Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Aless]

I have been offered a job with a brand new school opening in Gunpo. The pay is right on but I am wondering if anyone has some advise on taking jobs with schools that just can't offer a reference because they are new. I will also be the only foreign teacher there. I have seen photos of the school and it looks pretty nice.

Anybody...?

[ajuma]

Some pitfalls of working in a newly opened school:

Because it's new, there will be few students, so you'll probably be working fewer hours at the start...and although this sounds like a plus, your schedule will constantly be changed to accommodate new students/classes. This may or may not include Saturday work.

You'd better be on your toes and prepared for every class...and have ALL of the students like you. Your boss can't afford to lose even one student at this point, so he'll bend over backward to give little Su Jin (and her Mom!) everything she wants...even if she's a monster! Students and parents ALWAYS win in this situation...and you lose.

The school may or may not have chosen a book. You may be teaching book-less for a while...OR you may get stuck with some off the wall book that is terrible. You boss might also have the idea that you must finish the book in X amount of time...regardless if the students understand the content or not.

You also may be asked to teach WAY over a student's level, since your boss may want to be "better" than other schools.

This being said, working in a new school CAN be a good experience if you're flexible, have a good working relationship with the boss (ie: he speaks English well!!), and the boss has SOME sense when it comes to running a school.

[Ya-ta Boy]

I think ajumma got it right about the negatives.

I'd like to add this. In a new school, you have a proportionately greater influence on the cirriculum since no one else has been there. You also get to influence the boss in working with foreigners. There are some opportunities there. Of course, it all depends on your relationship with the boss.

I don't mind being the only foreigner working at a school. I know some people find it even more isolating than life in Korea usually is, but it doesn't seem to bother me. Think about yourself in terms of how you deal with isolation. Because you will be working without other foreigners, it will be harder for you to meet them, if that is important to you. (If you are just switching schools and already have friends, then that is not such an issue.)

If everything looks OK to you, and you have a plan to deal with the downside of it, I'd say go for it.

[teachingld2004]

Working in a new school........think. Do u have a back-up plan in case the school folds? Many new schools do not make it. You can be there 2 months, 10 months....who knows.

This job may sound great, but....
1) you may not get paid on time
2) you may not get paid at all.
3) you might wake up one morning without job.

OR...
1) the job may be great..
2) good english speaking director
3) good pay, good hours, good everything...

It all is a crap shoot. Just have bck up money, just in case.

What ever you do, the best of luck.

[some waygug-in]

You can probably expect there to be a lack of necessary resources. (and what is there may be only for show) Depending on your director and the financial standing of the school you may find yourself having to buy everything you need in order to teach successfully.

Where I am now, the school has been open just over a year, and it seems to have a lot of resources, as in graded reading books and things.

But sadly, I am discovering that most of these things are set in the lobby to show parents, we don't actually use them. We do have textbooks but again sadly, the director won't buy the resources for those books. You may find yourself spending hours making your own or spending your own money to buy the stuff you need. Don't expect to be re-imbursed (although some schools my say they will).

You may find that the director will have you jumping around between textbooks (usually before the students have learned anything from the last one) because he wants to give the appearance of rapid progress.

You may find yourself teaching "outside" the textbook because it is way too difficult for the class, but you have no choice.

Your chances of finding a new school that doesn't have some or all of the above mentioned problems is about the same as a "fart's chance in a windstorm", but I suppose it may be possible.

In any case, good luck to you.

[BigBlackEquus]

Unless it seems they have a lot of students to start, then I advise you not to work there.

Why?

I did the same thing, and the school folded. If they owe you back pay, you are SOL.

I will never work for a new school again. This is not a joke, when looking for a job, I always ask them how long they have been in business. When they say they are new, I thank them kindly and hang up. Not even worth the bother. I don't even care if they offer me 3 million per month. Hell no. The new school that I worked for was going to pay me 3 million per month. Guess how much money I got paid for less than a months work? Nothing. Guess how much I was reimbursed for my hotel expenses while they were "finding" me an aparment? Nothing.

