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gnomead
Joined: 28 Jan 2009
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 Posted: Thu Mar 05, 2009 10:56 pm Post subject: questions about GEPIK |
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I'm new to the game and I just got my very first offer at a middle school in Suwon through GEPIK. I was hoping to be able to speak with either a former or current teacher before signing the contract and sending visa documents but that won't be possible since, according to the recruiter, there aren't any at the school right now (what about email?). I'm waiting to hear back at the moment as to whether that means that I'd be the first foreign teacher at the school. Maybe this is standard since I guess you normally don't even know your location until you sign the contract (?). I don't know, but it makes me a little nervous because the recruiter sort of acted like it was a forgone conclusion that I would accept the offer before even sending me a contract or giving me a chance to ask any questions. Since then they've been pretty responsive.
Is it normal to have to sign the contract and send all of your visa documents-including 2 sealed transcripts-before the school signs it?
The application only states that you need to send one transcript so I only ordered two to begin with, now (according to the recruiter) I need to have at least 4: 2 for the visa, 1 for the consulate, and 1 more for the school when I arrive.
I'm just wondering if any of this sounds shady to other people in GEPIK or if I'm worried for no reason.
What about the 7,000 won/hour (non-teaching) overtime clause? Ouch! Is this new, and how likely is it to be assigned such egregious pay? What sort of work might that include? I suppose it depends on the school, but anyone care to comment on their experience? |
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Easter Clark
Joined: 18 Nov 2007
Location: Hiding from Yie Eun-woong
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| Posted: Fri Mar 06, 2009 6:51 am Post subject: |
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| GEPIK is a circus and you are the performing monkey. Dance, monkey! Dance! |
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lifeinkorea
Joined: 24 Jan 2009
Location: somewhere in China
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| Posted: Fri Mar 06, 2009 9:58 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| What about the 7,000 won/hour (non-teaching) overtime clause? |
I wouldn't sign the contract until it states 20,000 won/hour. It's their job to provide you students if they want you to teach overtime. They ALWAYS, let me repeat, ALWAYS, try to mess with overtime ("Because of blah blah happening while the sun was in direct alignment with the moon, we cannot pay you the full overtime this month".) |
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Countrygirl
Joined: 19 Nov 2007
Location: in the classroom
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| Posted: Fri Mar 06, 2009 2:24 pm Post subject: |
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The recruiter assumed that you would take this position because many people want public school positions. But definitely you should still ask questions because some schools are good and some are not. You should try to speak with the teacher who will be your co-teacher. That would be a better indication if you will have a good year or not.
In my opinion, I wouldn't worry about the overtime. The 7,000 won overtime (non teaching) is if the school asks you to do prep overtime. I've never been asked to do this extra work and doubt many others have. Co-teachers used to mess with the 20 won overtime when there are canceled classes or holidays. This policy has changed now.
I would also love to be the first foreign teacher at a school. The school and students are usually more receptive when having a foreign teacher is all shiny and new. |
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bogey666
Joined: 17 Mar 2008
Location: Korea, the ass free zone
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| Posted: Fri Mar 06, 2009 3:26 pm Post subject: |
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I've never been asked to do so called 7K overtime work. this is NOT for teaching classes. It may involve being involved in something that runs past your regular hours and it may involve doing nothing.. or standing somewhere during a school ceremony.. etc etc
it's amusing how people make such a big "issue" out of this when in reality it's NOT really an issue (though disclaimer, it ALL depends on your particular school/principal)
p.s. IMO being the first FT also has downsides. They may be less likely to understand you, may not how to do all the FT paperwork to ensure you get paid on time, etc. and even small things like why you'd prefer to drink your own piss rather than eat their fish soups with them during lunchtime. Actually, the ideal situation is to be a third and beyond FT but one that is more outgoing and willing to endure "Korean culture" with them than the previous ones  |
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Easter Clark
Joined: 18 Nov 2007
Location: Hiding from Yie Eun-woong
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| Posted: Fri Mar 06, 2009 3:49 pm Post subject: |
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| PS is a good wake-up call to the fact that you are in Korea. If you want to experience the culture and all it has to offer (both positives and negatives), then go for it. Just be prepared for what you are getting yourself into. PS ain't no bed of roses and if it's your first teaching job, you'll either toughen up real quick or pull a runner. Good luck to you! |
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UncleAlex
Joined: 04 Apr 2003
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| Posted: Fri Mar 06, 2009 9:24 pm Post subject: Re: questions about GEPIK |
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| gnomead wrote: |
I'm new to the game and I just got my very first offer at a middle school in Suwon through GEPIK. I was hoping to be able to speak with either a former or current teacher before signing the contract and sending visa documents but that won't be possible since, according to the recruiter, there aren't any at the school right now (what about email?). I'm waiting to hear back at the moment as to whether that means that I'd be the first foreign teacher at the school. Maybe this is standard since I guess you normally don't even know your location until you sign the contract (?). I don't know, but it makes me a little nervous because the recruiter sort of acted like it was a forgone conclusion that I would accept the offer before even sending me a contract or giving me a chance to ask any questions. Since then they've been pretty responsive.
