Korean Job Discussion Forums

nev · Joined: 04 Jan 2004 Location: ch7t

I teach 42 classes a week of 40 minutes each, but 40 minutes is 40 minutes, and not counted as an hour as some schools have. Typically, I'm in the school from 9.50am to 6.30 or 7pm. The age range is from 4 to 13 and ability range varies, but most of the kids are good kids. The most in a class is 12 kids. 1.8 a month.

I think I've got an ok deal, but from some people I gather that I've got quite a lot of classes. Although there's never been a problem with getting paid (according to the other English teachers) the place is badly managed and the Korean and English teachers quite unhappy and many seriously considering leaving.

My question is, do you think I've got a good deal or bad deal? I know I could do a lot worse regarding a teaching job, but are better jobs commonplace and easy to come by? I wasn't thinking about another job until this week where it's transpired the school is in financial difficulty and I'd rather get out of a sinking ship before it goes under.

Cheers

The Great Wall of Whiner · Joined: 24 Jan 2003 Location: Middle Land

It's all relative.

1.8 million for working so many hours and for such a spread of time is in my opinion a tad unfair.

You should have researched a bit more before signing on, but hindsight is always 20/20.

Then again, who am I to speak? I just finished (well, walked out of) the lousiest job I've ever had teaching abroad and I'm well qualified and experienced.

I said you figure you could have had it much worse but you know...I don't really know how much worse you could have done.

1.8 million is the bottom end of wages. And teaching from late 9 AM in the morning to well past the afternoon (into the evening!) at 7 PM.

For reference, my last jobs in Korea were:

2.2, 2.0, and 2.1 respectively and I never worked more than 6 hours a day.

buddy bradley · Joined: 24 Aug 2003 Location: The Beyond

Are you American/Canadian?

osangrl · Joined: 04 Nov 2003 Location: osan

good question buddy.....

Yes that is alot of hours, but i was working that and making that my first year....sounds like a first timer contract, that u go into with blind ignorance.

But hey you signed you gotta visa, you gotta deal with it.

I learned my deal sucked shortly after i arrived , but they were fair, paid on time, etc......so i just stuck it out just invisioning a new contract, a second one............that would be better............

and it was worse!!

im soooooooooo dumb.

prairieboy · Joined: 14 Sep 2003 Location: The batcave.

You probably could have gotten better/fewer working hours and better pay if you had researched a bit more.

But, with that said, if you are being treated well, being paid on time and in full, if you are enjoying your experience so far and have no complaints other than what someone else may say about working too many hours and not receiving enough pay, then you've got a good deal.

It's how you feel about the place that ultimately matters.

If you feel like you've been taken advantage of or lied to then maybe you should look elsewhere.

For comparison here's what happened to me when I first came to Korea:

I didn't do any research when I first came to Korea and luckily ended up with a pretty good contract and a relatively decent hogwon. I only worked 144 classes of 40 minutes each per month for 1.8. When I worked more than 144 I got overtime and never had a problem with pay other than twice I was paid late because of a holiday or a weekend.

If you like the place and conditions are acceptable, then stay. If you want more then look for a new place and try to go about things the right way, like giving notice of your intent to leave when you've got a new job lined up.

Cheers and good luck with your decision.

nev · Joined: 04 Jan 2004 Location: ch7t

Yeah, I just took the first job offered because I needed to get away to Korea as soon as possible.

Though it's hard work, I still feel fairly satisfied with it. My apartment's decent and in a great location. My only concern is about the dissatisfaction of the other teachers (Korean and English) and the rumour of financial problems.

But presuming the school doesn't disintegrate, then I know I can work there for a year, and it'll be good experience. And with luck if I do decide to stay for another year, I can do some proper research and get a job that'll seem easy by comparison.

Son Deureo! · Joined: 30 Apr 2003

The salary is a bit light, but other than that I'd say you have a pretty typical first year deal. If you teach kindy, 10-7 is a pretty decent schedule. It can be a lot worse.

Korean teachers complaining? That's pretty normal, they get a pretty raw deal. Financial instability? Welcome to the world of kiddy hogwons, especially in the current economy. That's very normal right now.

hellofaniceguy · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Location: On your computer screen!

The korean teachers always seem to complain about the non korean teacher. That's their (the korean teachers) fault for agreeing to teach many classes a day and paid slave wages. As for the OP; I think you are letting the school owner use you. And no one can use you unless you let them. 40 classes a week! Are you a robot? No one can teach 40 classes a week and do a GOOD job of teaching. No one can teach over 5 classes a day a do a good job either. You have to prepare for these classes also. Next contract around, you know what to look for for and ask for.