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jen_blue
Joined: 24 Oct 2011
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 Posted: Tue Apr 14, 2015 3:36 am Post subject: Options to stay in Korea - responses much appreciated. |
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Hello
I'm finished with SMOE in Aug and won't be resigning for another year here. However, I would like to stop in Korea, Seoul ideally as I've got a good life here now and I don't want to move again. I'm hoping to save money to pursue a MSc next year.
I'm trying to work out how I can do this, hogwons seem to be the biggest swindle I've ever come across though although I'm told their are some reasonable "Mon and Pop" type places - any ideas on how to find these?
After-school programmes seem to be more promising.... but again any recommendations?
I'm not 100% sure of the reference I'm going to receive from my co-teachers, our relationship is not the best despite my best efforts. Is there any way to mitigate this? I would like to gauge what they're saying about me, is there any way of doing this? Are they likely to become more unpleasant when they realise I'm applying elsewhere (although I doubt they want to keep me anyway).
Any other suggestions?
Thanks for any advice. Its really appreciated. |
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tardisrider
Joined: 13 Mar 2003
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Tue Apr 14, 2015 8:19 am Post subject: |
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| What is your visa status? |
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jen_blue
Joined: 24 Oct 2011
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| Posted: Tue Apr 14, 2015 3:43 pm Post subject: |
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E2
British. Have degree and Celta. |
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jimmyinkorea
Joined: 06 Nov 2013
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| Posted: Tue Apr 14, 2015 4:28 pm Post subject: |
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Your options are limited to those who can help you with a VISA.
Afterschool recruiters don't usually want to deal with E2s, they usually hire F visas, so I'm afraid your chances of getting a afterschool gig is pretty slim.
I would try to get into a public school prog such as EPIK/GEPIK if they have an intake in Aug. Else you can work for a big brand hagwon but that would mean working till late in eve. |
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furtakk
Joined: 02 Jun 2009
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| Posted: Tue Apr 14, 2015 5:11 pm Post subject: |
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After school companies do the bulk of their hiring for March and September to coincide with school semesters. That seems to work out nicely with your schedule. You won't see a lot of advertisements now, but you will start to see plenty in July/August.
Whether or not they hire E2s is dependent on the particular school, not the company as the school would be responsible for sponsoring the visa. The company I worked for was about 70% E2 / 30% F-visas to give you an idea.
Having PS experience will work in your favor. AS companies and schools seem to favor that. |
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SeoulNate
Joined: 04 Jun 2010
Location: Hyehwa
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| Posted: Tue Apr 14, 2015 5:58 pm Post subject: |
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| Nothing wrong w/ Hakwons. Just do your research, talk to the teachers and you can find plenty of good ones |
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jen_blue
Joined: 24 Oct 2011
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| Posted: Wed Apr 15, 2015 6:03 am Post subject: |
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| SeoulNate wrote: |
| Nothing wrong w/ Hakwons. Just do your research, talk to the teachers and you can find plenty of good ones |
I have reservations about hogwans and even people who say they have done their research often go on to say how they have been ripped off on one count or another....
Can you name any in particular I should look at?
Last edited by jen_blue on Thu Apr 16, 2015 5:12 am; edited 1 time in total |
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SeoulNate
Joined: 04 Jun 2010
Location: Hyehwa
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| Posted: Wed Apr 15, 2015 4:50 pm Post subject: |
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There are thousands of good hakwons to work at. People who say they did research obviously are blowing smoke if they still get ripped off.
If you want to stay in Korea and get a good job you are going to have to put in the work to actually get it done. Contact the recruiters and hakwons that are advertising, ask for references from former teachers, visit the place and check it out for yourself and select the best one. It isn't rocket science. |
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jen_blue
Joined: 24 Oct 2011
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| Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2015 5:20 am Post subject: |
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| SeoulNate wrote: |
There are thousands of good hakwons to work at. People who say they did research obviously are blowing smoke if they still get ripped off.
If you want to stay in Korea and get a good job you are going to have to put in the work to actually get it done. Contact the recruiters and hakwons that are advertising, ask for references from former teachers, visit the place and check it out for yourself and select the best one. It isn't rocket science. |
Seriously! Contracts are widely regarded as "guidance" in Asia and Korea is no different - maybe you haven't been here in Korea long enough to understand how things work, in which case you really shouldn't go around applying your western mentality here.
To those who are more experienced, maybe I should have phrased it differently, what can I expect as standard in a contract and what should I look at as being dodgy?
I'm by no means against hard work but the fact is that Hogwans seem to work on foreigners being naive and trying to apply our western values to their work enviroment, the owner of a hogwan has you by the short and curlies effectively as they have sponsor your visa and are under no obligation to offer you a Letter of Release (allowing you to obtain other employment). This I understand.
Again, can anyone offer any useful advice in looking for good hogwans, something "Mom and Pop" I'm told would likely suit me best.
Also any information regarding afterschool programmes?
Thanks |
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jen_blue
Joined: 24 Oct 2011
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| Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2015 5:20 am Post subject: |
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| SeoulNate wrote: |
There are thousands of good hakwons to work at. People who say they did research obviously are blowing smoke if they still get ripped off.
If you want to stay in Korea and get a good job you are going to have to put in the work to actually get it done. Contact the recruiters and hakwons that are advertising, ask for references from former teachers, visit the place and check it out for yourself and select the best one. It isn't rocket science. |
Seriously! Contracts are widely regarded as "guidance" in Asia and Korea is no different - maybe you haven't been here in Korea long enough to understand how things work, in which case you really shouldn't go around applying your western mentality here.
