Shady Recruiters: What to Expect From Them

So, if you're ever interested in applying to work for Korea, there is something you need to be aware of - shady recruiters.  Maybe all are shady, because recruiters will say whatever they can to bring people to positions that happen to be difficult for employees to be away from their homes.  Just like recruiters would say things like that to bring in recruits for the military, it's no different than for ESL jobs.  In their charming, masculine accent they might tell you some of the perks of what it's like to teach English, and might avoid telling you things you should know beforehand what to expect.  Perhaps it's impossible to avoid shady recruiters, but I'd at least like to tell you one important angle what to expect from them.


To be fair, it's difficult to sell something especially when the recruiters don't know themselves where you'll be placed, and each school is different in how they run things.  At the same time, they shouldn't ignore some general information that applies to a good percentage of schools.  They might say something along the lines, "Your co-teacher will help you with everything," or "Your co-teacher will be there in every classroom."


Here's one thing that you need to understand:
1) Not all co-teachers will be able to help you.  Some will do everything, and not give you much chance to prepare because they prepare, and you're there mainly to assist (which sucks because you're overseas to teach English, not to get paid for doing nothing); this might be because they are the homeroom teachers and they have no time to prepare with you.  It might also happen the other way around - you will be doing everything, and the homeroom teachers are there to assist (while it's more a workload for you, it's rewarding to have freedom to teach).


2) To say your co-teacher will be with you most of the time should be true, but this  doesn't apply to after-school classes!  If you have a number of after-school classes (from 6~8 classes a week like I used to have at my previous school), you have little time to prepare everything at work, thus leaving you to prepare lessons at home.


But sometimes I've known a couple of teachers that don't have a co-teacher even for the curriculum classes, and they do everything themselves (I'm referring to EPIK teachers).  Fortunately, I've had homeroom teachers to assist me to help re-iterate what I teach, or just to discipline them.


Other schools, like my awesome one in Chuncheon, will have more of the ideal set time to prepare your lessons with the teachers, and only two after-school classes, instead of six a week.  I can't speak for other schools, but it seems like with the bigger ones (versus the country ones) you will have fewer after school classes, if any, and focus on the 3-6 grade classes.


Here's one shady recruiter to avoid.  Although he will get you a job, he won't acknowledge the truth behind the after-school program.  (NOTE: I don't hate after-school classes, but because they require extra preparation, I wish I would've been told about them).  Even when I called him about it to complain on his lack of knowledge, he made it seem like it wasn't supposed to happen.  Well, many schools do it, whether or not it's legal!

Samuel
BCI Academy
http://bciacademy.com/