Korean Job Discussion Forums

[No_hite_pls]

What are the pay ranges for international schools? What's the starting pay like? How about after 10 years?

How many teaching hours a week is average?


Do Science/Math teachers get higher pay?

What is the demand like? Are teaching couples with dependents (2) marketable?


Thank you

[thebearofbundang]

I am starting at my second International School in September.

My first year's salary will be around 45,000,000 KRW (not including the housing allowance). I am choosing the housing allowance of 550,000 KRW per month on top of this because I have a wife and a son, but there is an option for housing as well. I will receive an extra 1,000,000 KRW on my salary if I am asked to return for a second year. All teachers are paid the same regardless of what grade level or subject they teach.


I must be at the school by 8AM and can leave no earlier than 4:10PM (40 minutes after final bell). Work days are M-F. Teaching Hours are 8:30-3:30 with a 50 minute lunch.


There is little demand. There are lots of applicants.

The minimum requirements for an interview at my school are:
-Bachelor Degree in anything and a Bachelor of Education Degree.
-You must be certified as a teacher in your home country (Valid Certification Card is required).
-2 References from your home country.
- Teaching experience in NA was not required, but I was told all teachers at the school have experience teaching in NA (the school works off of American curriculum).

Vacation is 2 weeks in winter. 1 Week in March. All Korean Holidays. Summer break is 2 months (July and August).

There were 2 couples working at my last school. Their children could attend the school tuition free.I believe this is a general policy for most International Schools.


Hope this helps.

[No_hite_pls]

Thanks thebearofbundang

[ttompatz]

In my personal experience (in Korea and elsewhere in Asia) for real (as in internationally accredited schools - not just "international" in name):

Salaries are usually competitive in the US$40-60k range PLUS benefits (air, housing, medical, pension, family relocation assistance, tuition for kids, etc).

Job hunting IS competitive as well.
Short answers to your questions:
http://www.searchassociates.com/Candidates/Get-Started.aspx#el01
http://www.searchassociates.com/Candidates/FAQs.aspx#

CURRENT certification (licensure) as a teacher is almost universally preferred but only a "requirement" in about 60% of cases.

Minimum credentials are usually either a B.Ed/PGCE, BA/B.Ed (often M.Ed) AND several years of classroom experience.

EFL boards are NOT the place to be looking for jobs of this nature.

http://www.tieonline.com
http://www.ibo.org (apply directly to schools and NOT the IBO)
http://www.tes.co.uk/jobs (pick a corner of the planet and work from there).
http://www.searchassociates.com/
http://www.searchassociates.com/Job-Fairs/Default.aspx (job fairs)
and there are others as well. Just google them.

Math and the Sciences (physics, chemistry) positions (especially at the high school level) are usually less competitive (fewer applicants) if you are qualified to teach those subjects.

If you are an "English" (not EFL) teacher then look at HongKong NET or Taiwan for some decent options in the government systems. They required teacher certifications and the remuneration packages are competitive with international schools.

.

[thebearofbundang]

The quickest way to find out if it is an actual International school in my opinion is to ask about the length of the school year and to ask what requirements students must meet in order to enrol at the school. You should be offered around 3 months of vacation over the year on top of all Korean Holidays and students or their parents should hold a foreign passport and have spent time abroad.

Also, you can look up the website of the school. International schools generally have 5 star facilities and tuition will be around 20,000,000 Won per year.

[deekman81]

My wife has been working at an international school here in Seoul for the last six years. It is considered a "starter" school by many in the international school community, in that, the school tends to hire new graduates from the United States and Canada.

She was hired at her school with an MA in Education and Special Needs Development. She makes about 39kUSD a year and she is a grade 3 teacher. I know other teachers at this school make about 50 - 60k a year in the math and sciences program. She gets paid in USD and in Korean WON (2300$ USD, 1.1KW) every month.

The perks of her job are that we have a three bedroom apartment that is fully furnished right near the school. She gets about 13 weeks of holidays a year and she has a matched pension/401k. It's a pretty good school, but she is looking to move on to other schools that pay a little more and have more experienced teachers. She is currently has the most seniority at the school .
Also, our son will get to go to school for free. As the other poster stated, this is pretty standard, although I have heard that most international schools only cover 2 children. On the other hand, I have a friend who grew up in international schools and had 8 brothers and sisters who had their tuition all covered by various international schools around the world.

Hope this helps!
Good luck and good travels!