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BreBre711
Joined: 11 Apr 2007
Location: Amsterdam...for now
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 Posted: Fri Apr 13, 2007 10:13 pm Post subject: So many questions... |
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Hi, I'm a newbie here. I've been lurking these forums for a few weeks just trying to get my bearings together before I apply for a teaching job in South Korea.
Your posts on living in Korea and past experiences with Hogwons (sp?) are helping to prepare me for the worst!
Anyways, I have so many questions to ask so here they are!
Oh, if my questions don't make sense, I'm sorry and I'll try to re-word them.
1. What is a split-shift? (I feel so silly but I haven't seen a definition for 9.this yet)
2. What recruiter did you go through and were they good to you? Did you get what you wanted?
3. What school/hagwan/etc have you taught at? What problems did you run into there?
4. What does it take to get into a public school? What is the difference between a public school and working for a Hogwon (for example: longer hours, more students...)??
5. Do you like teaching kids better or adults? Why?
6. When the contract or recruiter says 10 days paid vacation, does that mean 10 days paid PLUS national holidays?
7. What are the Korean national holidays and what are the days that teachers usually have off?
8. What are average work hours per day, per week and per month?
9. How many classes are average per day, per week per month?
10. Do you have a teaching certificate? If so, what do you have?
11. Do any of you have a CELTA?
12. Do you feel it has helped having the CELTA or whatever certificate you own?
Ok, that is all for now, but I will have more later! Thank you!!
Bre  |
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Saxiif
Joined: 15 May 2003
Location: Seongnam
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| Posted: Fri Apr 13, 2007 10:35 pm Post subject: |
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1. What is a split-shift? (I feel so silly but I haven't seen a definition for 9.this yet)
When you work a few hours, get a few hours off and then work a few more hours. They are evil. Usually they pop up in adult hagwons (teach people before and after their regular job) or places with kindy and elementary.
2. What recruiter did you go through and were they good to you? Did you get what you wanted?
Got my current job through word of mouth, previously I just mass e-mailed a bunch of recruiters. I would HIGHLY recommend that you do the same, just look on Dave's and email just about every recruiter that looks half-way interesting. Remember the recruiters are working for the schools not for you and just keep emailing more until one offers you a job that looks decent.
3. What school/hagwan/etc have you taught at? What problems did you run into there?
1st job: Kid's Club franchise in the boonies. Was handed random textbooks (different ones in each class) and told to teach them. No real curriculum/system whatsoever.
2nd job: Daechi Language School: they had me teaching social studies to Korean kids in hopes that they'd pick up English that way and marketed as having the kids learn the same stuff as they did in international schools. I had enough classes that I didn't have time to do any real prep so I mostly just read passages to textbooks with the kids and discussed them, which was very boring for all of us.
3rd/current job: SAT hagwon. My boss markets a novel reading program to younger students on the side to get them ready to study in the states. I'm in charge of it and I get paid to write textbooks. Its nice.
Gotta run now, will answer the rest of the questions later. |
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alabamaman
Joined: 25 Apr 2006
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| Posted: Fri Apr 13, 2007 11:17 pm Post subject: Re: So many questions... |
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Before you sign a labor contract
Talk to MORE THAN ONE of the foreign staff and ask POINTED AND SPECIFIC QUESTIONS (*when the boss is NOT listening over their shoulder).
-What are the hours? (start time / stop time / breaks).
-How many classes per day, week, month? NOT hour many hours per month. 30 classroom hours can mean anything from 1350 -1800 minutes per week standing in front of the class. The difference can be up to 7.5 HOURS in front of the class EACH WEEK.
-Do they ALWAYS pay on time?
-Do they pay at the end of your month or do they have a hold back period (5-10 days after your month end) to prevent runners? (no=red flag 1)
-Do they really pay overtime or avoid it with creative book keeping?
-Do you get credit for classes on the national holidays or do you get the day off but still have to work your 120 hours before you get overtime? (no=red flag 2)
-Do they have national medical (with the little booklet)? (no=red flag 3)
-Do they pay into pension? (no=red flag 4)
-What about the holidays? 10 or more WORKING days? (legal requirement here) (no=red flag 5)
-When and how do you get your holidays?
-What extra stuff do you really have to do - mentioned or not in the contract.
-Then consider the quality of life issues - things that are important to you that aren't mentioned here (housing, furnishings, THE BATHROOM, access to recreational facilities, shopping, banking).
