Korean Job Discussion Forums

[OttawaScott]

It looks like my wife and I will be taking jbs at a public school. We had originally taught at a hagwan, years ago and she was hoping to get an international placement. No such luck yet.

Could you help us by answering some questions for us....much appreciated!

1. What is the workload like? Marking? Reporting?

2. How do they holidays work? Are they set and when are they normally?

3. Do any schools have daycares attached? (we have a young child and a 3 yr old)

4. How can we find a place for us to live in? We want a 3 bedroom place as we are moving with our children (are willing to pay extra) but we aren't sure how to find a place after receiving the allowance.

Any other advice or suggestions would be very helpful.

Cheers,
Scott

5. Is the pay

[Ya-ta Boy]

[OttawaScott]

[Thanks Ya-Ta Boy!

Last time we were in Korea at a Hagwan the mood was so bloody dismal. We totally enjoyed ourselves but everyone bitched all the time. Is it similar in a public school ( I am sure this varies) and how are you treated. I heard that many public schools only have 1 foreign teacher. True?

[Milwaukiedave]

I agree with Ya-Ta Boy...I work in a public school as well. Before I got the job I was able to ask for larger housing as I'm married. The school gave me a 2 bedroom apartment. That is pretty close to the school.

It sounds like both of you going to be teaching. You might want to communicate with both schools and see if there's some kind of arrangement that can be made for larger housing to accomodate your family.

[OttawaScott]

Thanks for the suggestions...

We are hoping to receive housing allowance so we can pick our own place. Is this a good idea or should we let them find a place for us?

How does it work in a public school? Are you teaching English to the Koreans on a "rotary" basis the way the French teachers or SL teachers teach in Canada or America?

Thanks,
Scott

[MissT]

Don't count on your public school accommodating you. Sorry.

My husband and I were married during the summer. My school (AND local office of education) led me to believe that we would be provided with an apartment for two and if not his school should at least pay us his housing stipend. (SO, I resigned at my school, and found my husband to be a middle school near mine.)

Well... that was in August, it's April now. We never had our apartment upgraded nor did my husband ever get his housing allowance from his public middle school ~turns out the �wording' of the contract allows them to screw you in this area~

What they often do for couples is to offer them TWO single apartments, or at least that's what they do in this province The schools get off like a thief in the night (most couple turn down the second apartment (why pay bills for a second place?) putting you both in an apartment the size of a bedroom.

The office of education did not care and did nothing to help our situation.
We are totally at a loss about what to do for next year. We plan on staying in Korea for another year or two. We both want to continue to work at public schools, but the housing situation is NOT guaranteed. This has been giving us both a lot of stress.

[OttawaScott]

[Could you not ask for housing allowance instead and use that to move to a larger place?

Thanks for the warning, I will watch for that and make sure it is clear in my contract.

[MissT]

Well... that's the thing OttawaScott... the wording of the contract. The employer will give you money ONLY if THEY CHOOSE not to provide housing for you. So, if YOU choose not to live in THEIR housing, then they are free contractually to NOT give you the housing STIPEND.

It seems ridiculous... but they get away with it. It seems funny to me that public schools would do this. I often wonder, what's the big deal? I'm a certified teacher, I work hard, I am well liked at my school, SO why would they do things like this to ensure they loose good teachers?

Check out my contract wording... typical wording, I think...

Article12(Housing) ① Employer shall provide Employee with housing selected by Employer. Housing selected by Employer may be a leased house or an apartment. Any and all fees, charges, costs, taxes, expenses, etc. incurred in using the housing shall be borne by Employee.
② If Employer is not able to provide housing for Employee, Employer shall provide Employee with 300,000 Korean Won per month, as a rent subsidy, in lieu of the housing set forth in the foregoing
③ Employer may provide temporary housing until the appropriate housing for Employee becomes available.
④ Employer shall decide whether to provide Employee with housing or a rent subsidy. Once decided, Employer's decision shall not be subsequently changed during the term of Employment.
⑤ If Employer provides housing to Employee, Employer will provide appliances and furniture which will include a minimum of bed, bed linen, gas range, fridge, kitchen utensils, kitchen table and chair, phone, tv.vcr, and sofa or chair. Employee shall not request or demand any other appliances or furniture than those provided by Employer.

[OttawaScott]

Thats great info Miss T. Thank you for passing on. So I guess we will have to have exactly what we are looking for IN the contract. (i.e 3 bedroom since they are hiring 2 and we have children). Many schools have said they would offer either housing or allowance, how can I guarentee this?

[MissT]

Well, I think you could know for sure if the last foreign teacher had the similar situation as yours (this is not as common... in my 'small city' there are more than 60 public school foreign teachers and ONLY ONE 'couple apartment.' It is currently occupied, so I can't change my school to that school. The rent isn't even that much for a 3 bedroom...
I think it's 330 000 won.

I know a married man that lives near here with his wife and children. I think he had a two bedroom provided by his school, and he needed a bigger place, so he had to go and get one on his own. His school used the contractual clause to NOT give him the rent stipend, since they weren't the ones to choose to not provide an apartment. It doesn't seem fair, but just be aware.

Please talk to your recruiter to make sure your situation is 100% guaranteed, as you have a wife AND children. Perhaps it will work out for you.

[Milwaukiedave]

Miss T,

Certainly the school and the education office weren't as cooperative as in my situation and I'm sorry to hear that. I made my needs known to the recruiter and insisted on larger housing. They had to check with several different schools to see what they could find in terms of larger housing.

I signed an initial contract for the recruiter, but didn't sign the contract with the local education office until AFTER I saw the housing.

I'm not sure if it helped that I have an F-2 visa, so the school didn't have to pay the costs associated with my visa. I think if your married you should try to push for larger housing regardless, especially if you have some experience teaching.

[cbclark4]

Seriously, don't get your ARC until you have adequate Housing. If they do not give you adequate housing find another sponser/job, that will provide adequate housing. Then have the new sponser help you get your ARC.

cbc

[Luna]

My public school wasn't very specific about what would be provided. I got a bed, tv, desk, armchair, wardrobe, fridge, microwave and rice cooker

No blankets, no kitchen utensils, and no kitchen table. I also do not have a phone. When I asked for a receipt of the things purchased (what did they spend all that money on?) I was brushed off. I'm halfway through my second week here and trying to figure out if I should be more assertive about things being provided. (my contract also has the - if it's not provided the employee won't ask clause)

Anyway- that's my experience so far. My first time teaching in Korea.

[OttawaScott]

This is great info re:accomodations and contract.. So you suggest that we get a 3- bedroom furnished in our contract or a specific housing allowance before signing. We are not working with a recruiter which is where i don't want to get screwed. Since the kids are coming we can't afford to be walking the streets looking for a place.
Scott