Korean Job Discussion Forums

friendlyrose · Joined: 19 Jul 2006

Has anyone heard of the New Zealand International School in Jeonju? They have posted an ad in the NZ edgazette but I have not been able to find their accreditation with any of the international school bodies. Their website is also not very helpful as it is all in Korean. Anyone taught there or know anything about this school ... help please!! Is this just another hagwon trying to use an international name??

ttompatz · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea

Cheonmunka · Joined: 04 Jun 2004

I wrote to them in response to their ad offering my services as a qualified NZ high school teacher. Included my resume. They were just starting then, requesting applications.
I was already in Korea and could have offered them a lot.

They never contacted me. That's quite rude in my book.

nikkijsullivan · Joined: 27 Nov 2005 Location: New Zealand

Hey,

Yes, I was recently offered a job there. They do exist and the acting Director is a really genuine lady from New Zealand.

However, I did not take the job as I was let down by what they claimed to be compared to the reality. Perhaps this was the fault of the recruiter - surprise surprise!!

I got the impression that they were a Hagwon, in the process of trying to become an International School (although basically all the children are Korean???) The teaching hrs are about 3-8pm. They also do not have a lot of resources so the teacher has to basically start from scratch which of course means a shtload of planning etc. The curriculum looked pretty sweet thou and encouraged more creative teaching styles.

They don't have a website in English yet..although they said they were in the process of changing it...

The biggest let down was that the recruiter advertised minimum 2.2 but teachers earning A LOT more than this....then they only offered me equivalent to 2.0 mil won?????

I dunno, I turned it down as I wasnt happy with the end product. On the other hand I believe they are trustworthy and could be a great sch to work for.

friendlyrose · Joined: 19 Jul 2006

Website is www.nzis.co.kr

ttompatz · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea

MrsD · Joined: 05 Aug 2006

I am currently a teacher and hold a management position at The New Zealand International School in Korea.

We are definitley not an accredited international school but we are definitley not a "standard hakwan" either. We run afternoon classes so children can come and learn English but we teach a full curriculum (English, Math, Art, P.E. etc) and we have fully trained elementary school teachers with elementary school teaching experience.

We are a new school so therefore are still building up our resources but find the internet a huge help. We have some lovely reading material for children and some excellent teacher resource books that we have bought over from New Zealand. The teachers here work extremely hard, just as all professional trained teachers do.

In response to Cheonmunka, I am sorry that noone got back to you. As you say, that is quite rude. We are an elementary school though and prefer teachers with that sort of experience. At the time you applied, recruitment was being handled by an outside company who we have since stopped working with.

In response to nikkijsullivan, I am sorry you were misled by the recruiter, especially about the pay. We will have to speak to the recruiter about that. You are right though, we expect a lot from our teachers and there is a lot of work!

In response to friendlyrose, you are right to research the learning institution before you accept any position or sign a contract. If you are not exactly sure, it is best to keep asking questions. And if things don't turn out to be like you thought they would be, in my experince you have to make the best of the situation.... remember... glass half full and all that!!!

friendlyrose · Joined: 19 Jul 2006

Thanks to everyone for your input - much appreciated. I will not be applying to a school that cannot be truthful in the first place!!

Just a note to MrsD currently in a "management position" - I had a Korean friend ring your school. The lady answering the phone answers "NZ International School Hakwan" - doesn't say much for all your reasoning. Oh and by the way, thanks for the lesson on life ...

MrsD · Joined: 05 Aug 2006

I am not sure what you mean about not being truthful in the first place....

I have to admit though... they do answer the phone and say NZIS hakwan. I guess the biggest difference I was trying to put across in saying that we are not a "regular hakwon", is that our teachers are actually trained teachers, not just peolpe with any old degree. They have actual teaching qualifications. I know with many hakwons in Korea, you don't have to have a teaching qualification to work there.

laogaiguk · Joined: 06 Dec 2005 Location: somewhere in Korea

friendlyrose · Joined: 19 Jul 2006

MrsD, again you're not being truthful ... Are you sure all your teachers "have actual teaching qualifications" and are "not just people with any old degree"?? From what I've heard that is not entirely true!!

flyaway99 · Joined: 05 Aug 2006

Hi there. I was also looking into positions at this school that were advertised in the gazette. It seems they do have teachers with only degrees at the school and no teaching qualifications. They said they were family friendly but have refused to give me contact details of families living there and without any foreign children this appears like a dodgy education for them.
They have no Principal only acting and if Mrs D is the same Mrs Dempsey she no longer works there. She has quit without finishing her contract to move to another job.
This seems to say it all!

Cheonmunka · Joined: 04 Jun 2004

I am a registered high school teacher who has, uh hum, taught elementary for six years.
Likewise, I found your reasoning about prefering elementary trained teachers laughable. If you yourself are a NZ teacher you would know that children's pedagology is basically the same no matter the age. The same principles apply. Further, I think it would be agreed that NZ trained teachers who are not novices to the particular Korean predicament are few and far between. In that way I would bet 100 dollars that your average BA holder from the States would not be declined a position at your school.
Anyway, I know for a fact that it was the recruiter who let you down in these instances. So, if you are so professional and a cut above, my question is, 'Why use them?'

friendlyrose · Joined: 19 Jul 2006

Why so quiet MrsD? We're waiting for some answers from you? Or are you too busy getting ready to leave??

vandyshannon · Joined: 30 Apr 2006 Location: Jeonju

yeah so i work at the real foreign school in jeonju. The New Zealand "International" School is a hagwon. It teaches all subjects in English to kids after their regular school hours. I know a few people who work there. It's apparently not a bad gig but it is a hagwon.