Do they take additional deposits in addition to the delay in payday? (yes=red flag 6)
Last edited by alabamaman on Sat Apr 14, 2007 2:19 am; edited 2 times in total |
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oskinny1
Joined: 10 Nov 2006
Location: Right behind you!
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| Posted: Fri Apr 13, 2007 11:36 pm Post subject: |
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2. What recruiter did you go through and were they good to you? Did you get what you wanted?
--I did WorknPlay. They got me the job I wanted.
3. What school/hagwan/etc have you taught at? What problems did you run into there?
--Teach at a public high school. No problems other than boredom.
4. What does it take to get into a public school? What is the difference between a public school and working for a Hogwon (for example: longer hours, more students...)??
--I think public schools have about 30-40 students in a class and each class is about 40-50 minutes
5. Do you like teaching kids better or adults? Why?
--I am easy to please. I like teaching both.
8. What are average work hours per day, per week and per month?
--Public schools will work you M-F, 8:30-5:00, but you only teach a maximum of 22 classes. So that is about 3-4 classes a day. The rest of the day is spent however you like as long as it's at the school.
9. How many classes are average per day, per week per month?
--I teach 17 classes a week and an extra 4-5 after school for extra money.
10. Do you have a teaching certificate? If so, what do you have?
--I have a TEFL Cert but wish it was a CELTA. Not needed here but got me an extra 100k won a month.
12. Do you feel it has helped having the CELTA or whatever certificate you own?
--Yep.
Good luck |
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Saxiif
Joined: 15 May 2003
Location: Seongnam
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| Posted: Sat Apr 14, 2007 2:11 am Post subject: |
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OK, when you get a contract offered post it here. There's a lot of us here who can tell you the difference between standard boilerplate and something that could get you screwed. Also my old post here: http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/korea/viewtopic.php?t=38300 might help you sort through job offers.
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4. What does it take to get into a public school? What is the difference between a public school and working for a Hogwon (for example: longer hours, more students...)??
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OK public schools tend to be more stable, less likely to blatantly screw you and allow you to avoid teaching little kids if you want that but most of the jobs you'll be offered will be out in the boonies, have morning classes and have MUCH larger class sizes. Also I'd probably rather deal with government bureaucracy than a boss who sees every kid as a walking paycheck. If you want to play it safe, do a public school the first year and then either get them to give you a raise or find a good hagwon by word of mouth for the second year.
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| 5. Do you like teaching kids better or adults? Why? |
I like 6th grade through middle school personally, nice middle ground. Little kids drive me insane, will never teach them again.
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| 6. When the contract or recruiter says 10 days paid vacation, does that mean 10 days paid PLUS national holidays? |
Yes.
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| 7. What are the Korean national holidays and what are the days that teachers usually have off? |
Quite a few, more than in the states.
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| 8. What are average work hours per day, per week and per month? |
Depends a lot. I work very long hours but only actually teach 21 hours a month.
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| 9. How many classes are average per day, per week per month? |
Depends a lot.
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10. Do you have a teaching certificate? If so, what do you have?
11. Do any of you have a CELTA?
12. Do you feel it has helped having the CELTA or whatever certificate you own?
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No formal teaching training whatsoever.
If you have some kind of certification you might get an extra 100,000/month pay and its always good to have something that set's you apart from other applicants, but it probably won't make too much difference.
General advice: a lot of what you'll be told to do will make no sense from an educational perspective. If you have making moms/your boss happy be a higher priority than educating you'll have a MUCH less stressful experience. Living in Korea is great, there's a lot of shady hagwons but being an expat here is a lot of fun. |
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xtchr
Joined: 23 Nov 2004
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| Posted: Sat Apr 14, 2007 6:32 am Post subject: Re: So many questions... |
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| BreBre711 wrote: |
Hi, I'm a newbie here. I've been lurking these forums for a few weeks just trying to get my bearings together before I apply for a teaching job in South Korea.
Your posts on living in Korea and past experiences with Hogwons (sp?) are helping to prepare me for the worst!
Anyways, I have so many questions to ask so here they are!
Oh, if my questions don't make sense, I'm sorry and I'll try to re-word them.
1. What is a split-shift? (I feel so silly but I haven't seen a definition for 9.this yet)
A split shift is when your working hours are done in two (or more) blocks, i.e, in a hagwon you may teach businessmen in the early morning before they go to work, then have a break before more classes in the day, and then evening classes for people after their workday is finished. Most teachers dislike this intensely, it always seems as though you're either going to or at work, and makes for a VERY long day.
2. What recruiter did you go through and were they good to you? Did you get what you wanted?
First job I got through TeachKoreanz. They were fine.
