Korean Job Discussion Forums

[mariealicia]

just joking.. kind of....


I've posted here before but now I have a better idea of what I'd like to do, but I still have questions.


My Korean friends in the states tell me NOT to live in Seoul. Frankly, they think it's disgusting. They keep telling me Daegu, but this may be because that is their "hometown" and they're completely biased.

So what do you think? I enjoy fun bar/"pub" nightlife, I'm young. etc. Seoul or Daegu?

Next, I may be too much of a... "scaredy cat" to just show up to Korea without a job, but from this board it seems like that's perfectly ok to do. I've been looking on this site's job listings but they seem to be a lot of recruiting. What should I do? I'd prefer a public school and I'd prefer kindergarten age, maybe up to 7 years old.

I'm finishing up my thesis and my degree with have a graduation date of August of this year. I could be in Korea by August, that's too late for a public school job?

The thing is, I may have to go with a Hagwon because a one year's contract is too long for me. I'd much rather go with 6 months. I've read on here people giving advice that it's better to take a one year contract and just LEAVE in the middle than it is to find a 6 month contract.

Thanks, I appreciate any regurgitated info.

Background - 22, female, florida. B.S. and Masters of international advertising. minor in education (all from U of F) extensive work with children of kindergarten age (4-6). I'm really tiny and super cute. HIRE ME plz. (I should just put that on my resume...)

[peppermint]

In general the real public school jobs are for kids in grade 3 and older, though there's talk of developing a curriculum for kids in Grades 1 and 2 at the moment. There are after school type programs that happen at the school for the younger kids though. The thing is, Korean kids don't start school til around age6 ( western age)

If you really want to work with little ones, and you're as cute as you say, you could negotiate a pretty good deal with a hagwon.

[Ya-ta Boy]

Since you are coming from Florida, you might want to consider Busan when choosing a city, or even Jeju-do (the 'big' island). Winters are much milder on the south coast than in Seoul. All Korean cities have bars and restaurants. All of them. Figure out what other factors are important to you in choosing a place to live. Then look for a city that offers that.

If you go the public school route, and apply in May/June, they will be flexible about your arrival time. Elementary schools start up in mid-late August. I arrived at my current high school job two weeks after school started last fall.

The advice about signing a year contract with a hakwon and then bailing after 6 months was bad advice. Going in to a situation with the conscious plan of screwing the boss, the students and the other is just a lousy idea. You might consider taking an ethics course your last semester in school.

Your post says you are most interested in teaching the very young kids. Look into kindy hakwons and ask for a 6 month contract. Be honest with your plans. Do not expect the school to pay for a flight. Consider flying over after your graduation and finding a kindy job for 6 months.

[mariealicia]