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nspidle
Joined: 28 Apr 2009
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 Posted: Wed May 13, 2009 8:47 am Post subject: I got the ol' Bait and Switch |
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Trying to make a long story short: I was told I would be in Ilsan (which is far enough from Seoul) but when i got here I'm in a place called Paju (5 miles from N. Kr.) I have friends in Seoul and a majority of the foreign teachers community is there. It's important for my success living here, so far from home, to have a group of friends around me. I'm the only foreign teacher at my school and my Korean counterparts don't seem interested in hanging out.
I need some advice on the following:
This switch constitutes a breach of contract in my mind. I'm considering jumping ship to another school. How? I'm also thinking about sticking it out here for a while but bailing in the winter (half way done with my contract). A midnight run seems like a pretty crappy thing to do but I do consider it an option. Would there be a lot of backlash from giving notice of my decision to break my contract? |
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cruisemonkey
Joined: 04 Jul 2005
Location: Hopefully, the same place as my luggage.
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| Posted: Wed May 13, 2009 11:09 am Post subject: Re: I got the ol' Bait and Switch |
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| nspidle wrote: |
| I'm considering jumping ship to another school. How? |
You would have to get your visa cancelled, leave the country and come back on a new visa.
| nspidle wrote: |
| I'm also thinking about sticking it out here for a while but bailing in the winter (half way done with my contract). A midnight run seems like a pretty crappy thing to do but I do consider it an option. Would there be a lot of backlash from giving notice of my decision to break my contract? |
Most likely, yes. |
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ChinaBoy
Joined: 17 Feb 2007
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| Posted: Wed May 13, 2009 1:46 pm Post subject: |
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| If you give notice, you'll likely lose your last month's pay. |
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Kikomom
Joined: 24 Jun 2008
Location: them thar hills--Penna, USA--Zippy is my kid, the teacher in ROK. You can call me Kiko
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| Posted: Wed May 13, 2009 1:52 pm Post subject: |
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| Public school or private? |
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CentralCali
Joined: 17 May 2007
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| Posted: Wed May 13, 2009 2:40 pm Post subject: |
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Evidently, it's a public school. It's not a bait and switch. Your contract is with the POE and you are assigned based on their requirements to staff a particular school. You can be assigned anywhere in the province and that's what happened.
It doesn't take that long to get to Seoul from Paju unless you're walking. |
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Fishead soup
Joined: 24 Jun 2007
Location: Korea
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| Posted: Wed May 13, 2009 4:41 pm Post subject: |
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| CentralCali wrote: |
Evidently, it's a public school. It's not a bait and switch. Your contract is with the POE and you are assigned based on their requirements to staff a particular school. You can be assigned anywhere in the province and that's what happened.
It doesn't take that long to get to Seoul from Paju unless you're walking. |
I have to agree with this. When assigning locations it's common for Korean officials to name the nearest subway location instead of the actual location. This kind of deceptive behavour is not considered dishonest by Korean standards. Also the Korean official who gave you the information is not well versed with working with foreigners. It also could have been a last minute change due certain changes(midnight run of another NET).
If you make a big fuss out of it you're going to looked upon as a trouble maker. Gyeonggi province has a great bus and train service. If you want to meet your friends on the weekend you can crash in their apartment or stay in an all night Sauna. Jin Jil bang |
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Unposter
Joined: 04 Jun 2006
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| Posted: Wed May 13, 2009 5:58 pm Post subject: |
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If you don't want your assignment, calmly and in a non-accusatory manner explain your situation to someone who can do something about it.
If that does not work than you need to ask yourself how important is this. If it really is that important, give notice and look for another job.
You may find that if you give notice they may take your situation more seriously.
It is very important to stay calm and not be accusatory if you do not want to burn any bridges with whatever public school system you are working with. |
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nspidle
Joined: 28 Apr 2009
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| Posted: Wed May 13, 2009 9:23 pm Post subject: Hagwon |
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It's a Hagwon. They have two branches. During my hiring process they interviewed me from the bigger Ilsan school. Then wen I got here they placed me here in Paju. I came based on all the info that they told me at the other school:30 minutes subway from Seoul. 6 other foreign teachers. ect. My contract even has the address of the other school on it.
Legally speaking I'm not sure if the school I'm working at is the same entity as the school I signed the contract for. They may be the equivalent of a franchise. |
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Ramen
Joined: 15 Apr 2008
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| Posted: Wed May 13, 2009 9:31 pm Post subject: Re: Hagwon |
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| nspidle wrote: |
It's a Hagwon. They have two branches. During my hiring process they interviewed me from the bigger Ilsan school. Then wen I got here they placed me here in Paju. I came based on all the info that they told me at the other school:30 minutes subway from Seoul. 6 other foreign teachers. ect. My contract even has the address of the other school on it.
Legally speaking I'm not sure if the school I'm working at is the same entity as the school I signed the contract for. They may be the equivalent of a franchise. |
If you have E-2 visa for address stated in your contract (Ilsan), you may be working illegally at Paju school. Contact and ask the immigration where your E-2 visa is for (don't tell them where you're working though). |
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Ramen
Joined: 15 Apr 2008
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| Posted: Wed May 13, 2009 9:32 pm Post subject: Re: Hagwon |
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| nspidle wrote: |
It's a Hagwon. They have two branches. During my hiring process they interviewed me from the bigger Ilsan school. Then wen I got here they placed me here in Paju. I came based on all the info that they told me at the other school:30 minutes subway from Seoul. 6 other foreign teachers. ect. My contract even has the address of the other school on it.
Legally speaking I'm not sure if the school I'm working at is the same entity as the school I signed the contract for. They may be the equivalent of a franchise. |
If you have E-2 visa for address stated in your contract (Ilsan), you may be working illegally at Paju school. Contact and ask the immigration where your E-2 visa is for (don't tell them where you're working though).
I'd definitely do a runner. |
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nspidle
Joined: 28 Apr 2009
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| Posted: Wed May 13, 2009 10:17 pm Post subject: |
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