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Korean Job Discussion Forums
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jamesandjessica
Joined: 17 Apr 2006
Location: Vermont, US
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 Posted: Wed Feb 14, 2007 7:19 pm Post subject: SLP English school in the coastal city, Busan |
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My husband and I are looking at potential jobs and we have been offered one at SLP English School in Busan. Does anyone have any information on this school? Also, is the pollution/smog really bad in this area? Any information you can offer would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Jessica and James |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Wed Feb 14, 2007 7:45 pm Post subject: Re: SLP English school in the coastal city, Busan |
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| jamesandjessica wrote: |
My husband and I are looking at potential jobs and we have been offered one at SLP English School in Busan. Does anyone have any information on this school? Also, is the pollution/smog really bad in this area? Any information you can offer would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Jessica and James |
Do yourself a favor and read the contract first.
Take a close look at the number of classes per week and length of classes.
Calculate your salary.
I am NOT normally very rude or blunt, BUT.... really...
21 or is it 23 classes of 80 minutes (1680 - 1840 contact minutes) per week for the same salary as someone doing 1500 contact minutes.
(180 - 340 minutes MORE per week - 3 to 6 HOURS more time IN THE CLASSROOM every week).
Doesn't that work out to 150-283 more HOURS of FREE teaching during your contract term?
Why would anyone who was smart enough to graduate with something more than a degree in basket weaving even consider them?
A public school teacher gets the same salary and works 22 classes of 40 minutes per week (1/2 the teaching load).
Even your average hakwon monkey only works 30 X50 minute classes for the same money.
SLP = Slave Labor Program |
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hubba bubba
Joined: 24 Oct 2006
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| Posted: Wed Feb 14, 2007 7:47 pm Post subject: |
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| Also, pollution in Busan varies depending on where you live. |
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jamesandjessica
Joined: 17 Apr 2006
Location: Vermont, US
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| Posted: Wed Feb 14, 2007 8:35 pm Post subject: Thanks! |
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I'll be honest, I only have a Masters in counseling, but I�m relatively familiar with how to manipulate basic numbers. J I appreciate your poignancy regarding pay for this school, but I was wondering whether anyone could provide insight regarding the school, members of the school, and possibly history of the school.
Thanks again, |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Wed Feb 14, 2007 8:51 pm Post subject: Re: Thanks! |
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| jamesandjessica wrote: |
I'll be honest, I only have a Masters in counseling, but I�m relatively familiar with how to manipulate basic numbers. J I appreciate your poignancy regarding pay for this school, but I was wondering whether anyone could provide insight regarding the school, members of the school, and possibly history of the school.
Thanks again, |
I haven't worked for that PARTICULAR school but I have worked for SLP and I can tell you first hand that you will be MOST unhappy with that franchise.
Now do yourself a favor and read the contract (closely) or browse a few of them (SLP contracts) in the contract review thread.
CONTRACT POSTING THREAD: post 'em here for a review
http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/korea/viewtopic.php?t=59265
The whole franchise (and yes, I am aware that this is a broad blanket statement and I will stand by it) lives up to it's nickname.
Never mind asking here...
TALK to the teachers at the school. Talk to MORE than one. Get their e-mail addressses so you can ask questions when the boss is NOT looking over their shoulder. If the boss / recruiter is unable or unwilling to provide this, then move along to the next one.
No reference means trouble for a newbie. Either it is a bad school and cannot /will not provide a reference OR it is a new school.
new school + newbie teacher in Korea = receipe for disaster
Ask specific questions about:
a) Salary (on-time, deductions?),
b) overtime (do they actually pay it?),
c) pension and medical (are they subscribed to the national plans or does the employer just avoid it?),
d) how many classes (per day/week/month), how long are the classes,
e) What is the class schedule like (blocks 2-9?, kindy/elementary 10-7? am/pm splits 6-9am and 6 - 10pm?),
f) housing - what is it really like, what do they live in?
g) vacations (when, how, blocks or scattered days?)
h) anything else that may be important to you in terms of quality of life or employment.
. |
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jamesandjessica
Joined: 17 Apr 2006
Location: Vermont, US
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| Posted: Wed Feb 14, 2007 9:30 pm Post subject: Okay... |
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| I appreciate your reply. It was definitely informative. We're being very cautious with the schools that have approached us. We're very interested in public schools, but considering our departure time, it's less likely that we'll find ourselves in one. We'll see. Thanks again, |
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bombenhagen
Joined: 21 Jun 2006
Location: NL
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| Posted: Fri Feb 16, 2007 7:34 am Post subject: |
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| I've been working at an SLP for a little over two months now. I haven't had any serious problems with the way I was treated or the work load I've been given. It hasn't been perfect, but what hogwan is, or any other job for that matter. If they shoved a contract under my nose now for next year I'd probably sign it if the $$ was fair. I don't doubt that some other SLPs are not fit to work for, but I don't think all schools should be painted with the same brush. I hate to sound like a mark for SLP, but if I took the advice of the people the PMed about my SLP before I signed, lord knows where in Korea I would be now and what kind of school I would be in. I did my homework about my specific SLP location and so far it has all worked out, that's the only way to go IMHO. |
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