Korean Job Discussion Forums

[McQwaid]

Hello all,

I'm a Canadian going to Korea for Mar.1. I've been a long time Dave's reader but just got my acct activated, so I'm excited about asking some questions to some talented Korean analysts. Based on what I have read so far, there truly are some intellectual minds offering great advise to fellow Dave users.

First of all, I just had an interview in Toronto with three Korean employees that flew in to specifically to recruit ten teachers to work for the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education. I got the job, and I've been positioned with the Seoul Education Traing Institute ( AKA - Seoul Metro Teacher Training Institute ). My contact with these people was made through CEC - Canadian Education Centre, and this is where the interview was.

So, I got the Job! I will be training Korean teachers. I did my research on Blacklists, and from what I gather, I should be safe. The U.S. Embassy has the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education listed on their website as a contact for teachers in Korea if they are being treated unfairly
Please correct me if I'm wrong, but is it safe for me to assume that I am in fairly good hands, as far as abuse goes ( illegal wise). I'm kinda curious what you guys think.

Also, my contract deal is like this:

1.9 mil W
Single housing in brand new building on the traing facility which looks similar to a university campus according to the web picture.
Gym, Tennis crts, pool ect are all on the facility located in Seocho-gu
40 hr wrk week with 22 actual teaching hrs, 8hrs a day, Mon-Fri
300,000 W settelment allowance when i arrive
Of course air fare 2 way, severence, 21 day vacation, 1 yr contract with steps to get out of contract early, health coverage, sick leave ect.
Furnished appt with computer and internet
My own desk and computer in the SETI office
1 week orientation period

I'm kinda familiar with the offers out there, so I'm thinking I did OK, considering my first yr and all. I forgot to mention that I have a BA and a B Ed, but no teaching experience other then a little bit of supply work and the teaching practicum. I would appreciate some other opinions on this.

Is there anyone familiar with the organizations I have mentioned - CEC Can. Ed. Centre, or SMOE or SETI?

Also some advise on this contract detail would be nice: This is not on contract but the Job description says -

"Actual class instruction hours of employee shall not exceed 22hours per week. (If exceeded, employee shall be entitled to a supplementary class instruction pay at the rate of 20,000 won per hour and if they work over time, over time pay will be provided at the rate of 6,000 won per hour) "
The actual contract says " Overtime may be required and overtime pay will be provided" , but no mention of pay rate?
Maybe I ain't reading it right, but one sentence says overtime is 20,000 W/hr, then the next sentence says 6000 W/hr. Does anyone else think there is funny wording here?

Also, this detail is on the contract:

Article 7, sec 3:
"employer may designate employee to work at other educ. facilities under Seoul Metropolitan Office Of Education part time as needed. In this case, Employee shall not claim additional pay."

Is it me, or does something sound funny here? Before I sign the contract I'm gonna ask them to reword it. Will they Re-word it, what's the harm besides having to mail out a new contract. maybe I'm missing something here. Any suggestions?

My last question is this - how much Canadian money should I bring with me, to get through the 1 st month. They are giving me a 300,000 W settlement allowance but I know I need more.

Sorry about the long note. I guess the first post at Dave's is always the longest.

[TECO]

newbie - shorten it up a bit - LOL!!

[schwa]

It sounds like the standard govt contract for native speakers, same as epik & independent public schools offer. You shouldnt have any worries about being cheated.

I cant speak directly about SMOE but in general terms the key to having a smooth time in a bureaucracy here is to be perceived as a relaxed & pleasant teamplayer. They arent going to rewrite the contract for you -- you'll only ruffle feathers by asking. Dont sweat the small details.

As a first tefl job, yeh, I think you did quite well. Stay positive & give your best effort & chances are you'll have a rewarding time of it.

[McQwaid]

Thanks Schwa for the advise
Your the first rsponse I'v ever received. Well, I just did join today, but thanks all the same.

Maybe I won't get them to re-word the contract. It probably will just rock the boat. I hope I don't for it though.

[Mr. Pink]

You might want to bring up this:

If they do farm you out to other offices, are they going to pay your transportation costs? Since I am assuming you will live NEAR where you work and won't have to worry about those costs, if they farm you out around Seoul, it might be something to consider.

Oh and 300k won't get you far if you go nuts buying stuff. I'd suggest another 500 bucks Canadian and a credit card on hand would be more than enough. Just dont go drinking all the time until you get your first pay check.

[VanIslander]

You seem to have some unusual advantages in the position: new building, computer and Internet in your apartment AND desk and computer at the office, 21-day vacation and more sports facilities onsite than the city I live in!

