Korean Job Discussion Forums

[afsjesse]

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2009/04/117_43929.html

What do you all think this would do to the availability and price of private lessons?

Beat ya Willey!

[Yesterday]

The state-backed human rights agency suggested Monday that English-teaching E-2 visa regulations be eased to allow native English teachers to work at non-educational public and private organizations on a part-time basis.

The Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission said it had filed a petition with the Ministry of Justice to call for the visa rule amendment, claiming it will help numerous workers and their employers receive better English education and save money.

Under current law, E-2 holders are in principle banned from holding secondary jobs at non-educational public or private organizations. Even public and private institutes with appropriate educational facilities must employ E-2 visa holders full-time to get lessons from them.

``Once rectified, more than 1.3 million corporate workers are expected to benefit from the change, making it possible for their employers to save more than 120 billion won ($90 million) annually,'' it said.

``The complaint is now being reviewed. Nothing is certain at the moment,'' a Korea Immigration Service official said.



Privates will still be illegal...

What they seem to want - is for teachers to be allowed to go to a small business, private company, hospital, etc to teach the companies (emloyees of the companies/businesses)...

I doubt - it means they you will finally be able to teach any neighbourhood kids, or adasshi's in a coffee shop or at their house.

Its talking about holding an E-2 visa for your school (main employer) and also be able to get approval to teach additional hours at a business/company.

once again - if it is approved - you will probably still need to get your employers permission statement and Immigrations approval.

[kiknkorea]

[Otherside]

In before the F-2/4/5/33 holders complain that this will put their jobs at risk and put their ability to provide for their families at risk (Who cares about E2 holders' families, right?)

[bassexpander]

I think some of us have been around long enough to understand how this sort of thing would likely play out.

More than likely, the employer would grab hold of the opportunity to send you to other job locations so he/she can make more money. E-2 people wouldn't see much of an increase in pay -- just more work at regular OT rates (18,000 per hour?). The boss would pocket the rest.

You think your school is going to "allow" you to work at another school if they're not getting a cut? Ha!

Even F-2's who work at public schools (and Koreans, for that matter) full-time aren't legally supposed to work at a 2nd teaching job. The same goes for university jobs, depending on your title.

If this passes, it will be so Koreans can make more money -- not foreigners who want to ship money out of the country. Believe me, that is certainly a major concern of the Korean gov't. It always is.

What I'm saying is don't get your hopes up.

[Otherside]

Bass, I think you are right.

Only point I'd differ on are the rates. For example, recruiters on worknplay (before they started charging anyways) would offer 40-50K/hour for corporate classes, with the recruiter probably taking a 20-30K cut.

Now I think the same thing would apply, I get shipped out by my school, get paid W40K/hour (vs. my overtime rate of 25K), Boss takes 20K for nothing and corporate saves 20K. Everyone's a winner.

[Adventurer]

I think that would be a good idea. I mean if you could legally make money working side jobs, that might be better than having privates in a way. However, how do you ensure that you're getting paid.

[Rory_Calhoun27]

I always figured part time work was illegal because they couldnt figure a way to TAX it...... sure the bureaucrats start screaming about how it's AGAINST Confucian principles or some other BS..... but really... it's always about the money in the end.

The irony being is that if they allowed such things, a lot of the other problems would clear as well... one big complaint is all the extra free time English teachers have, and how it always ends in one way or another with alcohol or related matters. Now, if those matters shifted to a focus on the PROFIT motive, it could just clear up!


in the words of that great man, Gordon Gecko, "Greed is good.... greed works!"

[T-J]

This is actually something that this commission has been working on for a while:

http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=149857

I guess the difference now is pushing for the part-time restrictions on the visa itself.

I need to look into this organization a little more. They seem to be the kind of group that individuals benefiting from their actions should be supporting.

[John_ESL_White]

hagwons will start advertising at companies. there will be more split shifts advertised. Company XYZ in the morning, break, hagwon in the afternoon/evening.

But, adult companies are not like elem-middle school hagwons. These 'just off the boat' uni kids are going to find it hard to make a group of 30-50 something year old professionals inerested in their lessons and general conversation for an hour.

It's one thing to edu-tain a table of 3rd graders and a whole 'nother beast to keep the interest of a group of professional adults who probably have a high English proficiency.

The biggest complaint I hear from current companies I work for is that the recruiters tend to send them young, early 20-somethings, who have no knowledge of business, etc. I've taught at places that held had 3 classes with a young kid before they gave them the boot.

So, I don't really see this as a threat to the F-visa crowd. If anything, it'll make us more valuable once they see what gets passed off at them for cut rate prices.

I welcome the competition. Heck, anyone (E-2) who can do it is already doing it on their E-2 anyway.

[FistFace]

You guys can keep the 1 hour in the AM corporate gigs. Block shifts at public schools or hagwons at 40,000 an hour is what I would jump at. As soon as you start piece'n and cut'n up the day, you're out of day and have no life. Sure, you're making money, but what's the point if you've got no life?

[John_ESL_White]

[BigBuds]

[Robot_Teacher]

You mean to tell me, my you know whats, are going to become legal in Korea? Why I didn't know they were illegal to have Korea as they're attached and a natural part of being a human!!! I'm speaking on behalf of you humans as robots don't have privates.

OK, private English lessons is the subject. I've been here 2 months and not one offer or interest in me teaching English outside of the classroom has broached. No one has approached me, but I live in a small town where those interested in English get it for free from me at school or go to the GnB academy that has 1 English speaking Korean teacher. It's the only English hagwon in my town. Demand for English is low. Maybe in the cities, you can really score this extra $50/hour gravy work just talking with people and answering their questions they have about the English language as they're is this big English push to get into good uni and good job.

[Whistleblower]

As long as you don't touch my privates you will be okay.