Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Adventurer]

[Hollywoodaction]

[ChuckECheese]

[poet13]

Thank you plutodog18.
I guess my point is that so many newbies (I don't say that in a disparaging way) come here with no idea of what SHOULD be the norm, that they accept just anything that get's dropped on them until it becomes blindingly obvious that they're getting screwed. Many people come here recognizing that it is a different culture, things are going to be different, and accept, accept, and accept all kinds of abuse, writing it off as a cultural difference. I, without ANY statistics at all to support me, would guess that more than half of the people who do not renew, who do a runner, or simply resign early, do so because they are in an intolerable situation, yet have no idea how to help themselves. (I think there's a rule that says you don't need statistics when you state the obvious...)
During my first year here, it became increasingly apparent that I was being abused. I would guess it cost me about 300,000 won in PC Bangs surfing Daves to finally get educated....and I still don't know that much.
(I think I'll start a poll thread, "How long were you in Korea before you knew enough to look out for yourself?".)
I think my pocket would be several million won heavier had I known then what I know now.
The original thread topic is about salaries...my bad....sort of. This thread has addressed the issue of newbies coming in and accepting salaries that people who have been here for a while wouldn't dream of accepting. That's why institutions, whether they be hakwons, unis, GEPIK or EPIK, are free to continue to offer NON-competitive salaries.
My point is this. Somehow, people planning to come to Korea need to be reached before they get here, and educated. I think there has to be a starting point, and IMHO I think it starts with educating the educators.

[Ilsanman]

Yes, I am bad, but I admit, I spent some time here teaching illegally on a tourist visa.

After 1 year and 3 months, I came back and went illegal this time. I loved it. It lasted 4 months before I was forced to go full time due to lack of jobs.

I then got a full time and I was able to get 2.4 incl. housing. Pretty shitty.

Anyways, these days, I can easily get offered 2.5 and 2.6, and I was offered 2.7 once withut even trying. Wages have gone up, but not a lot.

Here is what we can do as teachers:

1. Make an unwritten rule, 2.0 is unacceptable for 1st year. Educate everyone. 2.1 is minimum.

2. Refuse to resign if you don't get at least 100,000 raise and 2 extra days of vacation.

3. For privates, 35,000 an hour is now the new minimum, not 30,000.

4. For business privates, 40,000 an hour is now the minimum, not 35,000.

[plutodog18]

[poet13]

Yes, this thread and many others on Daves helps educate people. If you happen to read it, and often (I think I can say that) as in my case, I only found this stuff because after half a year of abuse, I went looking for it. What I am suggesting, is a dedicated website that is pro-active, one that reaches out to people BEFORE they ever come here. The tricky part is making sure that it would be at or near the top of any search for ESL teaching in Korea....or any combination of said. Daves is great for providing information after the fact, but there is really nothing about the site that says, "New teachers come here first and learn the ins and outs of ESL in Korea."

I think your letter is an interesting idea, but if employers can get someone off the plane for 1.8, the letter goes in the trash...

If every one of the (I don't know....20,000) FT's in Korea sent one letter to the recruiter or institution of their choice, each might get.....1 letter?

Unfortunately I think all they would see would be "conspiracy" and circle the wagons...

[jodemas2]

If there is such a shortage of teachers, why have I responded to many ads but have gotten almost no replies? Perhaps this is WHY ther is the shortage?

[seoul_nhl]

[Return Jones]

[Homer]

[poet13]

"My point is this. Somehow, people planning to come to Korea need to be reached before they get here, and educated. I think there has to be a starting point, and IMHO I think it starts with educating the educators.

Interesting idea but how do you do this? "

Well, I have a brother-in-law in Toronto who owns a company that provides a service whereby your web-site is essentially guaranteed to come out on or near the top of any related search. (No, I'm no forking out the dosh myself, nor would I impose on him for such a service...I'll save that favor for when I set up my all nude Korean hakwon owners forum....uh, hey Immi/Law/Labor....recognize a joke when you see it, huh?)....though essentially what I am saying is that a lot of where a site is placed has to do with the search word compendium attached to it....including the speeling msitakes. Notice how google has, "did you mean?"

It's entirely possible, and having such an FAQ would not be a big deal.
Now that I've said that, some people are wondering if I know how to do this....Nope, I don't. Wish I did, cause that porn site would be up and
p-p-p-pumpimg in the revenue as we speak, or....so to speak...


EDIT. Gonna add a bit about picking and choosing who gets educated. I think everybody should be educated. Whether it is the back-packers or the PhD's, cause regardless of who they are, what happens to them ends up having an effect on all of us....(and I do consider myself a serious educator)

[Homer]

[poet13]

Homer. I'll get back on this in the morning. I am beerfuddled right now.

[plutodog18]