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redhed
Joined: 05 Nov 2008
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 Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2008 1:46 pm Post subject: Which job?? |
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Hey y'all....
Perhaps one or more of you can help me out with some advice. I was contacted yesterday and offered two jobs in the greater Seoul area. Job one is a public school position, paying me 1.9 monthly. The other a private school paying me 2.3 million monthly with the expectation that I be a conversational instructor, explained to me as more games and conversing and less structured work/tests/planning. Now it seems to me that getting significantly more money to do what sounds like less work is sweet. Though I am interested in actually acquiring some classroom skills and perhaps using the experience in future. At any rate just curious as to what y'all think. Also, I should note that the private school employed a close friend of mine for three years and she claims no problems with payment, hours, apartment or any of the other horror stories I've heard about some hagwons. Thanks. |
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Zaria32
Joined: 04 Dec 2007
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| Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2008 2:11 pm Post subject: |
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I like hogwons, and those who talk about "hogwon hell" have usually had a legitimately bad experience, but assume all hogwons are that way.
1.9 versus 2.5 is a big difference...and you'll almost certainly have more fun in the private (hogwon) school. You have the recommendation of someone who worked there for 3 years...go for it. |
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afsjesse
Joined: 23 Sep 2007
Location: Kickin' it in 'Kato town.
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| Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2008 2:55 pm Post subject: |
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It would depend on your reasons for coming here. If your looking to save and pay off loans, if the won ever rebounds that is, than the private is obviously your choice.
If your looking for a good experience in teachinng like you said... Public School all the way. I just made the switch and am VERY happy. In PS you also get overtime in most areas so you'd make some more. Don't forget about your camps and paid vacation.
It varies by school but usually you get paid for those camps and some give you great vacation.
Good Luck.
Jesse |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2008 3:15 pm Post subject: Re: Which job?? |
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| redhed wrote: |
Hey y'all....
Perhaps one or more of you can help me out with some advice. I was contacted yesterday and offered two jobs in the greater Seoul area. Job one is a public school position, paying me 1.9 monthly. The other a private school paying me 2.3 million monthly with the expectation that I be a conversational instructor, explained to me as more games and conversing and less structured work/tests/planning. Now it seems to me that getting significantly more money to do what sounds like less work is sweet. Though I am interested in actually acquiring some classroom skills and perhaps using the experience in future. At any rate just curious as to what y'all think. Also, I should note that the private school employed a close friend of mine for three years and she claims no problems with payment, hours, apartment or any of the other horror stories I've heard about some hagwons. Thanks. |
Damn... the devil IS in the details.
1.9 million, 40 hours per week - BASE PAY. (22 classes per week).
2.3 million, 30 CLASSROOM hours per week - base pay.
How may classes do you have to teach for 30 CLASSROOM hours?
Is it 30 classes of 50 minutes, 21 classes of 90 minutes or 60 classes of 30 minutes. - It makes a HUGE difference.
How about medical - yup, it's in the contract but do you ACTUALLY get it (with the NHIC medical booklet? ASK.
How about pension - are you from Can, AUS or the USA and get it back (along with the matching contributions from your employer).
How much PAID holiday time do you get? -the standard 10 days like most hakwons?
How bout airfare repayment if you leave before the end of the contract? when is repayment no longer required (6 mo, 9mo, 12? CHECK the contract!)
Now compare your 1.9 mil PS job.
You work 9-5 (40 hrs per week). Do you have extra supplemental classes during that time (at 20k won each). Add up to 500k per month to your salary if you do and you are still headed home by 5.
20 WORKING days of paid holidays in the standard contract now (4 calendar weeks). Make DAMN sure you get them. (Don't let some recruiter foist an old contract with 14 days in it.)
Add 2 more weeks of paid holiday if you renew at the same school along with a ticket home and back for your home leave (or other vacation spot if you prefer).
Did I mention pension (add another 9% to your total benefit package).
Of course you NEVER get sick, but 15 days of PAID sick leave along with NHIC medical insurance should the need arise.
