Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Dome Vans]

Hi Guys and Gals,
just wondering if you can help me out here. I have been offered positions in Hogwans and now a position in a Public School. I'm a little confused, which do people recommend and why? Cheers for any info.

Dominic

[zappadelta]

Nice, fresh, creative, innovative topic. This one has certainly never been asked before.

[cbclark4]

I think you will find the hagwon to your liking.

cbc

shhhhh don't anyone tell him

[Dome Vans]

do I detect a lovely delicious layer of sarcasm there. Getting warmed up for the weekend? What a whopper I think it'll be for you.

[dogshed]

just do a search for "public schools"
no Korean taxes for the first two years.

[Saxiif]

Most people would generally recommend a public school for a newbie unless:

-you really want small classes.
-you'd really love to start working in the afternoons.
-you want to live in an upscale neighborhood in a big city (massive hagwon concentrations there).

Also if you're coming here to teach don't come with too many expectations of being able to do a lot for the kids. The education system here is badly fucked up and in the public schools bureaucracy will trump education and in the hagwons profit trumps education. That's not saying that there aren't good schools or that coming to Korea wasn't the best decision that I've ever made, but if your biggest reason for coming here is to be an educator expect to be disillusioned FAST.

[Dome Vans]

Cheers saxiif,

I think probably more for the experience both culturally and professionally. After looking at the hogwan jobs the idea of it being closely related to the business coming in, is kinda unappealing, especially with the bad/awful schools being a big factor. The public school appeals because of the guaranteed pay and the longer holidays. I have no pre-conceptions so am hoping it'd be really cool. I did my CELTA in Budapest and would have loved to have stayed to teach there but the pay was so low. Never mind, if I earn enough in Korea I can go back.
Dominic

[Saxiif]

Ya, you should be fine. Get a public school job for the first year and then if you want more $ try to find a good hagwon job for the second year by word of mouth. I'd especially go for the public school job if you're not currently in Korea since most of the good schools avoid hiring people who they can't interview face to face whenever possible (wouldn't you if you were in their position?).

As far as location goes, I'd recommend one of Seoul suburbs. Easier to find a public school job in one of them than in Seoul, close enough to all the cosmopolitan shit in Seoul. I live in Seongnam which is real blue collar/low rent and I like it a lot and there's Bundang nearby which is more upscale...

[Dome Vans]

Good advice that cheers. There's only so much job searching you can do when you're sat at a computer in England. The province I was offered is Chungnam, which doesn't look too far away from Seoul, but obviously not a suburb!!! Class size in the public schools could be the interesting element, but I suppose that's something you get used to. Daegu was my first choice but nothing has bitten there. Thanks again.

[Saxiif]

One more tip: make VERY sure that you're not going to be posted in a tiny town where the only foreigners are you, Chinese mail order brides and Russian hookers. Been there, done that. Could be an interesting experience if you really want to get into Korea, but is very trying...

[dogshed]

[dogshed]

[skconqueror]

[lowpo]

[yingwenlaoshi]