Korean Job Discussion Forums

[plato's republic]

hi guys n girls!
this one is for all the british, australian and kiwi teachers in korea.
i'm a british male, mid-20's, looking to go teach in korea for a year or two. i taught in japan for three years and would now like to try out a new experience. so basically i'd like to know what you think about teaching in korea. has it been a good or bad experience? why?
i'd also like to know how you went about getting your job. did you go through a recruiter or did you find the job on the net by yourself?
where would you recommend living in korea? did you find it difficult in getting a job not being 'north american'?
i would love to hear all about your experiences, both positive and negative. also, any other advice or tips you could give me would be much appreciated. thanx for your input.

[diablo3]

If you do not have a deep accent and do not use slang, then you are fine.
Use a recruiter only if you have difficulty finding work here, I am sure you can find jobs without agents. Look in this site for many of them. I think you will learn something here as well and enjoy it as there are some similarities. However, I noticed some Korean institutes who specifically want North Americans. In reality, it is an opportunity (and most schools see it that way) that students learn and listen to another kind of English.

Just be careful with contracts, look at the wording carefully. Even post the contract on this post for others to analyse the contract and give you their opinions.

Sometimes some school owners will do anything to cut costs even at your expense.

You get a balanced view of things by reading posts in this site.

Good luck

[just because]

I'm Australian.

Every job I have ever had here has been great, with the next one hiring me because I AM Australian. Pretty weird but they like Australians and have foundthem to be great workers

In 3 years hee I only had one time where I didn't get the job i wanted due to my nationality. True, I'm sure they prefered North Americans but since I was here, I suppose they look at the economics and think, what is the difference, we will just lie to the parents.

[peemil]

I've got a really heavy Australian accent. Queenslander.

I don't switch it off for anybody, nor change it. The kids had a hard time when I first got there, but now all the kids say "G'day" to me, speak with this really great drawl, "Naaaa teacher..." and say "Bloody hell."

Most Koreans don't understand me when they first meet me. But over time they just find it not only improves their English but opens another door up.

[crazylemongirl]

I'm a kiwi but I have a canadian passport. I've found that more people were interested in me when I had a canadian passport. My accent has also changed a lot when I've been over here.

I think that as long as your clear and can be understood you'll have no problems. Sure a lot of places won't let you in the door, but you have to ask yourself if you'd want to be working there in the first place.

Also I think that brits are becoming a bit more sort after here perhaps harry potter had some uses.

[eamo]

To many hagwon owners, especially the in-experienced ones, it's just a mantra that they blindly follow......."Must hire North-American.....Must hire North-American"........

They've never really gave it too much thought. It's seen as what you should do. Their perception of the other English-speaking countries is scant.

I'm Northern Irish but my accent has virtually dissappeared in 4 years as a teacher in Korea. It's a kind of non-accent now. Mid-atlantic.

In short, you can get jobs in Korea as a non-North-American if you are persistant and have a decent resume. If you are from ROW (rest of the world) they will definitely call you up to check your accent before they hire you.

[crazylemongirl]

[just because]

I must agree with the above.

My Australian accent is non-existant now. More North American after working with Russians and now Koreans, i just changed my accent so I suppose that is another reason they wonjangs don't mind me so much.

[fidel]

Never had a problem, currently employed at one of the top high schools in Korea. However I could imagine if you had a really broad, thick accent, no matter what nationality, you may experience some difficulty finding a kob.

[tzechuk]

My experience here has been great. I don't think they particularly mind the fact that I am British - and a Chinese one at that. I think having a Masters' from the University of London in Business helped a lot. I had a lot of *other* students who loved my accent for the pure British-ness of it.

[peemil]

One time I was going to change jobs. I applied for a few and a chap called me up and said...

"Your accent is heavy."

"It's my phone and my house I'll speak as I like."

"Would it be possible for you to sound more American?"

"Would it be possible for you to sound more Korean Japanese?"

End conversation and interview.

[plato's republic]

thanx everyone, some useful info there, i'm pretty sure i could find a job, my accent is not thick or heavy, especially since i spent 3years living and teaching in japan. actually when i got back to europe everyone said that i sounded 'American'!! shock horror! so i guess it's just a question of finding a job on my own or going through a recruiter, which would be easier i guess.
those of you who went through a recruiter-which company did you use? my main problem is that i don't have a scanner so sending stuff via email is going to be a little difficult for me. do you think they would accept my documents sent through the post??

[trigger123]

there was a great argument (sorry thread) on here a while back about preferred accents in the korea system, hit search cos i can't be bothered to find it.
so far i've found british accents are recieved well, although i haven't met any scousers, geordies, mancs or other 'strong' accented people teaching. not too many scots either come to think of it.
recruiters? blimey, theres a question. this time i came with www.worknplay.co.kr understand i'm not exactly recommending them, but they haven't done anything wrong as far as i'm concerned, but other teachers have had some quibbles with them.
you could try looking on www.englishspectrum.com, but wait a while, its being given a thorough clean and rinse at the mo to remove unslightly playboy stains..

[plato's republic]

i've heard worknplay mentioned but no-one seems to really know which recruiters are good and respectable. everyone has got their preferences and some people have had their problems in the past with recruiters aswell. it's a minefield...!