Korean Job Discussion Forums

[kiwib]

Hi,

I've had an offer from "Hanyang Oregon Language Institute" - without even having a phone interview.. is this dodgy, or quite common - i have requested to speak to someone working at the school, and some of the foreign teachers too.

I have been looking for reports of this school on here, and the internet generally, but i cant find ANYTHING. I'd be really gratefull if anyone has worked for them or knows anything about them - i cant even tell exactly where they are! especially if anyone has heard horror stories i would really appreciate your advice... obviously im not going to sign without speaking to them directly, but any information you could give would be great!

Thanks,
Dan

[garykasparov]

Post the contract

[TECO]

Dan,

Congratulations, but can you post details regarding contract terms?

I've only ever received 1 telephone interview from a Korean university while overseas. They generally prefer to hire people who are able to come in and interview in person.

However, without even an interview, Yeah! I'd say that's weird and maybe you should be wondering why they didn't interview you.

Not a good sign, perhaps.

[mj roach]

The 'hakwan' has an ad posted 12 July on the Korea Job Board.

There is some info. re. location, conditions, etc.

No personal experience or second hand info. about the hakwan

but, given the 'crap shoot' nature of hakwan jobs...

doesn't look any worse than anywhere else as a place to start.

It is not unusual to be offed a job with no overseas phone interview.

However, depending on various factors...

ie. is the offer is from a recruiter not the hakwan?

The job ad reads "Canadian or American".....

Your accent may turn out to cause a problem after you arrive.

Some advice...do contact others working there, review the contract and

be sure to get your E-2 visa and plane ticket before you go.

Don't let yourself be talked into the 'urgent' mode and told you will do a

visa run later.

[kiwib]

Here is their standard contract, but it doesnt outline specifically the hours worked. On the advert it gives 2 positions:
"Time Schedule: 12:30pm-8:30pm or 9:30am-8:30pm, It's little flexible. M-F, no Saturdays or Sundays so you can enjoy what South Korea has to offer.....We have two schools, one that specializes in teaching Elementary School age children (where we teach basic reading and writing skills as well as basic conversation), and another nearby for middle and high-school age students (a more in depth cirriculum, teaching oratoral skills, research, reporting and advance grammar in preparation for the national TOEFL test)."

I JUST got another email from them - from the director not a recruiter, and he is going to speak to me now, and ask a foreign teacher to give me a call too

I would rather work the afternoon-evening shift, and have asked him to confirm my exact hours - and also asked about the holidays, the accommodation, and where the accommodation and school actually is

Heres the contract template, it looks alright to me - although i don't think the apartment is "airconed" - so ill ask about that - can i ask for an air-con apartment instead?:

Oh and i take it that this isnt an actual university, but more a uni hagwon type situation? I would still love some insight from anyone who has or is currently working there


This contract (agreement) is made by & between two parties ____________[ a citizen of_______________, passport no.: _______________________](hereinafter referred to as the " the Employee " or �teacher�) and Hanyang Oregon Language Institute (hereinafter referred to as the "Employer"). Institute Employee is hired by Employer as an instructor for the following period ___ Sept, 2007 to ___ Sept, 2008. The parties agree to carry out the term and employment as set forth hereto.



The following is description of the Employee/Employer relationship. Employee and Employer are expected to comply with the following conditions:



1. Period of Employment

1. The total Agreement term is approximately one year, commencing from the date of arrival in Korea and finishing on the last teaching day of the teacher's twelfth teaching session.
2. The term of this Agreement includes preparatory period, twelve (12) full and consecutive teaching sessions, and all scheduled vacations and holidays that fall between or during teaching sessions.
3. The teacher agrees to discontinue residence in Korea under the visa status sponsored by employer within five days of completion of this employment.
4. This contract may be renewed upon agreement between the employer and the instructor two months prior to its expiration; otherwise, the instructor will be automatically dismissed from employment upon completion of this contract.



2. Conditions of Employment

(A) The teacher's work shall consist primarily of the following:

1. EFL instruction in any and all phases of the Institute's program to classes that range from the pre-school to adults.
2. Curriculum design and implementation.
3. Development of educational program and materials.
4. Out-of-classroom activities for/with students.
5. Grading and evaluation of students.
6. Student counseling or evaluation.
7. Attendance at teachers' meetings and workshops.
8. Institute advertising
9. Other related activities.

2. Employee may be required to teach outside the place of employment. In such cases, the employee will be reimbursed for travel expenses incurred beyond those expenses normally incurred in travel from the employee's home to the place of employment.