But what about the exit clause in the contract? I don't have one. Is it both ways? What's the period of notice? Then again, why bother wondering if you're going to take the position. I too think it's best not to worry about the smaller things. Work at developing good relationships even over the bumps, and there are always bumps in the road.

As for them giving 300,000 won upfront, that's exactly how much I started off with and it lasted the whole month! I recommend that if you are financially constrained to try to eat mostly Korean food your first month because it's amazingly cheap. Buses offer great service for basement prices and taxis aren't just for luxury. YOUR FIRST MONTH IS A PERIOD OF ADJUSTMENT ANYWAY. You'd be better off using that time focusing on your new job and relationships with Korean boss, co-workers, landlord and the like. After payday you could probably afford the time and money to enjoy the cosmopolitan diversions of Seoul.

And, oh yeah, about "payday". You shouldn't have much problem given it's a big institution but here in Korea it's not a taboo for an employer to pay employees a few days late. I was advised to just ask the employer for an advance if you need some money to tie you over. The advice has served me well.

Have fun!

And remember that you're entering it with your eyes wide open about working overtime, here, there and everywhere. And don't expect much notice. About ten minutes beforehand is customary. Life is different in Korea.

[the_beaver]

Used to work for SMOE back in the day (before they moved to the friggin' great facilities they have now).

Overall, it's good and you should take it, but let me give you the bad:

You be living in the dorms, which I've been given to understand are very nice, but I hate living in dorms. The dorms are on the SETI site, and the whole shooting match is in, as far as Seoul goes, the middle of nowhere.

Those 22 teaching hours are okay, but you have to be on site for the rest of the time. In my day we taught a 15 hour week and still had to be there from 9 to 6 every day (even days when we weren't teaching) -- that's the main reason I quit.

[Seoul Skye]

You've signed on to a very decent place to teach. The facilities are great. I checked them out when I attended the International KOTESOL Conference last October. For a first job, it beats just about any other offer you might have received. Best wishes.

[McQwaid]

Thanks for the advise Mr.Pink. I'll keep an eye on that transportation thing. I've read many of your posts, so I guess I'm kind of a fan

Van islander - It's not really 21 days vacation. It's 7 days mandatory holidays and 14 of my own paid vacation days. As for the exit clause, it goes like this - give 30 day notice. if within 1st six months - Have to pay back airfare. After six months don't have to pay back airfare but visa is cancelled. Nothin special, but get this - if I renew my contract they fly me home for two weeks and get paid and it counts as two weeks off the new contract. This is not my vacation period.

Beaver - What did you mean when you said " the whole shooting match is in, as far as Seoul goes, the middle of nowhere"
Also, when you worked for SMOE, and you had to be there, but wasn't teaching, what are you doing? Is my time to prepare lessons. If so, this will be the first time I've ever been paid for lesson planning.

Thanks again for the responses everyone.

[the_beaver]

[schwa]

Sounds like yours is a carboncopy of my contract (lower end of the payscale though). That 14 days is workdays only, means you can roll in 2 or 3 weekends & have a nice break if they let you take it all at once. Timing will be at their mercy & dont expect tons of advance notice.

Its not in the contract but its Ministry of Education policy to provide up to 100k won a month for job-related travel (should you have to). Its not based on actual out-of-pocket costs but they have some kind of distance/compensation formula. They might just say sorry but its worth an ask if you find yourself in that situation.

Yeh, paid prep. You might well find the hours useful at first but once you get the swing of things you will probably find them excessive. If its anything like my office (& probably is) you can use that time to surf the net, write emails, take frequent coffee breaks, nap. Its all about putting in the facetime like Korean salarymen do.

The advice above of bringing an extra $500 is good. Hagwons are usually good about cash advances but govt offices have less flexibility. Borrow it beforehand if you need to & you wont spend it all but you'll enjoy not having to scrimp. You'll be able to repay it from your first paycheck. Unless youve got tons of debt back home, youre gonna really like the amount of disposable income a reliable job here provides.

[Cdntik]

I did an internship with the CEC Network in HCMC, Vietnam. From my experience, it was an excellent organization (although I was mainly dealing with the office in Vancouver). Let me know if you have any more questions about them and good luck.

[ed]

1 thing I would adviSe is that you ask for adviCe and more people will probably help you

good luck

[kangnamdragon]

[McQwaid]

[/quote]1 thing I would adviSe is that you ask for adviCe and more people will probably help you .

Sorry, but I've already received all the help I need from this post. If your bored find a crosswrod puzzle or a Word Search. Don't go looking for peoples spelling errors on Dave's.