Hi everyone,
Whoa! I've been doing some research about the intricacies of ESL teaching in Korea and Japan the past couple of weeks and one theme keeps occurring again and again: avoid south korea like the plague
I was going to include some selected links of the various "Blacklists" created by the posts of current and former foreign teachers in Korea (but soon figured out there are so many) and I am shocked and completely freaked out by what I am reading---every injustice and nightmare seems to make its way on at least one post on these lists. They include as you might imagine:
-Being sacked from you job without warning, blacklisted by your shady employer and having to leave Korea within fourteen days...or facing major fines.
-Being sacked by your employer just weeks short of fulfilling your contract and thus being denied your severance pay and flight back home.
-Being paid in sporatic and less than promised sums of money.
-Being made to work akward, constant/split shifts without adequate time to prepare a lesson plan/out of the blue.
-Contracts---legal or whatever---don't seem much.
....and what I consider to be the papa bear of all reasons.....
-Foreign teachers don't seem to have much legal recourse or forms of protection from sketch teachers and and employment practises; the very idea (though familar--since I've lived in India) that a person running the school could lie their head off/bribe and seem just for denying a teacher of their rights and get away with it is scary.
*****
From what I've sussed out teaching in S.Korea is a gamble, but avoiding these "Hogwans" seems to be a good step. It also seems the one should never ever contract themselves to a school with a high turnover rate and/or one that won't let you speak with several of the foreign teachers first. Yet seriously, I am about to even stop considering Korea and just concentrate on Japan (and I can't say I've the best things about opportunities there.)
I know there are some people here who are/did teach in Korea have you had similar experiences or is there is there something redeeming and/or positive I should watch out for?
Cheers,
Samantha***
What was the name of the school you worked in? I want to make sure I don't take a job there!
Can't remember exactly, but it was a very small hawgon (only 2 English teachers) in the south of Taegu. The owner's name was Mr. Kim, but that's not really helpful since "Kim" is like having a last name of "Smith" - everybody has it.
Korea definitely has it's negatives, sure. All of those things that you posted are things that have happened to people. However, there are also many positives to teaching in Korea. Here's what you have to keep in mind, people are much more likely to write about their negative experiences than their positive ones, most of the time.
Hagwons can be bad, but some can be good. I've taught at two different hagwons for six years, and really don't have any complaints about either of them. I'd go back in a heartbeat. Now, I'm teaching at a PS, and while there are some frustrations, there are also some rewards.
What one has to keep in mind, when coming to Korea, is that it is a different culture, and things are done differently. Some foreigners come here thinking that they're going to be treated and respected in exactly the same way they would be in a job back home, and that's not always the case. Some people are not open to learning how things work in this culture, and that causes tension.
I spent six years here, and had enough. I thought things must be better back in Canada, and went home and stayed there for four years. I'll tell you, though, I'm much happier this time back in Korea, because I have a much deeper appreciation for it, and for the challenges that we face in Canada versus here. It's really not that bad, and once you get settled into a good school, with great students, it is soooo worth it!
If you want to check out my blog, it's http://thehansonsinkorea.weebly.com . I have some positive and negative experiences there. Really, I try my best to keep it positive, though, because I do have more respect for what Korea has to offer!
I've had a couple friends of mine who have taught English in Korea and overall I would say that my impression of their experience has been positive.. They all walked away with some solid international experience and plenty of cash saved.
I did visit my friends there once for a week and enjoyed myself. The food there, particularly Korean BBQ, is delicious! However, I did notice that Koreans are not the most welcoming people toward foreigners, but I guess there is a deep history there. My friend also told me that during the big Bird Flu scare last year the Korean media made a big fuss that the disease only came from foreigners and consequently, many schools where foreigners taught were basically quarantined. That shit wouldn't fly here back in the States..
I think there will always be people with horror stories similar to yours.. Living abroad is never easy, but overall I think the standard of living in South Korea as an English teacher is positive. I think the most important thing for people considering teaching in Korea is to take the time to find a good school that will treat foreign teachers fairly. I understand that this is my no means easy, but often very necessary.
I also had a negative experience teaching at a Howwan in S. Korea. I wouldn't make my relationship with my much older male boss "more personal" and he who had friends in immigration so I got deported and had to pay a large fine. Not a great experience for my first time overseas and the Canadian Embassy refused to help.
Hogwans can be a great experience though, but it really is knowing which are the good ones which is only possible once you're there and have made connections.
Initially, I think it's best to go with a larger company that is used to dealing with foreigners,has a process in place and will let you talk to other ESL teachers for a reference. This is also a great way to meet other people. The hagwan I was at only had myself and another teacher so it was difficult to meet other people and I found it lonely.
The money can be good for teaching in S. Korea, especially since usually a large portion of your living expenses are covered for by your employer. I personally didn't enjoy living in S. Korea and I knew a lot of teachers who were there for the money, but I'm still glad I did and experienced a culture so different from my own.
500 Reasons I Love Germany http://ilovegermany500.blogspot.com/
Living as an Expat in Germany http://lr-expatgermany.blogspot.com/