Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Otherside]

First off, I'm not unhappy with my PS job by any means, I am just curious.

On paper (taking dishonesty, unforeseen circumstances, horrid accomodations etc out of the equation), the average PS job is marginally better than the average Hagwon job: The pay is similar, the teaching time is shorter and there is a little bit more vacation (14 vs the standard 10). Hagwon's often offer shorter working hours though.

My question is this, why don't Public schools buff up their contracts and make them FAR more attractive than hagwon positions, without spending a dime.

Firstly, they offer 14 days vacation (3 working weeks), yet the school is out of session for about 13 weeks. Throw in a few summer/winter camps and the there is still up to 7-8 weeks of off-time to play with. Many teachers on this board boast about how much vacation their PS gives them, i've heard 5, 6, and even 7 weeks mentioned. So why don't they put these days in the contract rather than leave it "up to the principal"which I view as (as mentioned in a couple of jobs ads right here on Dave's) - which I view as "that'll be really nice, but don't count on it". When prospective teachers are weighing up potential jobs, the difference between 10 and 14 days might not matter to many, but when one school is offering 28-35 days vacation vs 10 it changes the ball game completly.
They could also put special "school" holidays in the contract too, some schools are getting a week off in May, I'm not, but my school is giving us an extra 3 days for Chuseok (Hopefully, I get these days too, hehe).

Secondly, the working hours. We are contracted for 22 teaching hours a week, but the work day is a 9-5 (40 hour week). Unless you are teaching overtime, there is little chance of actually being busy for the full 40 hours. The schools could easily shave an hour off the working day at NO cost to anyone - this is especially true at elementary level, where classes are only 40mins each.

I'm not too phased about the working hours, as the schools (from what I've heard and in my experience) are very reasonable regarding time off for errands (banking, immigration etc), but I really feel PS's could blow the current hagwon offerings out of the water by giving the vacation, which they possess.

[nomad-ish]

^ umm... because that would be too logical?

joking aside, those are all really good ideas and definitely would draw the foreign teachers away from hagwons. however, i've heard that some korean teachers are jealous of foreign teachers and don't want us having as much vacation as they do.

also i think some school boards have a low opinion of us and want to keep us "working" as much as possible (during school year, vacation, whatever). some people on dave's have reported that their co-teachers go to these meetings where the board tells them to make their FTs stay and work hard at school and during vacation.

[the foystein]

Simple they don't have to do it.

[LostinKSpace]

Hogwons give ten days vacation but it is at their discretion and they are often not consecutive.

It would be great if we all got the same vacation time, but for once the one size fits all approach isn't adopted in Korea (shock horror). Some schools are significantly, bigger, richer, more autocratic than others and what they choose to do with their staff foreign and Korean varies from school to school.

In short what the Principal says goes, but there is always room for negotiation, especially in relation to time off when there are no students. Hogwons are hardcore money making machines if you are not there they cannot make bank,and they have way fewer "no student" times than PS's if you can get extra vacation from your Hogwon then I suggest that you give up teaching and become a Peace negotiator in the M. East

[moosehead]

a few years ago FT did get more time off as well as could go home after classes were finished.

The FTs I knew then went to hakwons and worked second jobs illegally.

I think this is the biggest reason for the crackdown on FT having to stay at their schools all day because technically, if the PS sponsors their visa, they are responsible for the teacher and if the teacher goes off and teaches illegally somewhere after hours, it still hurts the school in various ways if the teacher is caught, not to mention the PS will lose the teacher if they are deported.

Same for those long vacations - FT could go rack up some big bucks teaching camps or whatever, again mostly illegally. It happens, is a problem. Of course if the visa laws were normalized and allowed for more flexible workplaces, it would help. But until then, we are and will continue to be, screwed but not kissed.

[some waygug-in]

Actually, the Gimhae school district has improved quite a bit over last year.

Foreign teachers are now allowed to leave one hour after the last scheduled class. (which for me works out to 2:30 some days) As far as pay and other benefits, the contract is the same but this one change has made a world of difference.

There were some schools that were fighting city hall over these changes, but I believe that things have been largely straightened out.

Gimhae city hall also has extra after hours classes which are offered to those who want to boost their income, so you don't need to resort to illegal privates. (however, the best gigs get taken really fast)

I'm not saying there are no problems here, there are, but so far I've seen a lot of improvement for foreign teachers .

To those who have been wondering, yes I was very skeptical at first. But I am happy to say that most of my previous concerns have been addressed. My co-teachers are much better this year, although I still don't like co-teaching, things do seem to be improving.

Prayer does help!

cheers

[Taiwantroll]

I teach in a public school as part of the EPIK program and I make approx. (I would rather not be specific) 2.5 million wan, and have 7 weeks paid vacation, providing I re-sign, 5 weeks if I do not. I receive airfare and a month bonus each year.

I don't know how I could do better.

[marlow]

[Dome Vans]

To my mind, the main draw for people to the sweatshops that they call Hagwons is that they don't or can't teach big groups or they can't get up in the mornings.

I get three months paid vacation from my PS every year. Work out in the countryside, the benefits are way better.

[xingyiman]

[Otherside]

[Easter Clark]

[nomad-ish]

[Otherside]

[Dome Vans]