Korean Job Discussion Forums

[SeoulBound]

Hey,
I've been lurking on this site for quite some time now and have finally decided to join myself up. I recently accepted a job with the SMOE for the August 25th start date and was just wondering if anyone else here has also accepted positions with SMOE.

Does anybody know what their training entails (where we stay, etc)? Is there anything i should do to prepare for this? I have just graduated university and have no actual teaching experience but i have completed TESL certification. Any info is greatly appreciated!

[oldfatfarang]

SMOE is one of the better employers in Korea. They give a very good orientation program (shame about the cafeteria food). Your school location is a crap-shoot (like most public school jobs).I've had a couple of problems with contractual working condition issues. Both were fixed promptly by referring the school up the SMOE chain of command. SMOE does not train you to be a teacher. But at orientation you will meet many very experienced teachers you can rely on for adivce and support.
Good luck. You've got a good employer.

[SeoulBound]

Yeah, I think i've weighed my options fairly well. I didn't want to take the chance on a hagwon my first year there, so I opted for a paycut to gain some added security (maybe just an illusion of? haha). I'm a bit weary about my placement and especially where i'll be living (apartment, dorm, etc), since I won't find out until I get there... but that's another topic!

I know the training/orientation session wont be to teach us all how to teach, but i was wondering what type of things you do during it to fill up a week of your life What kind of accomodations are provided during the week? motels? dorms? are we all shoved into a gymnasium like sardines? It doesn't really matter to me, but would still like to know what to be prepared for!

Oh, and yes, the fact that there will be over 100 of us there for orientation was a perk for me. Great time to do some social networking

[kayteemk]

I just got hired by SMOE too. I e-mailed my recruiter to find out what exactly the training will entail, where we will stay etc. All I know is someone will pick me up from the airport on August 24th. Phew.

Any other new SMOE folks out there?

-Katie

[Bibbitybop]

Oldfatfarang didn't go to last August's orientation. It was a complete mess. The only thing it was good for was social networking.

They had us stay in La Vie D'or in Suwon. The rooms made a lot of people sick, it was probably a mold or mildew problem.

The "training sessions" didn't teach us a thing about teaching. We asked questions all week about what we were supposed to do in the classroom. No one could answer us, all schools are different, but there is a certain amount of continuity in the classrooms they could've told us about. All our answers were finally answered after a frustrating week when we observed a current nset teaching a class. He answered everything for us and the rest of the week was worthless except for the networking.

The food was crap and though they said they'd respect vegetarians, they didn't. Even the rice had meat in it a lot of times and many vegetarians lived of bare necessities.

They told us not to leave the resort, like we were high schoolers. They also told us not to drink. Both of those orders were respected for about 5 minutes.

They tried to teach us cultural things, like the language and traditional dancing, but this isn't what we wanted to know, it didn't pertain to our jobs. The language lesson was about 20 minutes long and helped no one. A lot of us had been in Korea before and stopped going to the meetings as they were pointless.

They told us to be on time, yet didn't start meetings on time, nor did they let us out on time to eat on many occassions.

Many people got frustrated during the orientation, and being new to Korea, not receiving solid answers, and being jetlagged, didn't help the situation.

My advice is expect to learn about your school and teaching in your school the first week. You will probably be the first nset your school has had. They may be as clueless as you. Have fun at school, don't stress over not knowing what's going on. SMOE is a great employer, but completely unorganized, so just use that to your advantage. Relax in the orientation, get drunk with your new friends, find a girl or guy to date if possible and pray you don't get sick.

[Chicoloco]

You might want to check out www.smoeworld.com
You can email [email protected] if you want to join.

[Bibbitybop]

[ddeubel]

Yes, there were problems with last years orientation. Much to do with a new location while the main training centre was being renovated. This Aug. it will be back at the Hyundai training centre. So the food/accomodation will be better.

Most people will basically get picked up at the airport and taken to the training center. Nice, quiet area on a mountain. Good hiking out back and sports facilities also. Two to a room. The next Friday, you are taken to your district office where you meet your coteacher and are taken to both your school and apartment. The following Monday, you will teach and orientation should be a time to get one good intro. lesson together for that first week when you'll be super busy.

I wasn't able to be part of the orientation last Aug. Might be this Aug, if things go well. Last year, it was acknowledged that orientation was a big failure from a "learning / teaching" standpoint. This year you will receive more specific training in methods and more detailed info. about expectations regarding your position.

That said, a large part of things is still in the "it depends" mode. SMOE is slowly creating some standardization across the board but I stress slowly........ so a lot does depend on your school, sometimes fortunately and sometimes unfortunately...

DD

[superdave]

[SeoulShakin]

I did the SMOE training in March, and it was at the Hyundai training centre in Yongin. We stayed two to a room, in what almost was like a budget hotel room. Not terrible, but since it was winter, it did get cold during the day (heat only came on at night). The food was okay. Please be sure not to base your entire opinion of Korean food on what they serve at the training centre. Out in the real Korea, there is much more variety, and the quality is better. It was alright though.

After talking to a friend who did the training last August, our training in March was much better. We had many guest speakers, and teachers come in to give us advice about disciplining students, how to make lesson plans, effective co-teaching, etc. The first few days were geared more towards first timers in Korea, since we learned a bit about the language, how to tour Korea, cultural differences etc. We also learned traditional Korean dancing...that was a hoot haha.

Anyway, you'll be fine at training. You will be picked up at the airport, and looked after until you meet your co-teacher and vice-principal/principal. No worries.

Have fun!

[SeoulBound]

Thanks for the responses. Sounds much like what I have expected. Hope to see some of you there!

[Sody]

SMOE sounds a lot better than GEPIK, GEPIK packs four people into a room! The orientations are always useless anyhow, good for networking however

Sody