Korean Job Discussion Forums

[youtuber]

So another huge Japanese ESL employer is probably going bust. Refer to this eslcafe thread:

http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=84375&start=0

In the past couple of years, this will make 3 of Japan's esl industry titans that have gone under (NOVA, GEOS, and likely Interac)

Salaries have been decreasing steadily there and schools are hiring the cheapest teachers they can get. Hours worked are frequently stated as 29.5 to avoid paying benefits, despite being at the school for 40 or more hours:

http://search.japantimes.co.jp/rss/nn20080105f1.html


I just don't see how Korea will fare any better in the future. Korea seems to follow like a puppy dog in the steps of big brother Japan and looks to them as a model. Japan and Korea are very similar in all respects and if Japan can't cut it, why can Korea?

Please discuss.

[3DR]

Korea will become the current Japan, then everyone will head to China until China follows suit

[Louis VI]

[Troglodyte]

I think we've still got time before Korea gets up to the level of Japan.

But Vietnam seems like a pretty good option these days. I'm thinking of going to Vietnam next time I come to Asia.

[chicken_punch]

Interact is NOT a school. It is more like a recruiter that takes nearly half of the teachers salary. Them going away can be a good thing for the current teachers there.

[ttompatz]

[SinclairLondon]

My girfriend's school has 700 students. About 500 elementary at 240,000 a month and 200 middle school students at 220,000 a month. 6 foreign teachers, 13 Korean teachers, 3 desk teachers. Do the math.

[Epik_Teacher]

Everyone is in economic trouble, the USA, China, Europe, S. America, etc... The only reason markets haven't collapsed yet is because the've thrown $TRILLIONS at it, like the USA. The collapse is coming soon and Korea will get hit MUCH worse than 1997. When it does come, it will hit Korea beause Korea is so dependant on exports. The aftermath is that Korea's economy will crash, discretional spending like hakwans will plummet and lots of them will go belly up-JUST LIKE IN 1997.

Social spending will be cut, programs like EPIK will dry up and wither on the vine. There will be a mass exodous of ESL "teachers" out of Korea. And no, ESL in Korea is NOT a profession. ESL in Korea is a bit above selling used cars. And all those BA's who think they are making a contribution or even a difference are going to get a hard, cold slap in the face. Korean's don't love you or generally even like you. We have been a comodity in the ESL industry, that's all.

Look at the stats, even the US Government advises against teaching in Korea. Look at all the greed, corruption and backstabbing that goes on. Teachers are screwed and back stabbed every day. Have plan B ready, because there is about a year or a year and a half and the bottom will completely drop out of the ESL market. In the meantime, it will get much worse slowly but surely. The "Golden Age" of teaching in Korea are coming to a close.

[take a rest]

No, this will not happen in Korea.

It seems like the problem wasn't supply and demand-related... it seems like there was plenty of work but some greedy b-tards decided they didn't want to pay people for it.

Nova collapsed because it was getting a poor reputation/lying to its customers... I worked there, I know. The actual lessons and 'curriculum' were pretty much a joke, Nova was all about selling lessons and hooking people in with a 'credits' scheme that too many people had bad things to say about.

As long as there's a demand for English in Asia, there will be ESL jobs. If they said that the schools had to close because people didn't want to learn English anymore, then we would be in trouble.

[take a rest]

[youtuber]

[southernman]

Being an English speaker is seen as a good way to get job advancement and to secure a good job in the first place in Korea.

This has been the fact for long enough, it won't change overnight or anytime soon.

The President promotes English learning, Mothers want their children to study English. Public schools are starting to offer more and more cheap afterschool English classes.At my school, the afterschool programme only costs 50 000 Won per month per student. One class a day. The foreign teacher gets 50 000 Won a class.

Hagwons will always survive, no one can deny parents are really motivated for their children to succeed at school and in their studies.

There's no need to be running scared and thinking of bailing out now. Having several backup plans is just common sense though, not just in Korea but in any job in any country. Especially in this worldwide recession

[Radius]

Im just hoping Korea doesnt start knocking down the salaries and benfits. ANyone know if people are still catching word about teaching ESL in Korea in their homelands and coming over here? is it slowing down yet? damn facebook and myspace!

[liveinkorea316]

The Esl Industry in Korea will slow down when English stops being the global language for commerce and when they have already learned it well enough that they don't need foreign teachers anymore.

To both of those situations i give it at least another 40 years. We are fine.

[PatrickGHBusan]

Epik, you forgot to include floods, quakes, famine, plague and four horsemen riding in.

About the Ops questions, what is happening in Japan may happen in Korea but as Tom pointed out, the system is set up differently and therefore less vulnerable in the way Japan's industry is.