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David Wieder
Joined: 27 Nov 2007
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 Posted: Mon Dec 03, 2007 6:52 am Post subject: Seeking Info About "Kids College School" In Busan |
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Howdy
I just signed a contract with "Kids College" in Nam-gu, Busan through a recruiter. Does anyone know anything about the place?
Thanks, David
Last edited by David Wieder on Tue Dec 04, 2007 7:06 am; edited 1 time in total |
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crazy tigger
Joined: 06 Aug 2006
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| Posted: Mon Dec 03, 2007 6:53 am Post subject: |
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| Have you spoken to the current foreign teachers? |
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David Wieder
Joined: 27 Nov 2007
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| Posted: Mon Dec 03, 2007 7:44 am Post subject: |
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| I haven't talked to anyone from the school yet, working on that. |
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crazy tigger
Joined: 06 Aug 2006
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| Posted: Mon Dec 03, 2007 8:12 am Post subject: |
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| Don't send off any documents until you have, iideally you should have insisted on ths before signing the contract but make sure you speak to a current foreiign teacher there AND get their e-mail or phone number so you can speak to them again when the director isn't looking overtheir shoulder. |
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David Wieder
Joined: 27 Nov 2007
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| Posted: Tue Dec 04, 2007 7:08 am Post subject: anyone, anyone |
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| ............ |
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garykasparov
Joined: 27 May 2007
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| Posted: Tue Dec 04, 2007 12:53 pm Post subject: |
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OP,
Ask these questions to foreign teachers, not the employer, at the school. If possible speak to two or three current foreign teachers and one former employee. It is difficult to speak to them over the telephone. Their employers tend to listen to converstations. Communicate with them via e-mail. Your recruiter should provide you with contact e-mails with current teachers and one (1) former teacher. If your recruiter refuses, gives you attitude, makes excuses, farts in the wind, then seek the services of another recruiter.
Questions to ask foreign teachers
Duties
1. What do you do that is not clearly defined in your contract?
Schedule
2. What are your daily working hours?
3. How many classes do you teach per day and how long are they?
4. How many hours of preparation do you work?
5. How many students attend the school?
6. How long is your break?
Wages
7. Are you always paid on time?
8. Does your employer pay you overtime wages if you work more than eight ( 8 ) hours per day?
9 Does your employer provide you with a pay receipt that clearly states taxes, monthly salary and all deductions?
10. Are you paid in cash or does your employer deposit your wages into your bank account?
Housing
11. Was your apartment clean and everything in working order when you moved in?
12. Were you provided with all the furnishings stated in the contract when you moved into your apartment?
Paid Annual Leave
13. How and when do you take your paid vacation?
National Holidays
14. Does your employer require/force you to work on Korean National Holidays?
Paid Sick Leave
15. Have you used a day of paid sick leave? If so, did your employer require you to work another day to make up for the hours you didn't work due to illness?
Airfare
16. Does your employer provide teachers with airplane tickets upon completion of thier contracts?
Health Insurance
17. Has your employer provided you with a medical insurance card?
18. Does your employer deduct the correct amount from your monthly salary for health insurance contributions and pay the contribution to the National Health Insurance Corporation?
Korean National Pension Plan
19. Does your employer pay his/her contributions to the pension office?
20. Does your employer deduct the correct amount from your monthly salary for pension contribution(s) and pay them to the pension office?
Income Taxes
21. Does your employer deduct the correct amount from your monthly salary for income taxes and pay the deduction to the tax office?
( http://www.nta.go.kr/eng/default.html )
Severance Pay
22. Does your employer pay employees their severance pay at the end of their contracts?
Employees
23. What are the English speaking abilities of the Korean Teachers and your employer like?
24. How many foreign teachers and Korean Teachers work at the school?
25. Is there a high turnover rate amongst the foreign teachers and Korean Teachers?
26. Is the director abusive towards the students or staff?
Financial
27. Is the school in financial trouble?
Ministry of Labor
( http://www.molab.go.kr/ )
Ministry of Justice
( http://www.moj.go.kr/HP/MOJ03/index.do )
Korean Immigration Service
( http://www.immigration.go.kr/indeximmeng.html )
Ministry of Eduction
( http://www.moe.go.kr/ )
Last edited by garykasparov on Sat Dec 08, 2007 5:51 pm; edited 6 times in total |
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Intrepid Voyage
Joined: 29 Oct 2007
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| Posted: Tue Dec 04, 2007 7:05 pm Post subject: |
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This list is excellent, GK. I was looking for it earlier.