Maybe I should have phrased it differently, what can I expect as standard in a contract and what should I look at as being dodgy?
I'm by no means against hard work but the fact is that Hogwans seem to work on foreigners being naive and trying to apply our western values to their work enviroment, the owner of a hogwan has you by the short and curlies effectively as they have sponsor your visa and are under no obligation to offer you a Letter of Release (allowing you to obtain other employment). This I understand.
Again, can anyone offer any useful advice in looking for good hogwans, something "Mom and Pop" I'm told would likely suit me best.
Also any information regarding afterschool programmes? |
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Chaparrastique
Joined: 01 Jan 2014
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| Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2015 6:23 am Post subject: |
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| jen_blue wrote: |
| maybe you haven't been here in Korea long enough to understand how things work, in which case you really shouldn't go around applying your western mentality here. |
Gotta luv a newbie accusing another newbie of being a newbie.  |
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earthquakez
Joined: 10 Nov 2010
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| Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2015 6:52 am Post subject: |
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| jen_blue wrote: |
| SeoulNate wrote: |
There are thousands of good hakwons to work at. People who say they did research obviously are blowing smoke if they still get ripped off.
If you want to stay in Korea and get a good job you are going to have to put in the work to actually get it done. Contact the recruiters and hakwons that are advertising, ask for references from former teachers, visit the place and check it out for yourself and select the best one. It isn't rocket science. |
Seriously! Contracts are widely regarded as "guidance" in Asia and Korea is no different - maybe you haven't been here in Korea long enough to understand how things work, in which case you really shouldn't go around applying your western mentality here.
So somebody answered your question reasonably (although I don't agree with their opinion on the numbers of decent hagwons as there never were that many when conditions in Korea for foreign teachers were better) and advised you to do your homework. You then patronise them and let them know you apparently understand Korea better than they do. Are you sure you think you have a future in Korea?
To those who are more experienced, maybe I should have phrased it differently, what can I expect as standard in a contract and what should I look at as being dodgy?
Learn to read Korean so you can understand any contract offered to you in its true meaning. The Korean part is the one legally applicable rather than the English written underneath. As for 'dodgy', it's not so much that as there are expectations from most hagwons that you don't take real holidays. 'National holidays' and 5 to 10 days in a calendar year are standard vacation times in such contracts.
I'm by no means against hard work but the fact is that Hogwans seem to work on foreigners being naive and trying to apply our western values to their work enviroment, the owner of a hogwan has you by the short and curlies effectively as they have sponsor your visa and are under no obligation to offer you a Letter of Release (allowing you to obtain other employment). This I understand.
You are confusing what some manipulative/rotten K employers think they can do - ie withhold a letter of release - and what labour law actually says can be done. Your employer is obliged to give you one if you request it and if you persist you will get one from even slippery employers provided you put it in writing and contact them asking for it until they give it to you.
Again, can anyone offer any useful advice in looking for good hogwans, something "Mom and Pop" I'm told would likely suit me best.
You were given a reasonable answer on this - to do your homework. That involves getting off your duff and looking around your local area or in the big cities (transportation between cities is good in Korea), contacting recruiters, etc.
Also any information regarding afterschool programmes?
No. And as they are highly sought after, I doubt anyone wants to tip you off with your attitude.
I advise you to leave Korea anyway. It is not the kind of country where the authorities and society want foreigners including native English speakers to be around for long unless they are married to Koreans or are business people and even then it can be hard for those foreigners. If they did, Korea would offer the equivalent of the Specialist in Humanities visa that Japan does. And I doubt you will get a teaching job in Japan with your attitude.
Thanks
You're welcome.
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Last edited by earthquakez on Thu Apr 16, 2015 6:54 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Sector7G
Joined: 24 May 2008
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| Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2015 6:54 am Post subject: |
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| jen_blue wrote: |
Seriously! Contracts are widely regarded as "guidance" in Asia and Korea is no different - maybe you haven't been here in Korea long enough to understand how things work, in which case you really shouldn't go around applying your western mentality here.
To those who are more experienced, maybe I should have phrased it differently, what can I expect as standard in a contract and what should I look at as being dodgy?
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There is a contract review thread elsewhere on Dave's, but since you don't have much faith in contracts here, your best bet is to do some research and get some references from former teachers. Oh, wait.... SeoulNate already gave that advice and you rejected it because he hasn't been in Korea long enough even though it appears he has been there longer than you. But seriously, besides a contract review and references, what other indicator do you think you will find that will give you the ironclad guarantee you seem to be looking for?
| jen_blue wrote: |
Are they likely to become more unpleasant when they realise I'm applying elsewhere (although I doubt they want to keep me anyway).
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They may have a party.
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happyinhenan
Joined: 01 Feb 2015
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| Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2015 9:46 pm Post subject: |
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| jen_blue wrote: |
| SeoulNate wrote: |
| Nothing wrong w/ Hakwons. Just do your research, talk to the teachers and you can find plenty of good ones |
I have reservations about hogwans and even people who say they have done their research often go on to say how they have been ripped off on one count or another....
Can you name any in particular I should look at? |
Damn!
Just go around the local hagwons in your area, pop in and arrange an interview, ask them questions, talk to some of the teachers if you can.
You have to be proactive.
I laughed at your misjudged bollocking of SeoulNate - that fella has been around a while, long enough not to be labelled noob. |
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SeoulNate
Joined: 04 Jun 2010
Location: Hyehwa
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| Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2015 9:56 pm Post subject: |
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| Let me be frank, it is now abundantly clear why your current school does not wish to rehire you. I highly doubt you will find any reputable place to work at with your attitude and piss poor reviews from former employers. |
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