Korean Job Discussion Forums

[rayjoy]

I got my EPIK contract in the mail and it looks to be expected, but there are some weird things. I know others have posted about the 6,000 won/hr of overtime for "extra Work Hours or Work days" and speculated it was for field trips or overnight trips. When we asked our recruiter to clarify since the contract states we will not be asked to work Saturdays, Sundays or National Holidays and we'll be compensated 20,000 won per extra class we teach. She said "It's if you stay late doing work, not teaching." What work? Can we ask to get something specific in writing?

Also, it says if you teach at more than one location, you get an extra 100K won a month. BUT during breaks you may work in more than one location for no extra compensation. Can't we ask for this to be added to our salaries if this is the case?

Also, I'm going as a couple. We just got the basic "Your apartment may include blah blah blah"... on the contract.
a) Should we ask for a two bedroom or is that expected?
b) If we are working for different schools (which we won't know til we get there), isn't one of us entitled to the apartment and the other to the living allowance if we share?

It seems like these contracts are set in stone. I didn't even get an email copy, I got the hard copy Fedexed to me. I've got some verbal attempts at clarification from my recruiter, but is that enough? It's not a bad contract, I just want to get screwed. Or show up and realize that others were able to get things they asked for.

Finally, I am 99% sure this is just one year in Korea. I know the semester ends in July and people teach camps after that but can usually negotiate some time off in August? I'd prefer to just leave early and go back home, especially since I'm hoping to teach in another country in Sept '09. Anyone's EPIK contract end early? What do you do all of August? Is it even possible to get my return airfare early instead of vacation time?

[icicle]

Although it may be possible to finish your contract early ... You need to expect that not working for the whole year (even by a couple of days) could mean losing your return airfare and the extra months pay that you get for working 12 months.

The program public school contracts do generally tend to be non-negotiable especially for the 1st year. If you really did want to negotiate something or clarify parts of the contract you will need to do that with the employer rather than with the recruiter. Recruiters have been known to say anything to get you to sign the contract ... and are not the person who is involved in any way in the actual implementation of the contract.

[pecan]

You mentioned that you are a couple. Are you a "married" couple? If so, I would suggest taking the housing allowance for one of you and living in the place that they provide for the other.

You might end up in a really small place, but if you are a married couple, they are supposed to provide housing for such. Taking the housing allowance can help you save.

If they put up a fuss, then ask for two places (they will have to furnish both of them). You can live in the one place and sublet the other and make more money than the 300,000 housing allowance they provide.

Just be careful who you rent to and get a deposit from them to cover the cost of all the furnishings, etc. (a real estate office can help you prepare a legally binding contract for a small fee)

Good luck.

-Nut

[sakim]

hi, I am curious

when did you send in your application to EPIK? It came pretty fast. I am still waiting for mine.

[TheUrbanMyth]

[TheUrbanMyth]

[I_Am_The_Kiwi]

my 2c on the housing....

im here with my gf, we have a nice big house 2 bedrooms, office etc...comfortable and spacious for 2 of us. It is expected you will have a large house that is comfortable for 2 people. should definitely have 2 bedrooms and a large living room. Basically something you could get for 600K cos you got 2 people in it. If its an absolute dive i think you can ask for a new place.

If you want to insist on getting a place for one person, and then living together to get the extra money you need to think about a few things first.


a) you will be at different schools, whoever has their school sorting the apartment will most likely find one near the school, means that the other will have to travel further. If u have a couples place the will find somewhere in between thats good for both of you.

b) If EPIK want to be dicks - and they love to be - you could wnid up with a single room apartment, everything in one room with only a shower/toilet in a separate room, these are very small and id hate to share em.

c) the apartment will be furnished to accommodate one person only. Means a small couch, possibly a single bed - if they want to be dicks they can - small fridge etc etc u get the idea.

Trying to save on that extra 300K could be worth it, but be very careful they dont try to screw you cos your trying to get more money out of them!

[I-am-me]

I am perusing the GEPIK contract and i dont like the clause stating we have to teach other teachers english. That is not what we are here for. I am not asking other teachers for private math or social studies classes, why should they? Has anybody been able to delete this clause?

[aarontendo]

[cruisemonkey]

PS contracts are quite vague in many respects, but that's never been a problem (at least for me):

Will you do a two-week, district winter camp (12 hrs./day) for an extra 1.6 million?
"No."

Will you teach afterschool classes for 40,000/class?
"No."

Will you teach two Canadian 'culture' classes for 50,000/class?
"No."

Will you teach K-English teachers (in another city) for three weeks during summer vacation?
"No."

Will you do a one and a half-day, one-night, camp for a tiny rural school out on an island for 200,000?
"No."

See a pattern?

[rayjoy]

[Draz]

[I_Am_The_Kiwi]

If its not in the contract...its not happening.

Plain and simple - not paid enough to do extra shit and overtime aint enough to make it worthwhile....