3. What school/hagwan/etc have you taught at? What problems did you run into there?
Did one year at a JungChul hagwon. Problems - tedious curriculum, and having to teach atrociously behaved little brats who should have been kicked out but weren't because they'd take their money with them.
Then was with EPIK (govt programme) - problems - sent out to far too many schools, and had very inflexible bosses who spoke no English at all. I had to argue for absolutely everything that was due me, as per the contract.
4. What does it take to get into a public school? What is the difference between a public school and working for a Hogwon (for example: longer hours, more students...)??
Many differences, the main ones being that public schools have much larger classes, i.e 40 students or more. Also public schools are much more stable with regards to you getting paid/taxed etc correctly and on time.
5. Do you like teaching kids better or adults? Why?
Personally I dislike teaching adults in Korea. Why? - Because of all the confucism/hierarchical bullshite that comes with them, i.e, they won't speak or voice opinions (assuming they even have any!) in front of elders/superiors. And many of them are just completely uninterested in anything apart from 'Korea No 1' etc. Tiresome to say the least.
6. When the contract or recruiter says 10 days paid vacation, does that mean 10 days paid PLUS national holidays?
Make sure it states 10 WORKING days, otherwise some employers will interpret it as including your weekends.
7. What are the Korean national holidays and what are the days that teachers usually have off?
Not sure of the Korean national holidays (maybe google this - some of them change every year because of the Lunar calendar).
In public school you may get extra days off because of picnics, sports days, exams etc. But it is usually up to the discretion of your Principal as to whether you must remain at school, or truly get the day off. And you will almost never be told about these things unless you specifically ask.
8. What are average work hours per day, per week and per month?
Public school - 22 classes a week. But you may be asked to do additional after school classes.
9. How many classes are average per day, per week per month?
See above.
10. Do you have a teaching certificate? If so, what do you have?
Diploma of Teaching (Primary)
11. Do any of you have a CELTA?
No
12. Do you feel it has helped having the CELTA or whatever certificate you own?
Yes, but it can also make it really frustrating when you see some things that go on in the classrooms here, and you know it's likely to be ineffective at best, or harmful at worst.
Ok, that is all for now, but I will have more later! Thank you!!
Best of luck.
Bre |
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BreBre711
Joined: 11 Apr 2007
Location: Amsterdam...for now
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| Posted: Sat Apr 14, 2007 11:57 pm Post subject: |
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Wow! Ok This is really helping me! Thanks for replying! Now I have one more question (for now):
How many copies of your notarized degree did you get? Do I have to send the recruiters my original copy because I really do NOT want to do that? Would the notarized copy be enough?
Also, some of the recruiters ask for official University Transcripts but I can't get mine because of my stupid school loans...does that affect my chances of finding a job, I mean, if I don't have access to my official transcripts??
TTYL
Bre |
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xtchr
Joined: 23 Nov 2004
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| Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2007 12:05 am Post subject: |
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In my opinion you shouldn't give your original degree to anyone, (not your boss, not your recruiter) except the Immigration Dept.
Not sure about the transcripts thing, sorry. |
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ChuckECheese
Joined: 20 Jul 2006
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| Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2007 12:05 am Post subject: |
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| BreBre711 wrote: |
Wow! Ok This is really helping me! Thanks for replying! Now I have one more question (for now):
How many copies of your notarized degree did you get? Do I have to send the recruiters my original copy because I really do NOT want to do that? Would the notarized copy be enough?
Also, some of the recruiters ask for official University Transcripts but I can't get mine because of my stupid school loans...does that affect my chances of finding a job, I mean, if I don't have access to my official transcripts??
TTYL
Bre |
No official sealed transcript, you can't work in Korea legally.
I suggest you pay the money that you owe to your uni and get the hold off on your academic records before even thinking about coming to Korea. |
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BreBre711
Joined: 11 Apr 2007
Location: Amsterdam...for now
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| Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2007 12:25 am Post subject: |
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| ChuckECheese wrote: |
No official sealed transcript, you can't work in Korea legally.
I suggest you pay the money that you owe to your uni and get the hold off on your academic records before even thinking about coming to Korea. |
Are you serious? See, that's the problem...that is why I am coming to South Korea!! At the moment, I have absolutely no way of getting them!!
Ok, now I am starting to panic. I hope this doesn't mean I have to throw the idea of moving to South Korea just because I can't get official transcripts...is it like that in countries such as Japan, China and Thailand too?
