Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Michael25S]

Hi all,

My name is Mike and I have been living in Pusan for the last 6 weeks teaching, i love my job and would like to know if anyone knows or is associated with groups that offer English to Kids of Low income families. Any info would be great

[marsha marsha marsha]

Just befriend a family that has little money and offer to teach their kids for free. Probably many in your neighborhood even. Single moms are usually a good bet (not for hitting on, ahahah). They usually don't make much money and can't afford to send their kids to hogwans.
I did this in Seoul for most of the time I was there and found it rewarding and a great way to get to know Koreans.

If you can get it together, I would recommend trying to have free classes for families with no money on weekends. Maybe a church or even your school would provide classroom space. This is something I always regretted not doing when I was in Korea.
You can also volunteer at your local orphanage. I have heard that they need teachers all the time. You may not even teach but be a buddy to the kids.

Good luck.

[Son Deureo!]

Be aware that any form of teaching done outside of your hogwon, even if it's on a volunteer basis, is a violation of immigration law and probably your contract. I remember reading on this board some time ago about teachers who were busted by Immigration for volunteer teaching at an orphanage in their spare time.

I'm not saying this is right, or that you shouldn't do it anyway, but you deserve to know the risks before you do it.

[OiGirl]

If you can get your boss to agree to your volunteer work, you can get it added to your visa as a second workplace. Have never heard of any boss actually agreeing to this.

Even if you are not reported to Immigration for your out-of-contract teaching, your employer may well hold it against you, for example, when it's time to offer a contract for the next year.

[Butterfly]

You can register your name through http://www.yheesun.com to volunteer with children in orphanages and there is another organization which helps hook volunteer teachers up with low income immigrant families but I can seem to find the link at the moment. Anyone got that one?

As far as families go, I don't know but good luck and go for it.

If you get deported by immigration for volunteering with people who otherwise couldn't afford it, giving a product of privledge to the underprivledged, then you'll be deported with the just conscience of someone who did the right thing. Don't use some remote risk of getting in trouble with immigration as an excuse not to do it. Yheesun has over 100 foreign volunteers, and there has been no news of people being busted in the two years I've been volunteering with them. Go for it.

[OiGirl]

So the good of volunteering outweighs the bad of breaking the law?

[Butterfly]