Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Trumpcard]

I'm considering teaching in Korea later this year around October. By then I would have had 1.5 years teaching experience from Japan. I have a CELTA but no Master's Being new, the safety of arriving with one of the chain schools seems reassuring. I'd be looking at a position in Seoul. Pagoda's current advertisements highlights their salary being 2.5-2.9, yet, their website states the initial salary is between 2.1-2.8. Anyone ever started with them on 2.8?
YBM ELS is seeming like a safer bet, but the split shifts, long hours and short vacation gives me the shivers. Are there safer routes in Korea? From what Ive read, recruiters frighten me. What would be considered a good salary for someone in my shoes?

[Hotpants]

As some other posters have pointed out on similar threads recently, don't opt for an apparently attractive salary if the quality of the school is not on the whole so great. Perhaps you should search and read previous threads on Pagoda, YBM etc, 'cus there seem to be quite a few catches with that lucrative salary.

You don't need to limit yourself to a chain school. Have you considered anywhere else you'd like to work? - just look at the job board on this site.

Personally, I'd rather go for a 'good' job anytime over a sweatshop style operation regardless of salary.

For your 1.5 yrs experience and quals, you probably couldn't expect more than the average salary. 1.9mill to 2.3mill is the typical range here.

[Trumpcard]

Thanks Hotpants for your quick reply. Sure I'd love a good job, trouble is what does a good job look like? I don't particularly want to teach kids, nor work for a sweatcshop. How many block hours a day is deemed a good job? Scouring the job boards, all thee ads seem more or less he seem. I know I definitely dont want a job where Im the only foreigner around, this rules out most public schools i guess.

[Son Deureo!]

[Son Deureo!]

[Hotpants]

If you've been in Japan a year already, then you should have some idea of what big chain schools are about. I reckon they're pretty much the same in Korea - ECC is both in Korea and Japan, for example. Do you really think they're the most attractive option?

If you are in Japan at present, it should be fairly simple to make a trip over here and scout a position. It sounds like you are quite picky about the type of school you would like to work for, so coming over first might make sense. Not all the jobs on the board are the same as you mention. There is a broad mix, from after-school prog, government school, cramming institute, chain school, university, editing... and so on. Just like Japan. You just have to keep watching!

You already have some experience in a country with similar culture, so I don't know why you should be so anxious about making a new move. Find a position you want and go for it.

[hellsbells]

Hello.

I actually work for YBM ELS in Seoul - and I felt I had to chip in. Yes, you'll be working splits for maybe 2 months, but after that you do get block shifts. So, yep, those first couple of months are a killer, but it's do-able.

I actually quite like my job, heavens - and I know people here bitch about the big chains. There are some major problems - the salary isn't exceptional, and you do have to pay for housing, but on the other hand - there's shedloads of foreign teachers at my school, we always get paid, the teaching is easy, we're not really hassled by management and the students (on the whole) are really lovely.

I've heard some nightmare stories about schools here - so there is something to be said for these big, corporate chains.

If you have any more questions, feel free to PM me.