Is it normal to have to sign the contract and send all of your visa documents-including 2 sealed transcripts-before the school signs it?
The application only states that you need to send one transcript so I only ordered two to begin with, now (according to the recruiter) I need to have at least 4: 2 for the visa, 1 for the consulate, and 1 more for the school when I arrive.
I'm just wondering if any of this sounds shady to other people in GEPIK or if I'm worried for no reason.
What about the 7,000 won/hour (non-teaching) overtime clause? Ouch! Is this new, and how likely is it to be assigned such egregious pay? What sort of work might that include? I suppose it depends on the school, but anyone care to comment on their experience? |
According to the GEPIK contract I read recently, the OT rate is 20K won an hour. Normally, one submits all required documents for an E2 visa application after the contract is signed. |
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UncleAlex
Joined: 04 Apr 2003
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| Posted: Fri Mar 06, 2009 11:38 pm Post subject: Re: questions about GEPIK |
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| UncleAlex wrote: |
| gnomead wrote: |
I'm new to the game and I just got my very first offer at a middle school in Suwon through GEPIK. I was hoping to be able to speak with either a former or current teacher before signing the contract and sending visa documents but that won't be possible since, according to the recruiter, there aren't any at the school right now (what about email?). I'm waiting to hear back at the moment as to whether that means that I'd be the first foreign teacher at the school. Maybe this is standard since I guess you normally don't even know your location until you sign the contract (?). I don't know, but it makes me a little nervous because the recruiter sort of acted like it was a forgone conclusion that I would accept the offer before even sending me a contract or giving me a chance to ask any questions. Since then they've been pretty responsive.
Is it normal to have to sign the contract and send all of your visa documents-including 2 sealed transcripts-before the school signs it?
The application only states that you need to send one transcript so I only ordered two to begin with, now (according to the recruiter) I need to have at least 4: 2 for the visa, 1 for the consulate, and 1 more for the school when I arrive.
I'm just wondering if any of this sounds shady to other people in GEPIK or if I'm worried for no reason.
What about the 7,000 won/hour (non-teaching) overtime clause? Ouch! Is this new, and how likely is it to be assigned such egregious pay? What sort of work might that include? I suppose it depends on the school, but anyone care to comment on their experience? |
According to the GEPIK contract I read recently, the OT rate is 20K won an hour. Normally, one submits all required documents for an E2 visa application after the contract is signed. |
I overlooked the fact that there are 5 categories or so determining the pay scale salary rate based on experience and certification. If you're at the bottom end of the scale then the overtime pay could be far less than 20k won an hour. Certified Korean teachers get 25K won an hour for OT teaching. At least they did last year, as far as I know, unless my co-teacher told a fib. |
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wylies99
Joined: 13 May 2006
Location: I'm one cool cat!
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| Posted: Sat Mar 07, 2009 5:32 am Post subject: |
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| lifeinkorea wrote: |
| Quote: |
| What about the 7,000 won/hour (non-teaching) overtime clause? |
I wouldn't sign the contract until it states 20,000 won/hour. It's their job to provide you students if they want you to teach overtime. They ALWAYS, let me repeat, ALWAYS, try to mess with overtime ("Because of blah blah happening while the sun was in direct alignment with the moon, we cannot pay you the full overtime this month".) |
True.
GEPIK has been getting shadier lately. Is it true that they have hired someone who used to work for a Hogwan Association? |
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wylies99
Joined: 13 May 2006
Location: I'm one cool cat!
