Korean Job Market: My Experiences - Page 5 - Ajarn Forum

oxfordstu · 16th May 2008, 09:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by MisterStretch

Cap, with a uni degree, TEFL (or equivalent) and two years of verifiable teaching (letters of recommendation suffice) then you're at 2.5 as your basic package in a government school with the EPIK program. If you work in more than one school (normally the case...can work up to three) then if it's 3 then you are at 2.65, no weekend work, generous overtime classes (at least in my case, $40 an hour, 4 hours a week), short days, my typical day runs from 9-5.

I wouldn't take either of the gigs you are talking about...even the 3.0 one. This month I will make 3.15, and I don't do privates, though I could.

Depends where he works. I was on 2.3 through EPIK, and I worked in Busan. I have 8 yrs exp., TEFL and uni degree (and teaching cert. - but that didn't matter). I was offered 2.6 in rural Gongju (no, not Gwangju). Don't know what the rates are in Seoul. In Busan I could get 2.5 if I stayed with EPIK for 2 consecutive years.

But public schools are better than those shitty hagwons. I got 16 weeks of paid vacation this past year. They always pay on time, I taught 18 hours a week, and I was done at 4:30. You're the only foreigner there, though, and most of my kids didn't speak any English. I only saw my classes once a week (some even less), and it can get pretty boring at times. Still, it's better than any hagwon gig IMO.

Capricious · 16th May 2008, 10:26

Allow me to be a newb here but what exactly is the EPIK program, and how do I apply for it. Language school work is more hours, but it's damn easy imo. That being said, I still probably would enjoy working in a public school better.

traveler2 · 16th May 2008, 10:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Capricious

I put my teaching resume online and within 48 hours I had literally 39 schools/agencies pursuing me by phone and email.

The same thing happened to me. It's nice to get this kind of attention....LOL, but it made me skeptical. You don't know what you are getting yourself into until you visit these places in person.

Good Luck.

phuketbound · 16th May 2008, 11:25

I agree. He should apply at a public school. ^Was that two years of teaching English experience, that put you at 2.5 Mr. Stretch?

oxfordstu · 16th May 2008, 11:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by Capricious

Allow me to be a newb here but what exactly is the EPIK program, and how do I apply for it. Language school work is more hours, but it's damn easy imo. That being said, I still probably would enjoy working in a public school better.

EPIK is the public school system in Korea. I don't remember what it stands for. Additionally there is a public school office in each city. SMOE = Seoul, BMOE = Busan, etc. When I worked at a public school it was much easier than a language school. I taught 18 hours a week. There were 3 levels at my junior high - grade 1, 2, and 3. I had 6 classes of each level, and I saw them once a week (18 hours). I planned 3 lessons a week. I didn't do any assessment - the Korean teachers do that. I filled out no progress reports. It was dead easy, but a bit boring sometimes.

To apply for a public school job, you will probably have to go through a recruiter. There are several on Dave's and they can get you a public school job - just tell them what you want. The one I used was Net Korea. It's a bit late for the first term but the 2nd term starts in August I think. Tell them what you want, otherwise it's a complete crapshoot what school you end up in. I was at a very poor school but the perks were amazing. I know other teachers who are at public schools and they make their teachers come in during vacation. I think that because I was in Busan, that they can fly a bit under the radar, especially if it's a smaller school. That's why I got so much vacation. They even let me leave 3 weeks early from my contract to go home. There was no problem getting paid, either. That said, there were still teachers who had to fight for vacation. I think I was just very lucky. In Seoul it might be different, though.

Quote:

Originally Posted by phuketbound

^Was that two years of teaching English experience, that put you at 2.5 Mr. Stretch?

I'm wondering that too. I had that and the most I could get was 2.3 unless I went to a rural area. Maybe the pay scale is different in Seoul?

phuketbound · 16th May 2008, 12:26

^The pay scale is a bit different between EPIK (English Program In Korea), and SMOE (Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education). There is a different levels in SMOE - A being the highest, and it all depends on your experience. The scale changes often. I posted the pay scale link earlier (maybe on this thread).

MisterStretch · 16th May 2008, 13:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by phuketbound

I agree. He should apply at a public school. ^Was that two years of teaching English experience, that put you at 2.5 Mr. Stretch?

Yeah, 2.3 is base (proving I have two years or more of experience - anywhere, not just in Korea), 100K for TEFL, 100K for rural setting, now 2.5. I work in three seperate schools (two in my town, one 15 minutes away but they provide transportation) and that gives an extra 150K, so my base is 2.65.

EPIK is English Program In Korea. Their contracts are fairly standard, but once you get into the nitty gritty with the school you can cut a better deal if the people are reasonable. My contract says 20K an hour for extra teaching but my schools pay me 40K an hour. I'm working on getting summer and winter break off (though I imagine there might be a winter camp...I'm still hoping to get that off)

Quote:

Originally Posted by oxfordstu

To apply for a public school job, you will probably have to go through a recruiter.

Most of them use recruiters only because their teaching staff doesn't speak English well. You can do the word-of-mouth thing and get around the recruiters and negotiate directly with some schools.

