Korean Job Discussion Forums

[xanderspuppy]

Am quite confused at the moment, my boyfriend and I have been offered jobs through the GEPIK program, with a recruiter who is really friendly but can be slowish in answering emails and giving me info that I ask for, and we've yet to make contact with teachers there to ask questions.

We have also been offered jobs at a hogwan, both at the same school, and have spoken to the director and emailed two ESL teachers already there, and all seems ok there. Recruiter also very prompt with emails.

The schools we wondered if anyone had any info/thoughts on are:

Pepperdine Language School
Banseok Elementary School
Bansong Middle School

Also, I was quite keen for my boyfriend and I to work at the same school for moral support. Also he's dyslexic (but I think would make a good teacher) and I think he would fare easier with younger kids at the hogwan rather than working with high school kids at the public school.

Though I think the hours are better at the public school (9-6 at Hogwan vs 9-3 at PS, I think), but then the hogwan is only a 5 min walk from our apartment. I've read "never work at hogwan" and "I want out of GEPIK" and "never trust a recruiter" - I'm so confused! These would be our first teaching jobs. Advice greatly appreciated.

[thegadfly]

I know nothing about the specific schools you mention. I have never taught for GEPIK, or in a Korean public school -- in Korea, I have only taught in hakwons.

That said, from what I have heard and read, GEPIK/public school jobs seem to have clearer ideas of what the foreigner should be doing than many hakwons...so you may be given more feedback/guidance in one of those positions...on the other hand, more guidance means less freedom/more restrictions, but as a new teacher, that might be a good thing.

On the other hand, hakwons can be more flexible -- you may be able to negotiate things into your contract that you might not be able to in a public school, and you may be able to "get away with" more in a hakwon.

Then there is the pay issue -- there is less of a chance that a public school will suddenly close, so less chance of not getting paid....