Korean Job Discussion Forums

tired of LA · Joined: 06 Nov 2006 Location: Seoul

I finally decided to just do it and put my resume on a couple of sites. I have had a number of responses already, the most promising so far is from Korea POLY School. How are they? Anyone hear of them?

Also, a few hours after I got a couple of phone calls that I didn't answer because I was in class, but they seem to have been from South Korea. Had +82... on my cell phone. I was just wondering if this was normal. They didn't leave a message or email me before hand. I have no idea who they were. Should I call them back?

Smee · Joined: 24 Dec 2004 Location: Jeollanam-do

Don't call them back.

Do a search here on POLY. There's a lot of info and first-hand reports.

wylies99 · Joined: 13 May 2006 Location: I'm one cool cat!

Bad news- you can do better.

MantisBot · Joined: 28 Nov 2005 Location: Itaewon, Seoul, SK

I'm working for a branch of POLY School right now (PM for the specific branch) and here is what I have to say:

The kids are awesome. Granted, this is my first hagwon, but from what I've heard of other hagwons from some of my more experienced coworkers, these kids are awesome.

However, management is where things get a little shady. They let me teach as I want to for the most part, but they've got some interesting contractual interpretations...

In my contract it states that 50% of my insurance fees will be paid. However, when I arrived in Korea I was informed that 50% of my MEDICAL fees would be covered and that this was insurance. I'm currently in the process of "working that out" with a few other coworkers standing firmly with me on this one. Oh yeah, pension too... it's a little shady. Aside from that though, management tends to just let me do my job, which is quite a relief. The pay is alright (considering I have no English teaching credentials though I do have experience teaching music to children) but the thing to remember is that no hagwon job should be considered a career move because, in the end, their highest priority is to make money.

Come here with a goal in mind and use the hagwon as a stepping stone. What it gives you is (if you can get a decent hagwon) steady pay, free lodging, and a base of operations. Make contacts in the community, learn the language, and for Christ's sake, don't just come here to teach English! I think that's what makes so many people miserable, they have no goals.

As for other people's assessments of POLY school, I think it largely depends on the branch. From what I can tell using my past research and the current brain-picking of friends and co-workers over here, you can do a lot worse than POLY school too.

At least the branch I'm working for pays you on time:p

tired of LA · Joined: 06 Nov 2006 Location: Seoul

Thanks for all the replies, especially MantisBot for the details. I will continue the process with Poly but not so sure if I would take it if they offered. Will keep looking.

princess · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: soul of Asia

I hope you like working from 9AM-8:30PM two days a week, and 9AM-7:30PM, the other three days. I'd die working those hours. I would have been back in Korea within 3 weeks had I accepted this slave offer. Crying or Very sad

MantisBot · Joined: 28 Nov 2005 Location: Itaewon, Seoul, SK

NP man. I didn't even think to post the hours I've got.

I'm working 1pm-9pm MW, 1pm-9:45pm TuTh, and 1pm-7:30pm F. 1-3pm for each of those days is set aside for prep and Fridays are casual.

I love me some Fridays!

Oh yeah, I also don't have a full schedule. On Tuesday and Thursday I have a block of 3 periods where I don't teach and on Friday there are two periods (the last 1 1/2 hrs actually) where I don't have classes. Two other teachers have even less work than I do, so over-all things are pretty nice. I'm not convinced they won't toss something my way later though:p

As for the schedule Princess mentioned, that's for the Kindergarden teachers and it includes an hour lunch break as well as another hour off during the kindergarden to elementary school student switch, so it's not constant work. I think you would also get 45 minutes of prep time with that schedule.

As I said before, POLY seems to be around the upper-middle of the pack in regard to reputation, depending on the branch you work for. I'd recommend staying away from Ilsan though mainly for the location. That's way up in the NE of Seoul and the public transportation relies mostly on buses up there as they're still building the subway line to that part of town. Anway, good luck!

--edited to include more information... w00t!--