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| Posted: Sat Mar 07, 2009 6:00 am Post subject: Re: questions about GEPIK |
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| UncleAlex wrote: |
| UncleAlex wrote: |
| gnomead wrote: |
I'm new to the game and I just got my very first offer at a middle school in Suwon through GEPIK. I was hoping to be able to speak with either a former or current teacher before signing the contract and sending visa documents but that won't be possible since, according to the recruiter, there aren't any at the school right now (what about email?). I'm waiting to hear back at the moment as to whether that means that I'd be the first foreign teacher at the school. Maybe this is standard since I guess you normally don't even know your location until you sign the contract (?). I don't know, but it makes me a little nervous because the recruiter sort of acted like it was a forgone conclusion that I would accept the offer before even sending me a contract or giving me a chance to ask any questions. Since then they've been pretty responsive.
Is it normal to have to sign the contract and send all of your visa documents-including 2 sealed transcripts-before the school signs it?
The application only states that you need to send one transcript so I only ordered two to begin with, now (according to the recruiter) I need to have at least 4: 2 for the visa, 1 for the consulate, and 1 more for the school when I arrive.
I'm just wondering if any of this sounds shady to other people in GEPIK or if I'm worried for no reason.
What about the 7,000 won/hour (non-teaching) overtime clause? Ouch! Is this new, and how likely is it to be assigned such egregious pay? What sort of work might that include? I suppose it depends on the school, but anyone care to comment on their experience? |
According to the GEPIK contract I read recently, the OT rate is 20K won an hour. Normally, one submits all required documents for an E2 visa application after the contract is signed. |
I overlooked the fact that there are 5 categories or so determining the pay scale salary rate based on experience and certification. If you're at the bottom end of the scale then the overtime pay could be far less than 20k won an hour. Certified Korean teachers get 25K won an hour for OT teaching. At least they did last year, as far as I know, unless my co-teacher told a fib. |
It's more than 25,000. It all depends if the school has "incentives" for the Korean teachers. |
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gnomead
Joined: 28 Jan 2009
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| Posted: Sat Mar 07, 2009 1:17 pm Post subject: |
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| Easter Clark wrote: |
| GEPIK is a circus and you are the performing monkey. Dance, monkey! Dance! |
Ha! I'll be sure to pack my tap shoes.
Countrygirl wrote:
| Quote: |
| You should try to speak with the teacher who will be your co-teacher. That would be a better indication if you will have a good year or not. |
He did offer to put me in touch with the co-teacher but only after I send them a signed contract and all the visa paperwork. It's been almost two days since I asked about being the first teacher at the school and I haven't had a reply, but it is the weekend. More reasons to worry?
| Quote: |
| The 7,000 won overtime (non teaching) is if the school asks you to do prep overtime. I've never been asked to do this extra work and doubt many others have. |
That's good to hear. The thought of being forced to work for $4.50 an hour makes me cringe.
Thanks for the responses. Despite the low pay and the pressure to sign on the dotted line, it seems like the majority opinion is to get a ps job for beginners. I was just hoping to be able to compare offers and I'm still waiting to hear back from a couple of hagwons. I can't help�but feel like a sucker for taking the first offer to come along, but I get the feeling that the recruiter will pass me up if I don't jump�on it soon. Any thoughts about that? |
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Easter Clark
Joined: 18 Nov 2007
Location: Hiding from Yie Eun-woong
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| Posted: Sat Mar 07, 2009 4:03 pm Post subject: |
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| gnomead wrote: |
| I can't help�but feel like a sucker for taking the first offer to come along, but I get the feeling that the recruiter will pass me up if I don't jump�on it soon. Any thoughts about that? |
Yes--recruiters bank on the fact that you'll feel pressured to take the first job they offer you. It's a classic sales tactic--create a false sense of limited availability and a sense that if you don't act now, you won't be able to find anything. Of course it's BS and you should hold out and use multiple recruiters and be very specific about your conditions.
Recruiters try to get rid of the worst jobs first, and you sound like a recruiter's dream come true. It's not a good idea to A) take the first job that comes along and B) use only one recruiter.