If it isn't already, can we make it a sticky? |
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hugo_danner
Joined: 21 Jun 2006
Location: korea
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| Posted: Tue Dec 04, 2007 11:41 pm Post subject: |
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| Kid's College is BBBAADDD News! I worked for them once upon a time and got royally screwed along with 4 or 5 other teachers! One of the worst chains in Korea! |
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thomasdr
Joined: 02 Feb 2005
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| Posted: Thu Dec 06, 2007 8:49 pm Post subject: My old school |
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I used to work at the school you are refering to so I can tell you anything you would like to know. As far as hakwons go, it's pretty much what you would expect. They pay on time, though I had to wait for two weeks for my final paycheck, bonus, and airfare until the standard monthly pay day, even though it clearly said in my contract that I would be paid on the last day of work. I think the problem was that they didnt have the money (several teachers were leaving at that time) to pay me, rather than them just not following the contract.
The location of the school is about a 20 minute walk away from the subway station, but your home will be located in Haeundae which is about 30 minutes by subway. You could ask to live closer to the school, but its not in an area where you would want to be, and Haeundae is one of the best places (in my opinion) to live in Korea.
The hours are a little strange because you do kindergarten everyday and teach after school classes to middle and elementary students three days a week. I can say with complete certainty that you will be exhausted after teaching kindy from 10 - 2:30 and, with the addition of 5 or six afternoon classes, you will be wiped out energy wise on those long days. Still, Tuesday and Wednesday you will finish at 2:30 which gives you a lot of free time ( if you can muster it) to enjoy the day.
I don't know if I would have done two years there (I moved to a middle school), but if I had to, it wouldn't have been too bad. The staff is good, especially Kurt who is a unique guy that one can't help but enjoy, and some of them have been there for several years.
If you have any more questions, just ask. |
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thomasdr
Joined: 02 Feb 2005
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| Posted: Thu Dec 06, 2007 8:54 pm Post subject: Hitler guy is an idiot |
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| The guy with the dancing Hitler picture is an idiot. Most of the national hakwons are franchised, so each is run differently from the others by different oweners. His comment is the same as saying that all Germans hate Jews because some of them were Nazis. |
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garykasparov
Joined: 27 May 2007
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| Posted: Fri Dec 07, 2007 12:58 am Post subject: Re: My old school |
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| thomasdr wrote: |
I used to work at the school you are refering to so I can tell you anything you would like to know. As far as hakwons go, it's pretty much what you would expect. They pay on time, though I had to wait for two weeks for my final paycheck, bonus, and airfare until the standard monthly pay day, even though it clearly said in my contract that I would be paid on the last day of work. I think the problem was that they didnt have the money (several teachers were leaving at that time) to pay me, rather than them just not following the contract.
The location of the school is about a 20 minute walk away from the subway station, but your home will be located in Haeundae which is about 30 minutes by subway. You could ask to live closer to the school, but its not in an area where you would want to be, and Haeundae is one of the best places (in my opinion) to live in Korea.
The hours are a little strange because you do kindergarten everyday and teach after school classes to middle and elementary students three days a week. I can say with complete certainty that you will be exhausted after teaching kindy from 10 - 2:30 and, with the addition of 5 or six afternoon classes, you will be wiped out energy wise on those long days. Still, Tuesday and Wednesday you will finish at 2:30 which gives you a lot of free time ( if you can muster it) to enjoy the day.
I don't know if I would have done two years there (I moved to a middle school), but if I had to, it wouldn't have been too bad. The staff is good, especially Kurt who is a unique guy that one can't help but enjoy, and some of them have been there for several years.
If you have any more questions, just ask. |
I have a couple quick questions for you, if you could take the time to answer them.
( 1 ) Did your employer issue you a health insurance card?
( 2 ) Did your employer pay into the Korean National Pension Plan?
( 3 ) Did your employer deduct the correct amount for income tax every payday?
( 4 ) If teachers worked four (4) hours or more did they take a break?
( 5 ) If teachers worked eight ( 8 ) hours or more did they take a break?
( 6 ) Were all the teachers always paid on time every payday? (Excluding > "They pay on time, though I had to wait for two weeks for my final paycheck, bonus, and airfare until the standard monthly pay day, even though it clearly said in my contract that I would be paid on the last day of work.")
( 7 ) Did the employer issue the teachers a "pay receipt" clearly stating monthly salary, taxes, and deductions? If so, did the pay receipt bear the school name, date of pay, school address, pay period, and the institute seal?
( 8 ) Were any of the teachers registered as independent contractors?
( 9 ) If teachers worked more than eight ( 8 ) hours per day were they paid for extended works? (hourly wage x 1.5)
( 10 ) Did the employer honor the teachers contracts? (Excluding > "They pay on time, though I had to wait for two weeks for my final paycheck, bonus, and airfare until the standard monthly pay day, even though it clearly said in my contract that I would be paid on the last day of work.")
