Korean Job Discussion Forums

[numan]

Well, after months of procrastination I'm finally biting the bullet and getting the hell out of Dodge. So far I've knocked back jobs with ECC and Oedae Shieng, whilst also spurning advances from CDI, each because I've read too much bad press relating to them. But I've now realised that there are NO language schools in Korea that actually have good press and that if I want a job I'm going to have to lower my expectations. I decided that I really wanted to get out there before Xmas so started applying for jobs left, right and centre and now that the dust has settled here's what I've been left with:

1. Topia English Zone (Kangbuk-Gu)

Salary: (min) 1,900,000 (max)
Overtime: 20,000 Won for work during regular hours, 23,000 Won for work outside normal hours and for summer/winter sessions
Airfare: free reimbursed round trip airfare
Bonus: one month salary extra as severance at the end of the contract, 50,000 Won/day for training
Housing: free furnished single housing or shared housing - if shared, employee will receive a 200,000 Won housing bonus
Vacations: 10 days paid vacation (chosen by school) plus regular statutory holidays
Medical Coverage: 50/50 - estimated cost to you is 1.5% of the monthly salary
Teaching Hours: 30 - 50 minute classes/week
Type of Students: middle and elementary aged students


2. Kid's Herald School (Jungrang)

-Housing : Single studio
-Starting Date : by Dec. 11st
-Salary : 2.0m won / month
-Overtime : 15,000 won
-Teaching Hours : 11:00am~1:30pm(kinder class) 3~8:00pm(Elementary) (I have been told my teaching hours will be 10:30 - 6:30 although it is not stated in the contract)
-Student Type : Kinder ~ Elementary school students
-Vacation : 10 days (chosen by school) + National Holidays
-No. of current foreign teachers : 5

3. Jung Chul ( Deongchon?, Seoul)
Housing : Single studio
-Starting Date : Dec
-Salary : 2.1m won / month
-Overtime : 15,000 won
-Teaching Hours : 11:00am - 8:40pm (MWF) 11:00am - 7:00pm (TTH)
-Student Type : Kinder ~ Elementary school students
-Vacation : 10 days + National Holidays
-No. of current foreign teachers : 2

4. ChildU Seodaumun Campus (Hongje-dong)
-Housing : Single studio
-Starting Date : Dec
-Salary : 2.0m won / month (although it states in contract that my first 3 months will be paid @ 1.8m as counted as training period!?!)
-Overtime : 15,000 won
-Teaching Hours : 10am - 5pm
-Student Type : Kinder ~ Elementary school students
-Vacation : 10 days + National Holidays
-No. of current foreign teachers : 2

Of the above offers the first 3 are through different agencies, whilst on the last one I'm dealing directly with the school's owner. I've had the best feeling from the last one as they gave me the email addresses of the current foreign teachers straight away and they gave very positive feedback:

"ChildU is great, i have taught here for three years with no problems..It is a small school, family run so everything is chill. I have to go back to B.C but i plan to return to ChildU when i can. If you have taught in Korea before it is similar to any regular Hogwon job. If not email me and ask me any questions you want..My apartment is small but it is new,clean and has everything i need. Anyways i have to get back to work...Take care"

"I've been at this school for about 4 years. I most certainly enjoy this school, its students, teachers and my employer. The employer is great to work for. They do speak English well. The basic living accommodations are provided by your school. You are responsible for your basic bills (phone, tv, internet, electricity). Currently there are three western and two Korean teachers on staff. This is a family run business, therefore we are quite relaxed but focused on our job and responsibilities at work. The school is in a good area of the city(Hongje-dong). It's clean and up to date in structure.
If you enjoy teaching and you are able to bring your smile to school everyday, I see no reason of you not loving it here"

I'm a little worried about not going through a recruiter though, especially as the school want me to sort out my own flights and visa. I haven't yet heard back from anyone who actually works at the other schools, but with the Topia school I think the guy I'm replacing left after a month and the supervisor from the school who did my interview emailed me today to say she was leaving the school on Friday. And when I did some research on the second school I found this: http://www.geocities.com/koreagraylist/Hagwan/KH.html

It's five years old but the same guy is still running the school.

So anyway, I'm not sure which one is best (or worst). I mean for all I know the last school could've given me fake email addresses!?!

Any advice/comments will be appreciated.

[BigBuds]

Topia has a less than stellar reputation.

[aristotle84]

i'm biting the bullet too, and going with one of my offers. i basically sent out apps left and right like u did. most are shit but i have an okay feeling with one of them.

lemme know how your situation ends up.

[spliff]

Overtime rate is way too low...