Korean Job Discussion Forums

[justin moffatt]

Does anyone have any information regarding working conditions at Sogang University Language Institute? Some colleagues and I have been approached regarding part time employment. However, the director seems extremely tempermental and inflexible.

[ttompatz]

[justin moffatt]

Language Institute on campus. The full time contract looks horrible.

[jjurabong]

I wrote several long posts detailing my experiences there about 4 years ago...tried to dig them up for you, but it was too long ago.

Basically, 4 years ago, they "closed" the hogwon, giving us all the 30 days basic notice. We were all a group of long-timers, ranging from me being a relative newbie at 4 years to a guy who worked there over 10 years. They got rid of us all by closing, and reopened a few months later with crappy contracts and pay.

ONe teacher sued Sogang and won, but not for this issue.After he won, Sogang settled with several of us other teachers who were also threatening to sue. We got a settlement for unpaid vacation pay (it's complicated and from what I've heard they are not offering the same contracts that contained that loophole anymore ) which we never would have even noticed had they not pissed us all off enough for us to start checking everything with a fine-tooth comb.

It was a great place to work. Nobody wanted to leave. So, we were all working our way up the pay scale and were a pretty tight-knit group with a foreign supervisor who protected us from a lot of admin stupidity. They felt that they were paying us too much ( We had a per-minute teaching rate that went up every two years. Our 10-year vet had maxed out the pay scale. We were all quite well-paid), and couldn't "control" us the way that they could less experienced teachers. They couldn't fire any of us, because we were, for the most part, a pretty good bunch of teachers. So they just closed the department. Very unethical, ungrateful bunch of people.

Now, this was 4 years ago. I can't speak for what's happening there now. Just don't get too comfortable there...

[SuperHero]

Things are different now - I know one teacher who is in her second contract there and she is quite happy. Other than that, there is the history of closing down for six months and then re-opening with new teachers.

[jjurabong]

As I mentioned, we were all very happy there, as well.
It was a great place to work. There was no foul play up until they closed, and I personally would have stayed there had they not pulled what they did.

They didn't give us an option of staying on and signing the new contracts. They just lied about being forced to close. The acted legally, but not ethically.

Anyone thinking of working there should know that this happened, just to have your eyes open.

[justin moffatt]

I have absolutely no interest in working at the Language Institute full time. My sense is that seem pretty desperate to find full time instructors. I am extremely reluctant to even consider part time employment based on my conversations with the Director. Anyone else have any info?

[Shimokitazawa]

Tompatz, or anyone else:

What feedback do you have on the General English Language Program?

Thanks.

[SuperHero]

[Biblethumper]

The same thing happened at a pulp and paper mill not far from where my parents live:

The union got so powerful and the owners so timid, that the employees were being paid unprofitable wages. Something like $20/hour for a beginning employee to sweep the floor, for example.

Eventually, the company sold out to escape its debt. The new owners met with the union and asked to renegotiate the wages. The union refused. The new owners closed the mill and moved all the parts to another of their mills.

There is a moral to this story.

[some waygug-in]

There is a moral, yes. The old adversarial labor system just doesn't work these days. Employee buyout is the only way to go.

It's amazing the kinds of attitudinal changes that happen when employees suddenly become shareholders and actually make more money when the company does, or make less when the company loses.

[Bibbitybop]

Which "Sogang University" establishment teaches elementary children? A friend from the US got an offer from them and wants to know the conditions of the school and staff.

[Hanson]

[Rainman3070]

[quote="jjurabong"]They couldn't fire any of us, because we were, for the most part, a pretty good bunch of teachers.
quote]

That is the funniest part. Love listening to english teachers who think they are indispensable. lol

[The Grumpy Senator]