And, if anyone wants to come, I'd recommend my recruiter as Stu did his. They shot straight with me, the school was everything they promised and the people are wonderful. I feel lucky to have gotten this particular gig. I'm in a really small town but close to two metropolitan areas.

oxfordstu · 16th May 2008, 15:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by MisterStretch

EPIK is English Program In Korea. Their contracts are fairly standard, but once you get into the nitty gritty with the school you can cut a better deal if the people are reasonable. My contract says 20K an hour for extra teaching but my schools pay me 40K an hour. I'm working on getting summer and winter break off (though I imagine there might be a winter camp...I'm still hoping to get that off)

This is one aspect where it completely depends on the school. I was at a smaller public school so I didn't have to do winter camp nor summer camp. Some people had to do both. Some people had to wait two weeks, then do the camp for 2 weeks. Some people had to wait one week, do a week of camp, wait another week, and then do another week of camp. Every school is different. Some even tell you that you have to stay in Korea during the vacation period, and will look at your passport afterwards (tell them to fuck off if they do this - they have no right). Mine paid me 25k an hour for extra teaching. I tried to get more, but since the school was so poor they wouldn't budge.

Quote:

Most of them use recruiters only because their teaching staff doesn't speak English well. You can do the word-of-mouth thing and get around the recruiters and negotiate directly with some schools.

True. No one in my school spoke English except for my 4 co-teachers. Fortunately they were great. However, there was no communication - I was always the last one to know everything. Meetings would be held entirely in Korean and they figured that I'd know about class changes, etc. Also, my principal was a complete moron (who also spoke no English). But it's much MUCH worse at a hagwon. Truthfully, I'm happy I did it. It really wasn't that hard and I was able to save a lot. And as I said, my coteachers were fantastic. Some people weren't as lucky.

jimbo · 16th May 2008, 15:25

^ It's much worse at SOME hogwans,....or MANY hogwans.....I would say.

My manager is cool as hell. Everything promised is met, pay is never a problem, we are informed of changes well in advance, etc...etc...

ellroy · 16th May 2008, 22:49

I'm in the process of organising work in a Korean public school, and have been using footprints recruiting. They're based in Canada, and cover SMOE vacancies as well as many of the schools that come under the EPIK/GEPIK remit. I've found them really helpful so far, so I can give a partial recommendation, but I suppose I won't know for sure until I'm in the country. It's quite a convoluted application process, so as a newbie it's good to have some assistance. They seem to have a good rep on Dave's demented ESL depression chamber, so they must be doing something right.

soijetcornergirl · 17th May 2008, 07:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by ellroy

I'm in the process of organising work in a Korean public school, and have been using footprints recruiting. They're based in Canada, and cover SMOE vacancies as well as many of the schools that come under the EPIK/GEPIK remit. I've found them really helpful so far, so I can give a partial recommendation, but I suppose I won't know for sure until I'm in the country. It's quite a convoluted application process, so as a newbie it's good to have some assistance. They seem to have a good rep on Dave's demented ESL depression chamber, so they must be doing something right.

"Dave's demented ESL depression chamber?"

It's probably prophetic that you preceded such a characterization with "but I suppose I won't know for sure until I'm in the country."

My guess is that you will have a new appreciation of your own words once theory encounters reality.

phuketbound · 17th May 2008, 12:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by ellroy

I'm in the process of organising work in a Korean public school, and have been using footprints recruiting. They're based in Canada, and cover SMOE vacancies as well as many of the schools that come under the EPIK/GEPIK remit. I've found them really helpful so far, so I can give a partial recommendation, but I suppose I won't know for sure until I'm in the country. It's quite a convoluted application process, so as a newbie it's good to have some assistance. They seem to have a good rep on Dave's demented ESL depression chamber, so they must be doing something right.

I have also heard good things about Footprints recruiting. As you said, they hire for private, public and International schools. You should always talk to current staff at the school that footprints may find for you. Don't just take their word. Do your own background checks on the school. Have you?

ellroy · 17th May 2008, 18:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by soijetcornergirl

"Dave's demented ESL depression chamber?"

It's probably prophetic that you preceded such a characterization with "but I suppose I won't know for sure until I'm in the country."

My guess is that you will have a new appreciation of your own words once theory encounters reality.

Hence my choice and arrangement of words to form sentences that convey a specific meaning. I'd never been to Jakarta before I went, and I wasn't sure what it was like until I got there.

Perhaps a little harsh on Dave's ESL, but it does comes across as a tad hysterical and lacking in perspective at times. It strikes me that many of the posts come from people fresh out of uni who haven't had much experience of life overseas, let alone in Asia. The more balanced views tend to come from older heads, who know that life can be shit wherever you are in the world.

Quote:

Originally Posted by phuketbound

I have also heard good things about Footprints recruiting. As you said, they hire for private, public and International schools. You should always talk to current staff at the school that footprints may find for you. Don't just take their word. Do your own background checks on the school. Have you?

I'm just in the early part of the process, pb, but will certainly do as you advise. Cheers.

oxfordstu · 17th May 2008, 21:23

^Yes, there are some immature people on Dave's. However, I've been posting on there for years and many MANY of the people there are very helpful. It's a huge community - probably around 1000 regular posters just on the Korea forum, so of course you're going to get a few losers. But whenever you have a specific question about Korea, most people on there will be very helpful.