*We were advised by our recruiter to try for a contract 'in Seoul or surrounding cities' as jobs in Seoul are 'harder to come by'. We've since discovered this isn't exactly true. If you're looking to live in Seoul / any specific city / place you should hold out for what you want. You may be happier in the end. One friend said not to live in the 'sticks' (i.e. outside of Seoul like we do) unless you are "really content with your own company." And he was right. It can be lonely sometimes, even if you know there are other foreigners in your area.
*Read your contract. Read your contract. Read your contract! Anything which sounds odd - ask about. You should be aware of what you're getting into and what rights you have (though not many as a foreigner in Korea, you do have some).
-Things like vacation: Currently, if you teach in a public school you are entitled to 20 vacation days whereas in private you usually get 10.
-Many people we know who were unaware of the details of their contracts were taken advantage of by their schools. Koreans typically work long hours & Saturdays; they also do as their superiors ask almost without question. That is their way. If your contract says you will be working OT you should ask for specifics: when? How much? Make sure you are compensated accordingly and that the answers you receive are clear. Ask about your role in the school? What is it? What kind of teaching will you be doing?
My partner & I were told we would be working OT & would be given extra money for this OT. We never thought to ask how much OT we would be working. Most teachers taught about 20 lessons a week - we ended up teaching 30 + another 10 in our after school program. It was a lot to take on without any teaching experience and when first moving here.
*We are in Gyeonggi province, so public school contracts here are through GEPIK. They are currently in the process of changing these contracts & their guidelines. It is easy to find information on the web about what is typical of a contract in Korea.
We initially received a standard GEPIK contract but were then given a modified version (and once we arrived we actually were made to sign a THIRD contract). The contract changes ended up negatively affecting us later on. We should have read the new contracts & compared them to the originals. Also, we attempted multiple times through phone and email to make contact with GEPIK representatives supposedly there to help us and we never heard a thing. Reading your contract could help you to avoid situations like these.
*Get an answer from your recruiter / school before you come as to what type of teacher you will be. There seem to be two types of teachers at public schools; the 'regular' teachers, who typically work from a book and the teachers in 'centers' (which are more a combination of hagwon and public school programs). Center teachers maybe have to create their own curriculum.
Our program is one of three flagship centers of its type in the Namyangju area of Gyeonggi Province. We are somewhere between an English Village, a hagwon or academy and the regular public school program. We do not teach from books & instead create our curriculum, incorporating games, virtual reality skits, PowerPoint slide shows on English-speaking countries, storybooks, arts & crafts etc.
*When you have your phone interview try to ask questions. If you come up with more questions after - try to get them answered. Most people we have met and talked to agreed that your school can set the tone for your stay. Do your best to ensure it will be a happy one!
Working hours: Public schools typically have you working 8 hour days but teaching only a portion of those.
Working days: Monday - Friday (It isn't standard to work on Saturdays. Check to be sure before you sign a contract, especially if you would prefer not to work Saturdays.)
Payment: 1.9-2.0 million won is standard for a first time teacher in Korea.
Overtime: The standard range for overtime pay is 15,000 -20,000 won. The vast majority of schools offer 18,000 won.
Class size: 10-12 students per class is standard. This can change drastically depending on the type of teaching you're doing and how your school/center is set up.
Housing: Single accommodation (fully-furnished) Most housing these days in single studio apartments, usually much smaller than what Westerners are used to. Some are shared apartments (with other teachers from your school). Accommodation is paid for by the school. Teachers are responsible for payment of utility bills. Up until now, couples traveling together to Korea have been able to live together (and are usually given 2 bedroom apartments). GEPIK is supposed to be changing their contracts so that if you are not a married couple, you cannot live together.
Severance: Equal to 1 month's salary. You will be paid an extra month’s wages on completion of the 12 month contract. This is a legal requirement.
Vacation: Paid 20 days (public) + National holidays / Paid 10 days (private/hagwon) + National holidays. There are 10-15 national holidays per year.
Health Insurance: 50% of your health insurance premium is deducted from your monthly salary. The other half is paid by the school.
Airfare: Airfare is usually paid for in advance by the school. In some cases though the school may ask you to pay for the flight and reimburse you on arrival. Keep your receipts as proof.
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