( 11 ) How many students attended the school?
( 12 ) How many Korean and foreign teachers worked at the school?
( 13 ) What did you do that wasn't stated in your contract?
( 14 ) How long were your classes?
( 15 ) Was your apartment clean and everything in working order when you moved in?
( 16 ) Did your employer count non-working days as paid vacation days? |
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BTSskytrain
Joined: 11 Oct 2007
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| Posted: Fri Dec 07, 2007 11:05 am Post subject: i'm on the floor with laughter |
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WHAT? AM I READING THIS OP CORRECTLY?
just signed a contract with a hagwon and is asking if anybody knows anything about the place? that anybody is YOU! signed a contract with NO research? i wish you luck but you might be in for one hell of a year.
i just signed a contract as a merchant marine with a polish navy ship. does anybody know anything about this ship?
does it have a hull?
inclined to sinkage?
will i have to fight pirates?
enough life boats just in case?
again. good luck |
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wylies99
Joined: 13 May 2006
Location: I'm one cool cat!
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| Posted: Fri Dec 07, 2007 3:34 pm Post subject: |
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| Kids College has a bad reputation as a rotten hogwan chain that cheats teachers. |
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thomasdr
Joined: 02 Feb 2005
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| Posted: Mon Dec 10, 2007 6:51 pm Post subject: |
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| The Kids College I worked for had absolutely nothing to do with the franchise other than using its name. They didn't even order books for them. I can't see how the behavior of any other Kids College could influence the situation at the school in Busan because their only connection is in name. Again, Hitler head you are an idiot. Your myopic thinking is why you will be trolling this forum and wasting people�s time until the hakwon industry finally implodes on itself from ineffectiveness. |
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garykasparov
Joined: 27 May 2007
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| Posted: Mon Dec 10, 2007 10:25 pm Post subject: Re: My old school |
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| thomasdr wrote: |
I used to work at the school you are refering to so I can tell you anything you would like to know. As far as hakwons go, it's pretty much what you would expect. They pay on time, though I had to wait for two weeks for my final paycheck, bonus, and airfare until the standard monthly pay day, even though it clearly said in my contract that I would be paid on the last day of work. I think the problem was that they didnt have the money (several teachers were leaving at that time) to pay me, rather than them just not following the contract.
The location of the school is about a 20 minute walk away from the subway station, but your home will be located in Haeundae which is about 30 minutes by subway. You could ask to live closer to the school, but its not in an area where you would want to be, and Haeundae is one of the best places (in my opinion) to live in Korea.
The hours are a little strange because you do kindergarten everyday and teach after school classes to middle and elementary students three days a week. I can say with complete certainty that you will be exhausted after teaching kindy from 10 - 2:30 and, with the addition of 5 or six afternoon classes, you will be wiped out energy wise on those long days. Still, Tuesday and Wednesday you will finish at 2:30 which gives you a lot of free time ( if you can muster it) to enjoy the day.
I don't know if I would have done two years there (I moved to a middle school), but if I had to, it wouldn't have been too bad. The staff is good, especially Kurt who is a unique guy that one can't help but enjoy, and some of them have been there for several years.
If you have any more questions, just ask. |
I think thomasdr left out some information above. I've sent him an e-mail respectfully asking him to answer some questions. I think teachers should give a full report about their schools.
( 1 ) Did your employer issue you a health insurance card? Did your employer deduct the correct amount from your monthly salary for insurance contributions and pay the said contribution to the National Health Insurance Corporation?
( 2 ) Did your employer pay into the Korean National Pension Plan? Did your employer deduct the correct amount from your monthly salary for pension contributions and pay the said contribution to the pension office?
( 3 ) Did your employer deduct the correct amount from your monthly salary for income tax on payday? To your knowledge, were there any teachers registered as independant contractors?
( 4 ) If teachers worked four ( 4 ) hours or more did they take a break?
( 5 ) If teachers worked eight ( 8 ) hours or more did they take a break?
( 6 ) Were you paid overtime wages if you worked more than eight ( 8 ) hours per day?
( 7 ) Did the employer issue the teachers a "pay receipt" clearly stating monthly salary, taxes, and deductions? If so, did the pay receipt bear the school name, date of pay, school address, pay period, and the institute seal?
( 8 ) How many days of paid annual leave were you entitled to and how did you use them?
( 9 ) How many days of paid sick leave were entitled to and did your employer let you use them all?
( 10 ) Was your apartment clean and everything in working order when you moved in?
( 11 ) How many foreign and Korean Teachers worked at the school?
( 12 ) How many students attended the school?
( 13 ) How long were the classes?
( 14 ) What did you do that was not written in your contract? |
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