Korean Job Discussion Forums

[PedanticGiraffe]

I'm pretty sure there are a million EPIK vs Private threads, but this one is more personal, hence it's own thread. It just so happens that I'm fortunate enough to be in the position where I have a few potential positions lined up, one being in the EPIK program, whilst the others are hagwons in and around Seoul and Busan.

I've never been to Korea before and the pay isn't much of an issue, I'm looking to have fun not pay off any debts. I know that EPIK is a lottery of location, whilst hagwons are a lottery of stability and atmosphere. The hagwons for which I have possible offers have reviews ranging from bad (slave-drivers) to okay/good (they pay well, on time, fair, but work you hard).

I worry that all work and no play will turn me into a crazy giraffe but at the same time I really don't want to be sent off to some little town in the middle of nowhere (I was born and raised in a town in the middle of nowhere; it wasn't fun).

So which lottery do you think is best to take? Is the stability of EPIK really worth it if you could get put anywhere? Are hagwons generally so bad that you should avoid them even if you get in a great location?

[pmwhittier]

You should definitely pick EPIK. No, wait, pick Hagwon! On second thought, I think EPIK is a good choice because it's public schools. But honestly, Hagwons are better paying. So you should definitely pick EPIK, because you don't need money and you just want to party!

But if you pick Hagwon, then you can pick your party locations more carefully. So you should definitely pick Hagwon. Unless you want daytime hours, which EPIK will offer. So pick EPIK.

But on the other hand, Hagwon is often nighttime hours, which means that you can party all night and sleep all day. So pick Hagwon. But some (many) Hagwons are terrible places. So pick EPIK. But you may get a crappy co-teacher. So pick Hagwon. Or EPIK. Or Hagwon.


Or maybe EPIK?

[wonkavite62]

You are lucky in that you have a choice. Some people don't get offered that many choices. Hopefully, you will be able to put the schools into 2 piles-acceptable versus unacceptable; or dodgy versus safe. The devil is in the details; thinking about the hagwons, do study the contract. Is there something there that you would be very uncomfortable with? I'll give an example. A friend of mine got a job in Bucheon, a really nice location between Seoul and Incheon. I was slightly envious! But it he had to be at school between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. and could not leave the building even if it was a free period. He had to spend lunch entertaining the kids. The job was stressful, in any case. It got too much and he ran away without telling the school. You don't want to be in that position, do you? My friend had known that having no breaks would be a problem-he had read the contract-but pulled the wool over his own eyes. I think he also had a lot of emotional issues.
Conversely, during my public school orientation in 2013, I met a Canadian teacher who had had an excellent experience in a large chain hagwon,

[wonkavite62]

As I was saying, this teacher had some faith in the hagwon system. She said that some of the bigger chains were more reliable and solid regarding pay and conditions. She had enjoyed teaching there and had appreciated the rent-free apartment. But and this is quite important, she would have done research on the school before signing the contract. She would have also talked to western people who had worked there, so that she'd know about pay, conditions, and how much time teachers have to spend on lesson preparation.. Her hagwon had had a curriculum in place for her, though, which made it easy.
There are some okay hagwons. They vary, so you need to be put in contact with their western staff before signing up. Only the western staff will tell you what it's really like. You ought to be able to contact them via private e-mail, or outside of office time-otherwise the boss might be listening.
When I first started teaching, I was in a small conpact city, 2 hours from Seoul. The western teachers, and some koreans were very friendly. But, the hagwon was a problem.Before flying out, I had asked to contact the person I was replacing but the school had said that was impossible. I came anyway, only to find out, almost as soon as I arrived; that the boss had been firing his western teachers every 5-6 months!
With large hagwons, sometimes its a franchise operation (why are there so many franchises in English teaching)? and this means you will want information about the individual branch. I have known several people who had quite good experiences in the franchises, but it depends.
When I first came to South Korea, people told me ALL public school positions were amazing! Yes and no. The good side is that they will pay you on time. You will get all of your severance pay if you complete your contract, and you will get some more holidays than in a hagwon. You will probably complete the contract.
I remember staying in a guest house in Seoul. I have lots of friends in Seoul, which is why I had gone there. I met a pleasant American guy, who was getting ready to leave Korea. This was his last fling before leaving the country for good. He had been unhappy in his public school. Why? After a year in an urban public school, he had transferred to a very rural location on the east coast. He did so because he believed people there would be kinder than in the cities. Really? He got a shock. People were quite distant. His school had 2 western teachers, but it was unfriendly. The school fired him.The Korean co-teachers had been comparing him with the other American guy, who was, allegedly, much morwere e popular, more effective, more charismatic, and devastatingly handsome. The teachers were bitchy. If you don't get on with one of the female co-teachers, and they usually are female, life can be tough.
I have read of several cases of people in public schools having a bad experience.
About EPIK-currently the Korean govt. is cutting back high school positions, and emphasising rural locations. They are more keen to see teachers working in the countryside. If the worst comes to the worst, you can always take the bus or train to Seoul, Daegu or Busan, or the provincial capitals.
I hope I haven't been too negative! You should be able to get more information from the hagwons. If they send you a contract to sign, read it and then ask to talk to western staff at the school before you sign. If the school won't let you do this, then cross them off your list. PM me if you have further questions.[/b]

[PedanticGiraffe]

Thanks for the answers, they've been really helpful. Everything is actually looking quite good for this particular hagwon. When I asked for a testimonial, they gave me two. I've sent emails to them both, but I'm yet to hear back from them; they're both foreign teachers though.

As for the contract. I think it's okay, but I posted it in the contract review thread to get answers from people who know what's what. I'm a bit clueless, in all honesty. The hours seem okay too, considering the amount. If I could get some feedback on the contract I've been offered, I'd be incredibly grateful.

The hagwon location is quite nice. When I did my EPIK interview, I got the feeling that they were going to ship me off to somewhere rural. I'm in a little bit of a muddle because this particular hagwon seems a little too good to be true, compared to many of the hagwons about which I've heard.

A little bit of research came up with a big complaint post by an ex-employee, but most of it seemed to pertain to said individual being quite introvert and the office politics being very much against such personalities.

[wonkavite62]

I am pleased to read this! I hope everything goes well for you. Prepare lessons well, be friendly to the Korean staff, and try to have fun. By the way, do they hire non-Americans?

[PedanticGiraffe]

Well, I'm British, so I assume so!

[bobibobbobbob]

When you apply with EPIK, you can choose a place of preference. They positions are competitive and can fill up quickly, though, so think about putting a less popular choice (I was advised to go with Daegu)

[DaeguNL]

choose a large chain hagwon that has multiple foreign teachers. you dont wanna be stuck in a rural area that has 4 total foreigners, 2 hours away from a major city. EPIK is generally more stable than a hagwon, but take the stories on here with a grain of salt. Ive been here 5+ years, and ive only ever even heard of 1 person get screwed out of pay (severance) .

[SeoulMan6]

Something I always tell people (but they never listen) is to go with a preferred location. Work is just work and you should aim for being where you want to be, and to be happy or at least content.

The exception is for someone looking long-term and wants a university job. Then go rural to get experience. It might not be the most exciting year or two, but it can pay off in the long run.