3. Duties of Teachers

1. During the term of this Agreement, the teacher shall cooperate, and comply with the instructions, training and supervision of the Academic Supervisor and shall carry out such assignments as directed by the Academic Supervisor. These duties shall include the instructional program, related to the teacher's classroom duties, attendance at scheduled staff meetings and workshops, and any additional duties as assigned by the Academic Supervisor. The Academic Supervisor is responsible for establishing and communicating the Standards of Performance as related to the above mentioned duties.
2. If the teacher doesn't show up for the class (even with a sudden notice), the owner will judge the situation and the teacher should follow the decision. The situation might be considered as a sick day or non-sick day.
3. The Instructor agrees not to participate in the following activities since it may damage the reputation of the institute:
1. Lecturing while under the influence of alcohol, illegal drugs or smoking in the classroom.
2. Make sexual advances, or enter into relationships with students from the Institute.
3. Tutoring any private classes or receiving any funds from the students or their parents without granting permission from the Institute.

Any damages that are caused by the negligence of the Instructor, to the Institute or the residence, must be compensated in full by the Instructor.

4. Schedule

a. The maximum teaching requirement(not including preparation time) shall be 120 hours(1 hour=60 minutes) or 160 lessons(1 lesson=40 minutes) per month. Monday through Friday are teaching days except for scheduled public holidays and vacation days. There is no teaching on Saturdays & Sundays.

b. The employer will have the authority to require employee to perform any classroom duties in excess of the maximum teaching requirement (such excess hereinafter called "overtime"), but the employer will not have the authority to require employee to teach more than 130 hours each month, unless employee consents thereto. Only teaching periods in excess of the maximum teaching requirement of 120 hours and approved by the employer are considered overtime.

c. The employer has the authority to assign employee some non-teaching hours, within the limits of total work hours set forth herein above

4. The total teaching hours and schedules will be determined by the school.
5. The teacher may be asked to teach several different levels of classes.

5. Pay & Tax

a. Employer agrees to pay Employee yearly salary and bonus/severance payment in the amount of KW 27,300,000 Won(Korean income and resident taxes will be withheld. Income tax rate on a monthly salary is 3-5%.). It will be disbursed in thirteen (13) payments over the twelve (12) months in the following manner:

1. Monthly Pay: 2.1 million(KW 2,100,000) won per month for twelve (12) months. Pay period begins on the first day and ends on the last day of each month, and the monthly salary is payable 10th day of the month following each pay period. However, the first month's salary will be based on the date the instructor starts performing official duties and the number of days remaining in the pay period. And on last month of the contract term, the salary as to be paid on the last day of the contract term.
2. Overtime Rate Charge: Overtime rate for each hour worked and above 120 hours per month is KW20,000 per hour(60 min.).
3. Bonus/Severance Payment: Employee will be given an additional one/twelfth of annual salary to one month salary of (w 2,100,000) for completing the contract period. This amount will be paid at the time of and is dependent on completion of the full contract term. This amount is also Korean income and resident taxes. Income tax rate on bonus/severance payment is 3-5%.

b. No payment in excess of or in addition to employee's monthly salary will be made for attending meetings to carry out all required administrative duties (such as evaluation, organizing classroom, decorating etc) or for participation in workshops scheduled by employer

c. Salary is not maintained when employee is absent from teaching duties. In the event that employee is absent from duties for whatever reason, monthly salary will be reduced according to the length of the absence. Reductions will be based on basic salary rate.

6. Airfare

Employer will provide for employee an economy class ticket for passage to Korea from an international airport mutually agreed to by employer and employee.

After completing the one year contract, the teacher will be provided a return ticket. The air ticket will be provided at the time of termination of employment. In the event that the employee continues employment under a subsequent employment, agreement with employer, the return air ticket will be provided at the time of completion of the subsequent contract period(s). Air tickets provided cannot be exchanged for cash equivalents or transferred to persons other than the employee. Employer does not agree to, and is not liable for, compensation to employee, whether in cash or otherwise, for air tickets which are not used by employee. In the event that the teacher willfully leaves the school before his/her contract is over, the school will not be responsible for the ticket.

If the teacher will fully leaves the school before six(6) months, the teacher must payback the initial airfare or the school may deduct the amount of airfare from the teacher�s last payment.

7. Housing

Employer agrees to provide housing for Employee. Employee is not responsible for the payment of the rent. Employee is responsible for paying the cost of monthly service, utility, and telephone charges. The cost of monthly service, utility, and telephone charges for accommodation arranged by employer, will be paid by the employee

The School shall provide furnished living accommodations. Furnishings provided by the Employer include ; television, bed, two-burner gas hot plate, refrigerator, telephone, fan, table, and washing machine. Employer agrees to provide or make easily accessible for the Employee adequate living accommodations.

For the first three months, the Employer will collect 100,000 won per month deposit for utilities and phone charges even if the teacher pays these charges each month. Dependent on a written guarantee from a guarantor acceptable to employer, employer agrees that the deposit will be returned, in full, to the employee at the time of completion of employee's period of employment with employer, including any period of employment beyond that covered by this agreement. In the absence of such written guarantee, employer will hold the full amount of the deposit until all outstanding monthly service, utility, and telephone charges have been paid. In the event that employer makes payments covering monthly service, utility, and telephone charges on behalf of employee, the amount of such payments will be deducted from the deposit and the remainder of the deposit returned to employee. Employer agrees that payment of remaining amounts of the deposit will be made to employee within ten days after all outstanding monthly service, utility and telephone charges have been paid.

