Korean Job Discussion Forums

[ardis]

I apologize profusely if you guys have heard this a million times (you probably have), but I'm pretty curious.

I'm graduating this May with a degree in English Literature and Language from the Catholic University in D.C. Three of my friends, my boyfriend, and myself all want to teach in Korea next year, but we're all split over times to leave. My roommate and I want to start teaching in June, but Footprints told me that it would be very hard to get a public school in Seoul during June--August and February are the best months to apply. Should I just opt for a private school with a good reputation? Also, I'm Korean but I'm also an adoptee...so where do you guys think I'd suffer the least amount of grief? It seems that a lot of Korean-Americans are treated poorly, and I'm really not thrilled about being shunned for the long duration of my stay.

Oh, and what is the average size of a hagwon?

Thanks for your help (in advance)!

[Missile Command Kid]

What kind of a degree? A BA? An MA? PhD? Knowing this would help. If you've got a grad degree, then you'd be eligible for a university job. If not, you've got your choice of a public school and a hagwon. As far as I know, public schools don't want to hire in June because the school term ends around July - why hire a teacher for a month and then have them on vacation? On the other hand, if you start in a hagwon in June, you're going to be teaching intense hours over the summer. Just some thoughts.

[ChuckECheese]

get your feet wet in a hagwon. if things don't workout for you there, you can always move on to public school job since you'll have F-4 visa.

[ardis]

I've just got my BA--I can't imagine working in a university, anyway, considering I probably look younger than a lot of the students.

Intense hours? Could you please elaborate? My reason for wanting to go in the summer is that I'm worried about getting stuck in the after-graduation-rut. If I go back to my hometown in WV, I'm doomed to three or four months of boredom and a less than thrilling job at a law firm. If I stay in D.C., I'll work at a summer arts program, but will be exhausted and will probably have to pay about $1,200 for housing expenses. Leaving for Korea a month after I graduate seems like the best option because I'll be able to immediately kick off from college.

To the post above: I don't think I'm eligible for an F-4 because I don't know my biological parents' names or ID numbers.

[hubba bubba]

There will be SOME public school job open SOMEWHERE in Korea in June. It might not be where you want to live tho (countryside). In the summer, hagwons do "intensive programs" where you will basicaly be working more hours. Kids go to "academy" instead of school on vacation. Poor guys...

As far as being an adoptee, not sure. Probably Seoul would be the best place? Get used to white guys coming up to you and saying, "Oh, your English, very good!!!"

Average size of a hogwon? I'd guess a couple hundred kids?

[mindmetoo]

[ardis]

[chachee99]

[ardis]

[chachee99]

[Milwaukiedave]

I agree, public schools hire year around. I got my job in June and am leaving in May, so I know of at least one job opening then.

I also agree that the public school route would be a much better route for you.

[chachee99]

There are many public schools looking for teachers for April.

[rothkowitz]

[ardis]

So if public schools are hiring in the summer, do they have school year round or a summer camp? I'd prefer to go the public school route, but I still want to get the best possible situation.

Thanks for your input so far, guys.

[Merlyn]