Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Jellybeanem]

This is my first week in Korea I'm living in Ulsan which I find a little too small and my hog won has changed many things they promised me including working hours,holiday and lunch time break,I have 20 mins instead of the promised hour.the contract is ambiguous so they have argued around it.

I have skipped stage one of culture shock I'm firmly in stage two.is this normal? or do I just hate my employer and city?

Also if I wanted to leave after 6 months would I still have to pay the air fair back? my contract says I do,but I've read in other places by law you don't have to pay back if you do six months?

[newb]

[dairyairy]

Don't let them change anything. Too many other teachers just go along with whatever the schools say and do. Don't be a doormat. This can happen even with public schools.

[Ibsen]

[busanliving]

Where in Ulsan are you? It's actually a huge city with lots of different areas. Check out ulsanonline.com and go exploring!

[ajuma]

Ok sweetie...take a deep breath and relax. Every school and every city has their good points and bad.

Let's tackle the work environment first. What exactly does your contract say, and how is the school getting around it? Are you working the number of hours/classes specified in the contract? Is a 20 minute lunch really a deal-breaker? Since you're only getting 20 minutes, does that mean you come in later or leave earlier?

Are you having a tough time dealing with the students? Could you use some suggestions on teaching and/or classroom management? Teaching ANYWHERE for the first time is a harrowing experience, even if it's in your own country. You're the teacher for heaven sakes. You're supposed to know how to do everything, right???? Of course not right! It's a steep learning curve, but if you put some effort into it, you'll be amazed at how well you can do.


Now, for Ulsan. Why do you feel it's too small? Is it that you haven't met many other foreigners? True story: When I came to Korea for the first time, I was about 45 minutes from downtown Ulsan...out near the airport. There were no other foreigners in my small town and it was one solid month before I saw or spoke with another foreigner.

But then I made one friend...and she introduced me to HER friends...and they introduced me to THEIR friends. Back in the day (1996) there were only about 70 or so foreigners in Ulsan and pretty soon I knew almost all of them. You've only been there for a week. Give it some time. Go for a walk, find out all your neighborhood has to offer. Then take a bus somewhere. Scary the first time, I know...but if you have your address written in Korean in your pocket along with 10,000 won, you can always get home by taxi.

Good luck and hang in there! It's well worth it!!

[sirius black]

First, Ulsan has over 1 million people. That would make it a pretty large city in America or Canada. There are foreigner spots. Once you hit one or two, you're fine.

Second, culture shock is normal and frankly, you should be expecting. Even a seasoned traveler. It being a surprise shouldn't be a surprise.

Third, as for your hogwon, this is a good example of why people should do research. More than likelly they pulled the same thing with the last foreigner...or tried to. Talking to a current/former teacher is a MUST. You're traveling thousands of miles and putting your faith in someone or some business you know nothing about. There are times you do your research and there are still surprises. Make it known that while you are not inflexible, you took the job based on the main parts of your contract such as work hours, etc. Later on we can mutually agree to change some things but its a show of bad faith not to adhere to the contract from the start.

[YTMND]

[fosterman]

[PatrickGHBusan]

[Milwaukiedave]

Culture shock is normal. My first job was probably worse that what you have now. It took me a few months before I was comfortable.

Getting out and meeting people helps.