Korean Job Discussion Forums

[maemae28]

Hi everyone. Just got an offer for kwonsun high school in Suwon and ELS English school in suwon. Anyone teach at either place before and have any insight to share? Would be very appreciated! Can't find much online so thought I would post here.

[Mr Crowley]

Kwonsun High School is near the Suwon Bus Terminal.There are plenty of buses that will take you to Suwon station, and/or Seoul. The Kwonsun Gu area is not far from Ingye Dong and Yongtong Gu.

[matthews_world]

That being said, Yongtong-dong has a large foreigner community. Many amenities nearby.

With a large hagwon like that, there will sure to be other foreign co-workers to get to know where as with public school, you might feel alone, but you'll be paid on time and vacations are always a plus.

[maemae28]

Mr Crowley thanks for the info. It would be very convenient to be close to the bus terminal.

Matthews world, thanks for your input as well! Those are absolutely worth considering.

Now if only someone with experience at either school would reply...

[maemae28]

Alright, update time.

I misunderstood the name of the hagwon. It's actually EOS language school in Suwon. I found one blog of a girl who worked there who personally loved it, because she was favored for "being pretty, upbeat, and nice," but while she was there two girls quit and did a midnight run. It seemed to start after complaining about one late paycheck and then these two were badgered by Mr. and Mrs. Director seemingly bad enough they decided to leave. The blogger girl stayed and completed her contract and was very happy.

This seems to be a large chain hagwon, and should be reliable, right? I am thinking I will still consider this as a viable option... or would that be foolish?

The kwunson high school also has me confused. They do not currently have an english teacher this year, only chinese, and I find this a little odd. They seem to be a well established school, but no current esl? What might be the reason for this?

As always, insight is appreciated!

[ttompatz]

It is a single school (unless Mr. Kim opened another branch). If people has issues it likely would have been with the Korean "head teacher". They come and go on a regular basis and have varied from decent to a "pain-in-the-butt-know-it-all-who-knew-nothing".

I worked there back in 2003/4 and it was OK. The housing was decent and larger than most FTs got. It is a 5 minute walk from Home Plus and there are buses to just about everywhere.

It is a big hagwan (4 floor, freestanding building) with pool, computer room, library, gym and other amenities.

The only downsides are that:

- you work KG in the mornings (9-12) and elementary ESL from 3:00-6:30 in the afternoons. Lunch is supplied if you want it but walking home for an extended lunch is also an option.

-they didn't then and I suspect now as well, don't pay into NPS or NHIC and you get taxed as a private contractor (3.3%).

It is OK for what it is.

Given the option, I would take the PS job.

.

[maemae28]

ttompatz: Thanks for the info. It's great to get feedback from someoen who worked there.

Do you think it would make a difference if applying through GEPIK and according to that program, the school is legally obligated to pay into NPS and NHIC? Sure, they could just not pay it, but if it is written into the contract, would there be a good chance it was getting paid?

And as far as the tax goes, being from the states and going to Korea to work would exempt me from taxes (for the first two years) as far as I'm understanding?

[ttompatz]

[DIsbell]

Worked at EOS in 2009. No Pension, no Health Insurance, and got 11-monthed (managed to get flight money and pro-rated severance, though). During the time I was there, I saw half a dozen midnight runs by foreigners, and even a couple by Korean teachers (one even went to Japan for a couple weeks just to escape being hounded by phone. Her phone was full of messages when she came back. One had the manager come to her home and her husband threatened to call the police before the manager left). There were 3 different head teachers in my first 6 months. Problems with overtime not being paid. Basically no curriculum in place (5 minutes before class: ok, here are the three pages you should teach today) and everything is last minute. Awful management with constantly changing rules/regulations/attire/etc. I had a crap apartment to boot.

The schedule is kindy from 9-12 and then elementary starts at 3 like Ttom said, but when I was there sometimes you'd have to teach until 7:40 or so. Long freakin' days. Also your schedule seemed to change every month- just really minor changes mostly, but it just made no sense.

Ttompatz is right though, the area is great. Decent sized foreign staff which is nice to have for your first year.

Take the public school job.