Korean Job Discussion Forums

[david]

I was asked to meet with my boss last Friday after work. They approached me ten minutes before we were to meet. I agreed and got a quick reminder as to how some businesses in the Cheonan area operate.

A student cried in one of my classes earlier in the week shortly after I asked him to perform the same task ( one he was capable of ) I'd asked everybody else in the class to perform. His mother complained to the boss later that day.

A day later came another incident I thought nothing of until it was brought up in the meeting Friday night. I asked a student to come to the board and complete the second row ( 3 squares ) of a four column chart I created on the board. I'd done the first row as an example and assumed he'd have little difficulty with it. He did have some difficulty, but I clarified things ( a few students assisting ) and he worked out the answer. This boy didn't cry. He was visibly flustered however and I almost asked him to sit down shortly before he worked the answer out.

The school fired me last Friday night. ( No notice or anything. Even after I offered to apologize and/or meet with the parents of both boys. ) The school gave me a letter of release and I've found a new job. Two things:

1) Cancellation of E2 visa: I don't think the school has done it. Must I accompany a representative of the school to a labor board to accomplish this?

2) Money: The school owes me 1,325,000 won for a few weeks work. After legitimate deductions I'm down to 900,000 won. The school is telling me I'm not due this amount because the two students left because of me. ( I'm responsible for 900,000 won in fees and am due zero according to my director's son. ) What options do I have? Has anyone else out there gone through something similar?

[rationality]

[ChinaBoy]

[plynx]

[rationality]

[moosehead]

yeah, they definitely told you how hakwons in Cheonan operate, huh??

(1) you are due 30 days notice IF and only IF you've been there at least 6 months - which you didn't say; if you have, please call the Labor board and discuss it with them - 1350 anywhere in K, an E speaking person will come on the line if you ask, they will discuss the problem w/you and tell you where the closest location for you to go is

(2) it's good they gave you an LOR - sounds like perhaps they've already got another foreign teacher lined up and ready to go so they wanted you out - or else they are strapped for cash and just wanted an excuse to get rid of you - if they are bleeding students, then that could be it. however, they do owe you the cash if your accounting is correct, unfortunately, if you've been there less than 6 months there's not much you can do except insist and try and stand your ground, hoping they will cave. showing up next week when the mothers are there and making a fuss might help, but then again, it might not.

(3) to get your visa canceled they need to contact immi - they can go w/you which is usually the case - go to immi first thing Monday and tell them your contract has ended and ask for an Exit Order. they'll call the school and verify - you don't want any problems getting a new E2 so go thru channels and do it right.

how are you set for housing? are you ok?

sounds like you got a raw deal - sorry to hear it - hang in there.

[plynx]

[rationality]

[shifty]

David, old chap, couldn't help noticing that you enlisted on Daves way in back in 2003, but perhaps you've been an irregular patron.. Anyway, I think Moosehead has yr number and you should take his advice.

The incident with the sensitive student is quite normal and prevalent with even experienced teachers. You did nothing wrong!! Any decent director would have deflected the parent from yr ass, sounds like he has other agendas and you're missing from them.

[yingwenlaoshi]

They have to pay you for what you worked. I'd be up and down and on both sides of them screaming if they weren't paying me for that. Screaming like a motherfkr.

They don't have to give you notice, like another poster said, before the six month mark. I'm not totally postive on the six-month thing, though. It's a pretty employer sided law if so. But that's the general idea. My last employer fired me after four months, but they were nice enough to give me a month without having anything in writing, etc.

They can't, and I mean CAN'T, not pay you for what you worked. That's just fkg evil.

By the way, don't put students too much on the spot. I do, but not up on the board in front of everyone. It's good to case it out and figure who to bug and who not to. One of my faults, too. But hey, what can you do?

It's not your fault.

[maingman]

david

2) Money: The school owes me 1,325,000 won...

its only money

[rationality]

[mountainous]

[Easter Clark]

Your new school can easily transfer your visa (I don't see any reason to cancel it), but if I were you I'd get out of the country for a few days and take a breather. Sorry about the firing, but surely it's a blessing in disguise.

[Yu_Bum_suk]