Korean Job Discussion Forums

mark.holland21 · Joined: 21 Mar 2007 Location: Leeds, UK

Hi everyone,
I've been reading this forum for a few months now and am slowly but surely getting a grasp on everything, be it, the types of school one can teach at, to the pay, to ensuring you read your contract in Full!
Very, very helpful. However, I sitll have loads of questions. My girlfriend and I are planning on leaving our jobs in the UK and heading over to Korea in September. She is a Drama teacher with a weekend TEFL under her belt and I am an IT professional with a Weekend TEFL under my belt soon to have a 4 week TESOL also.
We don't really know where we want to go, personally I love the sea so in a nice city or Big town by the coast with a good number of foreigners there also. I've heard Busan would fit but I've a friend in Changwon who owns an Irish bar there so anyone know what that's like?
Also, we were going to go with an Irish based recruitment company called ESL Opportunities but since reading on this Forum I get the feeling (a hint of one at least) that Recruiters are generally not the way to go.....or should I say.......hated!!
Therefore, if we were to go on our own, is the best way to go about things, to look on the Job Forums and apply direct from home? We are both weary of heading out there with no jobs and no place to stay to find that we have difficulty getting a job, or at least one that we are both happy with. We want to live together and work in the same school if at all possible. Anyway, I'm rambling! As you can tell I've a million questions but if I can get at least one answered I'm better off than I am now!! Surely you've all been in this boat too once upon a time!!
Thanks for reading! Look forward to hearing from you.......

mark.holland21 · Joined: 21 Mar 2007 Location: Leeds, UK

Has anyone got any advice?
Are Hogwans really as bad as everyone makes out?
What exactly are Hogwans? The hours seem very strange for them to be a school. Are they after school clubs?
We would prefer to teach smaller classes.
What are the pros and cons of teaching big and small classes?

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

bangkokbaz · Joined: 12 Mar 2007 Location: thailand

Me and the wife are off to korea for the first time soon but we have a few friends there, have looked into all ways of getting there and we are just going to go and sort it all out when we get there. Just make sure you have all your documents e.g. copies of your degree and your transcripts and TEFL cert don't give your original to anyone!! We off to JeJu island as this looks very beatifull and have some friends there too. So good luck

mark.holland21 · Joined: 21 Mar 2007 Location: Leeds, UK

Thanks alot guys!! Info really appreciated!

Yu_Bum_suk · Joined: 25 Dec 2004

Email every recruiter you can find (set up a new email account for this as you won't want to be getting offers for years to come in your primary email account) asking about couple's positions and then get ready to discard 95% of them.

Sody · Joined: 14 May 2006

Mark, not all recruiters are bad and hated by most of the forum members. Plus, don't trust everything you read on this message board. That would be a huge mistake to make before coming to Korea. The sad thing is you must ignore 50% of what is on this forum unlike the other forums Sad

The important thing to realize is that it is best to get a job without a recruiter but not everyone can do that. For many first-timers like yourself it just isn't practical or wise. You should use a recruiter you can trust.

Hagwons are better for beginners because you only teach small classes, rarely more than 10 students. The hours usually have you start your workdays in the afternoons. The first two years of teaching are the toughest regardless of whether you teach in a hagwon or public school. If the mere thought of teaching a class of 45 or 50 students is troubling for you then I strongly recommend you get a good hagwon job. BoL.

Sody

xtchr · Joined: 23 Nov 2004

Missile Command Kid · Joined: 17 Jul 2006 Location: Daegu

BigBuds · Joined: 15 Sep 2005 Location: Changwon

I just sent you a PM so check your inbox.

mark.holland21 · Joined: 21 Mar 2007 Location: Leeds, UK

Muffin · Joined: 01 Mar 2006 Location: Turkey

Hi

When I was in your position just over a year ago someone recommended a Scottish recruiter called Flying-Cows.

In the end I got my job elsewhere but she seemed very nice and helpful. She had taught in Korea herself for 4 years. However, no recruiter can absolutely guarantee good conditions for you so you must do your own research on any schools they offer you.

Hagwons are after school programmes and usually give lessons throughout the afternoon into early evening (if they do kindy they may also offer morning lessons). There are plenty of dodgy hagwons but also some good ones, just research the blacklists etc.

Mr. BlackCat · Joined: 30 Nov 2005 Location: Insert witty remark HERE

Just my two cents...or is it i-shigwon?

About working at hogwans: I get less time off than my public school bretheren and its more of a risk. BUT, I only start work at 2pm and the classes are small. I get so much done in the mornings, or at night, or I just sleep in, that I feel like I end up getting more time off. Just keep that in mind.

good luck

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

Yu_Bum_suk · Joined: 25 Dec 2004