[christina]

FOR THOSE WHO ARE NOT YET 20 BUT WANT TO DISCUSS THIS SUBJECT:

http://www.soompi.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=267160

for those who have done it, can you tell me what program you went through and how much was the pay? Im so confused about the whole won system and im thinking about doing this after graduation. Please help me!!

This post has been edited by Aziraphale: 08 January 2009 - 12:38 AM

[Pureracer]

the whole won system and im thinking about doing this after graduation. Please help me!!

Won, meaning the currency?

[christina]

Won, meaning the currency?

yes, the korean currency as opposed to dollars.

[Chiyori]

just look at the exchange rate to work out the right amount in dollars, according to where ever you're from. The last time I looked, schools are paying approx W3 000 000.. which is something like AUS$2 500 a month. Also note that tax is quite low in Korea - 5% i think, compared to Australia's 30-40% or so anyway, and in some cases if you're school is dodgey they may pay you cash in hand for a portion of the pay.

You should look up 'Daves ESL Cafe'. You'll find a lot of very useful information about teaching overseas in all countries. Theres information about schools, salary, interviews, visa, health cover, accom etc. Basically everything you could ever ask.

[ladymac]

just look at the exchange rate to work out the right amount in dollars, according to where ever you're from. The last time I looked, schools are paying approx W3 000 000.. which is something like AUS$2 500 a month. Also note that tax is quite low in Korea - 5% i think, compared to Australia's 30-40% or so anyway, and in some cases if you're school is dodgey they may pay you cash in hand for a portion of the pay.

You should look up 'Daves ESL Cafe'. You'll find a lot of very useful information about teaching overseas in all countries. Theres information about schools, salary, interviews, visa, health cover, accom etc. Basically everything you could ever ask.

Mods - wasn't this a pinned topic before? Perhaps we could make it one again

IF you have a Bachelor's degree you will be able to teach in a 'hokwan' (privately owned afterschool school). MOST pay ONLY 2million won per month (that's BEFORE taxes, pension, insurance, etc.). There are quite a few places that pay even LESS BUT DO NOT GET A JOB AT THOSE. You COULD perhaps get lucky and find a place that pays around 2.5, but that's usually split shifts and Saturdays too.
You could also perhaps find a job in a regular public school, but the pay would be the same, and you'd be working 8-5 (or more) every day but Sunday.

IF you have a Master's Degree, you can work at a university. The pay range varies from 2.4 & up, but the hours are usually better, and of course you don't have to work with kids.

I agree Dave's ESL is a good place to start. There are lots of ways to get a job here. Just make sure you bring your ACTUAL DEGREE (not a copy) WITH YOU. I always estimate the exchange as around $1 = 1,000 won. It makes figuring easier.

[vincent_c]

wow. props to you. i dont think id have the patience to teach them

[little mixed girl]

^ haha my friend told me she threw a kid outta class and made him cry.

if i can make kids cry then "it's a good thing"

[mskama]

weird.. i was just thinknig about this.. as a career.. xP.. pretty cool!

[ladymac]

Well, I taught hs English in the USA for 6 years before coming to Korea. Then I taught little kids at a hokwan (HATED IT!!!! )for a year, young adults at a univ. for 2 years (it was ok - I liked the hours, the work was pretty boring), now I'm really happy at a private prep school/high school. I'm teaching literature again and the students are really smart and fun. PLUS I'm making LOTS more money at this job! ahhahaa!

[SOJU81]

Mods - wasn't this a pinned topic before? Perhaps we could make it one again

IF you have a Bachelor's degree you will be able to teach in a 'hokwan' (privately owned afterschool school). MOST pay ONLY 2million won per month (that's BEFORE taxes, pension, insurance, etc.).

Taxes? Foreigners are not supposed to be taxed in Korea. Its against the law for a 학원 to be taking money out of your pay check in the form of tax.

[ladymac]

Taxes? Foreigners are not supposed to be taxed in Korea. Its against the law for a 학원 to be taking money out of your pay check in the form of tax.

Perhaps I meant pension......... LOL - I hate math.

[Trejiiten]

not all hakwons are bad....if you like working with little kids, then go for something like that

if you're like ladymac and prefer older students that actually know when to sit down and do what theyre told, then try to get a job working in a public school.....all of my coworkers agree that public schools are better than hakwons simply because of the hours (8-5pm >9-7pm)

foreigners are taxed depending on the visa....3.3% is what i pay.....and i dont have to pay US income tax cause im working overseas for more than 11 months a year or whatever the time period is....if you go for a hakwon, make sure they pay for rent......one more thing.....upon arriving, find the best place to go for private medical insurance.....the "national" coverage covers next to nothing (unless you like get into some accident)

if you want to try working with kids, do a hakwon for a year....i say year because any less time and you wont get the severence pay...im sticking with mine for 3...even if the hours arent great....one more thing...some hakwons can be very very shady......some are lucky to last more than 1 year......were it legal in korea, you could just freelance private lessons...you'd make more money

if you want nothing to do with kids.....stay in school for like another year and get a masters in education and get a job in a university

[ladymac]

^ wait a minute - are you here in Korea too??

[jurassic5]

<-----taught engrish in korea at a hakwon. saved money, had fun, drank a bit too much, paid off my debt, came back to the USA.


more details after the Eagles game.

[Trejiiten]

^ wait a minute - are you here in Korea too??

yeah...i disclosed my location before the forum had to be rebooted

ask jung what area i'm in =P (since he lived not too far away [when he was a kid] from where I am now)


you can also just look at the "from:" part and you can pretty much tell where I am =P

[shiwi]

anybody try CDI?

http://job.cdi.co.kr/

[ladymac]

yeah...i disclosed my location before the forum had to be rebooted

ask jung what area i'm in =P (since he lived not too far away [when he was a kid] from where I am now)
you can also just look at the "from:" part and you can pretty much tell where I am =P

LOL oops! Didn't look at that!! I'm in Cheonho-dong (where the pink & purple lines meet) - want to meet a fellow soompier?? That would be fun!! PM me!!

[jurassic5]

anybody try CDI?

http://job.cdi.co.kr/

if you are a gyopo (korean-american) that graduated from a well known school, you have a chance. basically, the more hours you work...the more money you can make w/ CDI. CDI is well known in korea and thus can be competitive among the parents etc...which means more pressure on you etc. granted, most hakwons have this parental pressure on them...but CDI and other hakwons are in it for the $$$$, so what they say...goes.



Well, since the Eagles game is over....
i taught at a small private hakwon in Apkujung. i was paid 2 million with a shared apartment and worked from 2:30-8:30 Monday thru Friday. i worked with students from grade 1 to grade 6. i preferred this to junior students/h.s....less attitude problems, but lots of pressure from parents. i was able to save a decent amount of money to be able to pay off some debt and save some money. i led a pretty fun life there. after work, ate with my friends...who also were teachers there...after that, would go out to a bar etc. overall, depending what i did, i would save about 1/2 of the paycheck and spend the rest. if you don't go out a lot and stuff, you can save a lot more...but i figured, as long as i paid my debt off, why not have a bit of fun.

also, if you are korean-american, canadien etc, you may qualify for an F-4 visa, which gives you greater freedom as to jobs/tutoring etc etc.

[ladymac]

^BUT - if you have an 'Asian face' (I'm using their words not mine) they are biased against you, because they ASSUME you can't really speak accentless English. They prefer Caucasian Americans or Canadians. It's total crap, I know, but that's how 99.999999% of the employers here are.

[Godotology]

questions for the yunguh sunsaengimdeul..

what do you do to maintain your student's interest, particularly with children?