8. Holidays/Annual Leave/Sick Leave/Tardiness Notification Procedures

1) Holidays & Paid Vacation:

There are 13-15 Korean holidays per year. Employee is not required to work during these days. And Paid vacation time will be 2 weeks per year. The time will be divided, and arranged in accordance with the schedule of classes and at the employer's discretion.

2) Unpaid leave:

Unpaid leave is permitted only under extreme and unusual circumstance. Extreme and usual circumstance includes, but not limited to, death or serious illness of self or families upon presentation of proper notice and proof to the Employer. Employee may be given seven (7) days of non-paid leave.

3) Sick leave:

Employee is permitted up to six (6) days of paid sick leave per a year. Sick leave may not be taken as annual leave in order to be eligible for paid sick leave, when Employee is unable due to illness he or she shall notify Employer, with an accompanying proof of illness at least a half an hour prior to the commencement of the class. If Employee fails to notify Employer with proper proof illness, the employer has the right to deduct one day pay for the day when the employee is absent from work.

4) Tardiness:

If Employee is more than 10 minutes late without notification, one hour of pay may be deducted.



9. Dismissal or Voluntary Resignation

a. Employer will have the right to dismiss employee for unwillingness or inability to meet conditions of employment as set out under this agreement, including neglect of duties. Prior to any such dismissal, employee will be warned of dissatisfaction with performance or conduct and will be afforded an appropriate period in which to remedy the same.

b. Employer will have the right to dismiss employee for conduct seriously jeopardizing any student or staff person, or for criminal activity. In such instances, employer has the right under this agreement to execute immediate dismissal and no warning nor time for remedy need be allotted.

c. In the event that the employee is dismissed, or in the event that the employee voluntarily resigns prior to the termination of the term of this agreement, employer will be obligated to pay all salary due to date of termination.

Employer will have no duty and will not be obligated to pay the cost of return transportation to point of departure for employee, nor will employer be obligated to pay any severance pay. Further, employer will be entitled to withhold an amount less than or equivalent to, but not exceeding, the cost of airfare provided for travel to Korea.

d. In the event that war, civil disturbances, or political conditions prompt a directive from the government of the Republic of Korea or the government of employee's citizenship to leave Korea, this employment agreement will be terminated as of the date of such directive. In such case, employer will provide to employee an air ticket to point of departure, irrespective of length of employment period. All salary due at date of termination will be paid. Pro-rated severance pay will be given for periods of employment of less than twelve months.

10. Covenants

a. Employee hereby agrees, covenants, and undertakes that he/she will not undertake any teaching duties or employment with any persons or organizations other than the employer. Failure to comply with this article is cause for immediate dismissal.

b. Employee hereby agrees, covenants, and undertakes that he/she will not disclose teaching materials, syllabus details, or any other information relating to the academic program, whether verbally or in written form, to individuals or corporate entitles not employed by employer.

c. Unless agreed to in writing, the employee understands and accepts that the rights to use, sale, distribution, or publication of all original material produced by the employee during the course of employee's employment, and for which the employee is compensated as either regular pay, as overtime, or in an agreed-upon lump sum, remain the sole property of employer.

11. Merger Clause

a. No modification of this agreement will be binding or have any legal effect unless set forth in a written agreement amending this agreement and signed by both parties hereto

b. Employee will indemnify and hold harmless employer and employer's representatives from any damages which employee may sustain, in any manner, through the misconduct or negligence of employee.

12. Waiver

The failure of either party at any time to enforce the terms, provisions, or conditions of this agreement will not be construed as a waiver of the same or of the right of such party to enforce the same.

13. Legal Action

If there is a dispute between the parties involved in this contract, the parties agree to the final judgment of a Korean court, or Korean Civil law, whatever the final decision may be. If at anytime Employee leaves the institute without giving prior notice and without going through the appropriate procedures. Employer has the right to pursue legal action for damages and attorney fees against Employee. If Employee has left Korean already, Employer has the right to pursue legal action outside of Korea.

Employer and employee have executed this agreement on the date indicated below. Intending to be legally bound to, and in witness of, employer and employee have appended their signatures.

2007. . .

[kiwib]

I would get the visa before going, even the directors email says that.

What sort of problems would having an english accent bring me? i think i speak quite clearly, with good pronounciation... is it just their preference, or what they are used to? I will ask about this when i speak to them.

Also, im not sure about this part of the contract:
a. The maximum teaching requirement(not including preparation time) shall be 120 hours(1 hour=60 minutes) or 160 lessons(1 lesson=40 minutes) per month. Monday through Friday are teaching days except for scheduled public holidays and vacation days. There is no teaching on Saturdays & Sundays....
...Only teaching periods in excess of the maximum teaching requirement of 120 hours and approved by the employer are considered overtime.

...?