That said, if the job you got is teaching the age group you want to teach, living in the city you want to live in, and earning what you want to earn, then it sounds like you did ok...at least until after you get here. Then we'll see what happens. |
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Jammer113
Joined: 13 Oct 2008
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| Posted: Sat Mar 07, 2009 6:29 pm Post subject: |
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Is it normal to have to sign the contract and send all of your visa documents-including 2 sealed transcripts-before the school signs it? |
Yes. Also, note that you're not sending it to your recruiter. You're sending it to Gepik. They're a government organization and they're generally not going to do crappy things like try to hold on to your diploma. When I applied with Gepik, I got all of my diplomas back with the confirmation letter they sent me. As long as you've got the proper qualifications, you'll get the job and everything will be fine. If your recruiter wants you to send THEM the application packet, I'd be worried about a bait and switch.
The school won't sign the contract first as a risk management issue. A lot of teachers sign these contracts and then don't go over. If they sign the contract first, you could keep them hanging for quite a while, in theory. It's perfectly normal for recruiters to be able to place you at a specific school. They are contracted to fill certain positions.
Extra sealed transcripts are cheap and very very useful if you get stuck in an abusive school. So are extra background checks. I'd say, on the whole, there aren't many truly abusive schools, but it's a dice roll whether yours is or not. It also changes every year because Korean teachers rotate through schools every five years. I needed 3 transcripts, because my consulate didn't care.
I've never seen or heard of the 7,000 per hour thing used. It's a similar rate for Korean teachers if they do extra work for the government. For example, if you have to make a booklet for the Gyeonggi education department, they could pay you that. The difference is that Korean teachers also get huge bonus points for advancement for doing that kind of stuff. You get a pat on the back and $4.50 an hour. They could pay you it for other things, as well, I suppose. |
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bogey666
Joined: 17 Mar 2008
Location: Korea, the ass free zone
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| Posted: Sat Mar 07, 2009 7:41 pm Post subject: |
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| it seems like the majority opinion is to get a ps job for beginners. |
opinions vary. IF you get into a very good and reliable hagwon, then the hagwon is probably better in terms of pay and actual hours on site (in PS you're going to be there 8 hrs a day no matter what)
BUT.
a) many people would claim "very good" and "reliable" and "hagwon" is an oxymoronic combination. Bottom line is in a PS you won't have to deal with 70% of all the kvetching on Dave's, re getting paid, getting fired, not getting health/taxes, blah blah blah
b) you can also wind up in a crappy PS.. as opposed to a great PS. This all depends on who your principal and VP are, whether they speak English and how you get along with them. If you can find a school with a VP that speaks English, that's the one I'd go for!!! in a NY minute!
then you'll have to ask yourself questions about yourself.
Are you mentally strong enough to survive a bit of isolation? in a PS you'll be the only FT around... and depending on where you live, you may feel quite isolated, socially and otherwise, without an opportunity to interact with other Westerners.
or... are you a social butterfly? and need groups and social circles to make you happy?
if it's the latter, if you go to a PS, make sure it's in a place with a decent FT population within that city. |
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sojusucks
Joined: 31 May 2008
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| Posted: Sun Mar 08, 2009 1:35 am Post subject: Re: questions about GEPIK |
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Two things:
1. I have heard a bit of interesting gossip lately. At a bar in Seoul (not Seoul Pub), some drunk guy came up and started chatting with me. I think he was trying to go for a college look with the baseball cap, stubble, blue jeans, and t-shirt, which is sad because the guy was obviously in his late 30s. So pathetic.
Anyway, he mentioned that "GEPIK hired someone who worked for a hagwon assoc." This was interesting and so I asked me school about it. Everyone at my school (that can speak English) said that Harim Lee used to work for a Hogwan Association. I asked other foreign English teachers about Harim Lee and they said that "she's in charge of cheating foreign teachers" and that "Dain Bae is helping her."
2.
| UncleAlex wrote: |
| ...Certified Korean teachers get 25K won an hour for OT teaching. At least they did last year, as far as I know, unless my co-teacher told a fib.[/color] |
Korean teachers at my school are also paid 25,000 Won per hour and so was I. We shouldn't be paid less. After all, a Korean degree is worth less than those in Western countries (it's sad but true): http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200805/200805160015.html. Perhaps the prevalence of fake degrees have contributed to this: http://sktimes.egloos.com/121763. |
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