Ok, well thanks for the info |
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Saxiif
Joined: 15 May 2003
Location: Seongnam
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| Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2007 2:26 am Post subject: |
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| BreBre711 wrote: |
| ChuckECheese wrote: |
No official sealed transcript, you can't work in Korea legally.
I suggest you pay the money that you owe to your uni and get the hold off on your academic records before even thinking about coming to Korea. |
Are you serious? See, that's the problem...that is why I am coming to South Korea!! At the moment, I have absolutely no way of getting them!!
Ok, now I am starting to panic. I hope this doesn't mean I have to throw the idea of moving to South Korea just because I can't get official transcripts...is it like that in countries such as Japan, China and Thailand too?
Ok, well thanks for the info |
They won't even give you a transcript despite the fact that you graduated? That's fucked up, how do they expect you go pay them back if you can't get a transcript?
I'd do this, it might not work (maybe 50/50) but its worth a shot:
-You should have some kind of school website that has all of your grades on it, right? Print that out.
-Get an envelope and print your school's letterhead on it and put the sheet with your grades in it.
-Print or stamp (find some way of doing that) your school's letterhead on the back of the envelope after sealing it so that the letterhead's on top of where it is sealed.
-Send that off with a notarized copy of your diploma when you get a job you want while remaining where you are.
Korean immigration workers are just like bureaucrats all over the world: a bunch of lazy *beep*-ups. I doubt they'll look very closely at your transcript. If they reject it, you haven't lost anything since they're not going to send immigration after you where you are  |
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BreBre711
Joined: 11 Apr 2007
Location: Amsterdam...for now
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| Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2007 10:55 am Post subject: |
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| Saxiif wrote: |
They won't even give you a transcript despite the fact that you graduated? That's *beep* up, how do they expect you go pay them back if you can't get a transcript?
I'd do this, it might not work (maybe 50/50) but its worth a shot:
-You should have some kind of school website that has all of your grades on it, right? Print that out.
-Get an envelope and print your school's letterhead on it and put the sheet with your grades in it.
-Print or stamp (find some way of doing that) your school's letterhead on the back of the envelope after sealing it so that the letterhead's on top of where it is sealed.
-Send that off with a notarized copy of your diploma when you get a job you want while remaining where you are.
Korean immigration workers are just like bureaucrats all over the world: a bunch of lazy *beep*-ups. I doubt they'll look very closely at your transcript. If they reject it, you haven't lost anything since they're not going to send immigration after you where you are |
Yeah, they put a hold on my transcripts but I can log on to the website and get my transcripts from there...print them out that is...
I know asking this question is going to get me in trouble (or give me some bad karma) but what if I did print them out and put them in an envelope with the school's address and them put them in an envelope with mine...?? Nothing bad is being done, I am sending them transcripts that the school provided...if they have a problem later, I will be more than happy to explain my situation... I think I've been living in holland too long 
Is that bad?
I just can't believe they want your transcripts...I can show them everything else (school loan bills, old university ID card, etc) but the ONE thing I can't get, they want...
Ok, thanks for giving me that info because I probably would have been stuck!
Bre
P.S. Does South Korea have an official immigration website for foreigners?
One last thing...I am at the US Embassy site and here is something I need to ask about :
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| References or substantiating documents from the foundation, institute, or organization you are working for. |
does that mean i need a reference from the place that wants to hire me or from my previous employer/institution?
If it is the latter, then I won't have that until the end of July (IF i pass the course that is  )
Panic mode is setting in... |
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OiGirl
Joined: 23 Jan 2003
Location: Hoke-y-gun
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| Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2007 3:13 pm Post subject: |
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| BreBre711 wrote: |
One last thing...I am at the US Embassy site and here is something I need to ask about :
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| References or substantiating documents from the foundation, institute, or organization you are working for. |
does that mean i need a reference from the place that wants to hire me or from my previous employer/institution?
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That sounds like a document your employer is going to submit to their local Immigration office to get your visa (issuance number.) |
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Jizzo T. Clown
Joined: 27 Mar 2006
Location: at my wit's end
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| Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2007 4:53 pm Post subject: |
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| Well, if you can't get into Korea, China will take you, no problem. |
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BreBre711
Joined: 11 Apr 2007
Location: Amsterdam...for now
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| Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2007 11:51 am Post subject: |
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Ok, well thanks for your help. Now I am not sure what I am going to do. I really want to go to South Korea despite the negative talk, but at least there are other places in Asia I can go to right?
I am sure I will post with some more questions (as I always do) but thanks for answering all of mine
Talk to you soon
Bre |
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