Korean Job Discussion Forums

fromtheuk · Joined: 31 Mar 2007

My gyeonggi p.s. contract ends at the end of April 2008.

My bills here are very cheap and I don't know how expensive bills are in Seoul, I've also heard the quality of apartments for public school employees varies.

I apologize for my ignorance but I just read the pay scale for SMOE is from 1.8-3.0 million won a month.

If I stay where I am my pay will go up from 2-2.1 million won. But in the long term, SMOE seems to be a better choice, unless the bills are really high.

Are the bills in Seoul high and do you think my analysis is accurate?

I'm married now, so we've considered going to Thailand for a while after the current contract ends and then we'd return to Korea in Aug/Sep, to work at a p.s. in Seoul.

My co-teacher popped in today and raised the issue of me re-signing with this school. She mentioned my demands of 6 calendar weeks vacation (total) and whether I would stay if my requests/demands were not met.

I said I would probably stay where I am if they were refused. But I want more vacation time, and I know Seoul offers that.

I feel a bit confused.

Atavistic · Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2008 8:31 pm Post subject: Re: Seoul public schools

fromtheuk · Joined: 31 Mar 2007

Well, by all accounts the P and VP are not kind individuals. During camps I have to stay here until 4.40pm everyday (yes, I know it's in my contract).

I don't trust my co-teacher, but other staff at my school have also bad mouthed the VP and P too.

My co-teacher said a while back I shouldn't expect them to say yes to my demands.

I know I shouldn't have said I'll probably stay anyway, but I may not stay if they refuse the demands, because of the reasons mentioned in the OP. I just said it off the cuff, I dislike talking to my co-teacher. I forgot to mention, my co-teacher will leave in April for 1 year which means I will definitely get a new co-teacher.

I am overjoyed she is leaving.

That was why I said I may stay anyway. Because I cannot stand her, she is the main reason I don't want to stay, along with vacation time being too short.

Even if I said I wouldn't stay if they declined my requests, I don't expect them to say yes to keep me, they can find another teacher quite easily, even though it could be a bit more hassle than retaining me.

nobbyken · Joined: 07 Jun 2006 Location: Yongin ^^

How about asking for 6 weeks of unpaid leave?
May be a more appetizing request?

cmr · Joined: 22 Mar 2006

I don't think the "unpaid leave" is a good idea. That could be the beginning of many "unpaid" vacation days.

It's not impossible to get 6 weeks off a year. Some people et that. If you had to stay that long at school not teaching or doing anything related to teaching, then they can certainly afford to let you go for 6 weeks. IT all depends on the principal and also a little bit on how well you can negociate.

nomad-ish · Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2008 3:04 pm Post subject:

fromtheuk · Joined: 31 Mar 2007

If I threatened to leave in the event of them refusing my demands, I would have to go through all of the new stupid visa process, which I can't be bothered with.

The Principal has a reputation for being difficult, so I won't feel extremely hard done by, if my requests are not granted.

I'm comfortable in my apartment, will have a new co-teacher soon, and now that I have a brand new English room, I am content, but always looking for more.