As ajumma said, they will be ultra-strict about pleasing everyone, so the ajummas and boss will be changing your lessons around, possibly. And when they do that, almost always others become unhappy and leave. In the end, YOU are the one blamed for being a BAD teacher. Never mind that they changed your entire lesson structure three times to please Dong-goon the nosepicker's mother, then one week later, changed it to please Mi Aye the cryer, who thinks you called her babo.

It will be your fault.

There are exceptions, of course, but I wouldn't even look at a new school. Besides, I totally vomit when I hear the same old used-car salesperson-sounding drivel, "This hagwon offers an all-new proven teaching method pioneered by Yalevard University that is so great, and everyone is fighting to get in, so we have to screen the applicants" crap. Yadda, yadda, yadda.

Yeah, right! My wonderful new school with the fabulous teaching method didn't get enough students to even get off of the ground.

And by the way, if the place is, by chance, a huge success, guess who will be given more hours without any extra pay?

The hagwon business is a damn tough road. The only people that make good money at it are either at the top of a big chain of schools, or so small they fly under the radar to avoid regulations and tax (and offer you no job security) or total sheisters who pay employees dirt and cheat on taxes. And it is getting worse. New schools opening up in old, established neighborhoods will at best be the flavor of the month. There is just too much competition. In newer areas, such as areas near Bundang, there might be a chance, but it is my opinion that the smart business people start small and build from there. Many Koreans (as people from other nations) don't think this way, however.

[kat2]

It is a crap shoot and hopefully the school won't fold. But a lot of the positives mentioned here are true as well. My only extra piece of advice is that if you haven't taught before, do not teach at a new school. Disorganization and general chaos is a definite and that would be really hard on a new teacher. Most established hagwons are disorganized enough to throw off a new teacher.

[the eye]

new schools just don't have the references needed to ensure you don't get screwed.
i would want as much corroboration as possible before signing on.

[Homer]

Ajuma is right on about the pitfalls.

I would add that a new school might be small and you might be the only foreign teacher on staff and feel some sense of isolation (some people seem to feel this way).

On the plus side, you could have much more control over the curriculum of the school and get to pick the books (if your director is open to that and you show yourself to be a professional and not some fly by night cowboy!).

Your boss might be new to dealing with foreigners and that can mean a complete new set of challenges.

Overall, it depends on what kind of person you are, your experience and outlook.

If you are a complete newbie with zero teaching experience and feel unsure about teaching then a new school might not be the right fit.

On the other hand, if you are confident and open minded this can be a good opportunity for professional development even if it holds extra risks.

[ajuma]

One thing you might do if you really think that this school would be a good fit for you: Ask to receive your pay WEEKLY instead of monthly. It will give you a little more security in case the place DOES fold. Word it nicely when asking: "Because this is a new school, and no one knows what the future will bring, would it be a problem for you to pay me weekly?"


I agree with BigBlackEquus. If it's a new area of a city, you'll have a better chance, but if someone is trying to open a new school in a place where there are already established schools, I'd think twice.

Oh! One other thing I thought of: A new school might ask you to teach at another location or do some company or private teaching ("I want to help out this other place because I want to have a good relation with them"). If it's not in your contract, don't do it without the proper clearance from immigration!

[ilovebdt]

[Callan]

This is Aless, by the way. My other account crashed out.

This is what he told me on the phone: He worked at an English program for a public school for a couple years and now has started his own hogwan. He has already tested and enrolled around 95 students. He has shown me photos of the school and it is pretty nice. He also has an adult class that he has booked for the morning.

Basically, he would have to be blatantly lying to me in order for things to go too sour. From what I can tell, you are suggesting this is very possible.

[some waygug-in]

What you and I would consider blatantly lying, some of these directors would call "being creative" in order to secure a foreign face.

The only way to know for sure is talk to someone who has worked there.

95 students is not enough really, It all looks fine on paper, but what happens if 10 or 12 decide to drop out? You will be to blame for something you have no control over.

I have no way of knowing for certain that things won't go well, but I would guess he needs to have more like 150 - 200 students to make it sustainable.

[Callan]

I really appreciate your advice here. As it is, I have taken the job. I figure at the very least he will be getting me to Korea and if things go south I will be able to hunt for a better job while over there. I have spoken with him a number of times on the phone and he seems decent. I will update this post now and again and let people know how this worked out.

Fingers crossed.