Did I mention the other days you get off (with pay) because of things like sports day, school birthday, test days, etc.
Yup... the devil IS in the details.
ASK pointed questions about your hakwon job BEFORE you sign on the dotted line. They WILL hold you to it (even if they do their best to bend it at their convenience.)
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redhed
Joined: 05 Nov 2008
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| Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2008 4:06 pm Post subject: |
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Hey y'all,
Thanks everyone for responding, and so quickly no less. I had been leaning towards a public school job, but the offer of a conversational teaching position from a school I had heard good things about was worth consideration. Ttompatz, I do have a recruiter trying to foist an old contract of 14 days paid vacation off on me. What do you mean exactly by "standard"?? (not a definition please) Is it so standard that I should be able to point this out to him and he changes my contract?? |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2008 4:23 pm Post subject: |
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| redhed wrote: |
Hey y'all,
Thanks everyone for responding, and so quickly no less. I had been leaning towards a public school job, but the offer of a conversational teaching position from a school I had heard good things about was worth consideration. Ttompatz, I do have a recruiter trying to foist an old contract of 14 days paid vacation off on me. What do you mean exactly by "standard"?? (not a definition please) Is it so standard that I should be able to point this out to him and he changes my contract?? |
Depends on which POE you are dealing with.
The current SMOE contract is for 21 days.
The NEW (sept 2009) GEPIK / GPOE contract is 20 days.
(the old one - 2008-2009 was 14 days).
I am NOT sure what the NEW EPIK contract is offering but would be surprised it if it less. |
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bassexpander
Joined: 13 Sep 2007
Location: Someplace you'd rather be.
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| Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2008 4:35 pm Post subject: |
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1.9 for that many hours?
To put it in perspective, I got 2.2 working about the same number of hours 6 years ago. And the exchange rate was a whole lot better.
Tell them you'll take 2.1 for the public school job, and if they can't give you more, then forget it. You'll keep looking.
1.9 is a joke. |
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Mr-Dokdo
Joined: 16 Nov 2008
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| Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2008 4:36 pm Post subject: Re: Which job?? |
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| redhed wrote: |
Hey y'all....
Perhaps one or more of you can help me out with some advice. I was contacted yesterday and offered two jobs in the greater Seoul area. Job one is a public school position, paying me 1.9 monthly. The other a private school paying me 2.3 million monthly with the expectation that I be a conversational instructor, explained to me as more games and conversing and less structured work/tests/planning. Now it seems to me that getting significantly more money to do what sounds like less work is sweet. Though I am interested in actually acquiring some classroom skills and perhaps using the experience in future. At any rate just curious as to what y'all think. Also, I should note that the private school employed a close friend of mine for three years and she claims no problems with payment, hours, apartment or any of the other horror stories I've heard about some hagwons. Thanks. |
This is probably not the response you expected, but here it is: (a) welcome to Korea; (b) you will get shafted; (c) how do you like your shafting? yes, we can do from-behind. |
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Oreovictim
Joined: 23 Aug 2006
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| Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2008 4:37 pm Post subject: |
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If your friend works at the same school (NOT the same chain) then you'll probably be okay. You'll just be one of those rare foreigners with a good hagwon job. I guess that those jobs are out there.
A hogwon again for me? Very unlikely. This is my second year here, and my job's horrible. Six Korean teachers have quit in the last five months. Good God.
By the way, people. When applying for a job, talk to more than one teacher. I talked and talked and talked to the current teacher. I questioned the hell out of her. When I got to the school, I found out that she's Korean/Canadian. At first, I was shocked; I thought, "Uh-oh Korean, I can't trust her." I felt guilty about that. After all, she was from Canada. Then I found out that she lived half her life in Korea. Then I noticed that she was pretty friendly with the director. Yup, turns out that she's sisters with the director and her mom owns the school. It went downhill from there.
Ugh, and I remember Ttompatz telling me in a private message that I should go for public school. |
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