundred times a day? Believe it or not, this might matter.

One strategy, if you can stand it, is to mention regularly how much you want to stay, you like the school and the kids and your apartment. You want more time to try more Korean food [they'll love that!] and learn the language and see more of the beautiful country and on and on. Say it with a big smile every time you're talking to anyone. I'd suggest not laying it on too thick, but as should be obvious, on this subject there's no such thing as 'too thick' for Koreans. Tell the kids too, you never know whose parents are influential in your city.

And remember, they leave things down to the last second all the time here. My contract was down to 10 weeks and not a word. I finally just flat-out asked my head CT what the school was planning to do. He seemed not to have even thought about it until I brought it up [but said he wanted me to re-sign]. So no news is not necessarily bad news.

[daejeonsv]

I hadn't thought about contacting my recruiter, that's a really good idea. I'll get on that and see if he knows anything.

Things at my school couldn't be better. I have good rapport with all of my co-teachers plus the rest of the staff including the principal and VP. I eat school lunch, was at work last week with a sinus infection, and talk to the boys in the hallway as we pass between classes. I have no worry about a review from the school, just the budget and demand.