Korean Job Discussion Forums

conrad2 · Joined: 05 Nov 2009

Don't all these contracts state the the foreigners are assistant teachers and that a Korean teacher always needs to be present in class. If this is the case hold them to it during the vacation for any extra class or camp they want you to teach. Since we are being sticklers on the contract and all.

economicmayhem · Joined: 22 Oct 2009 Location: Yong In

jmuns · Joined: 09 Sep 2009 Location: earth

i'm happy to not have a coteacher during camps. my contract doesnt say anything about it being mandatory that i have a coteacher, or that i am an assistant. and my school doesnt treat me like one either, maybe i'm lucky?

JJJ · Joined: 27 Nov 2006 Location: Seoul

nomad-ish · Posted: Sun Dec 13, 2009 9:27 pm Post subject:

bassexpander · Joined: 13 Sep 2007 Location: Someplace you'd rather be.

Been watching this thread on and off.

I used to be one of the very first (perhaps THE first?) actual GEPIK teacher in what was a pilot program before GEPIK was organized. About 5 1/2 or 6 years ago, I began work at a private high school that already had two foreigners which the school funded through a mandatory parental surcharge.

The school had no plan to hire a 3rd wagookin, but I was hired as a 3rd teacher using the money from the pilot program. I had to give what was one of the first "demo lessons". Administrators had me do two of them with a co-teacher, and the first one was attended by a dozen educational heads and teachers from all over. We had a large room crammed full of people, and as many of you may have experienced, our principal made us practice multiple times before the dog/pony show actually took place.

Anyway, I digress....

The actual point of my post is to highlight something that some of you may not know. We early pre-GEPIK/GEPIK hires enjoyed 2 1/2 months of PAID vacation time spread throughout the year and NO seat warming. I used to get a full week off before certain tests, which meant I could fly to Thailand at the cheapest rate. I also taught about 18 hours per week, and was paid 2.2 followed by 2.3 with merely a BA (over 5 years ago). Back then, my hours were 10am to 4pm or 9am to 3pm. I was paid OT for anything over 18 hours in a week. If I agreed to work afterschool, it was at about 35,000 won per hour extra above my salary.

I feel for you guys now. Other than the fact that you are pretty much guaranteed you'll be paid, and that you'll finish earlier in the day, the jobs are no better than hagwon jobs.

Some people are going on about how people complain about the job despite that they signed an ambiguous contract. I'm here to tell you that contracts used to be FAR better than they are now for these jobs. Year after year, I've watched the same pattern happen.... contracts grow progressively worse as they sneak in or sneak out this or that, or fudge what was actually said. I left the high school I was at because I wouldn't stand for GEPIK limiting my vacation to just 2 weeks per year. I told them I'd walk if they did that, and I was true to my word.

As long as people are willing to take these jobs, then they'll keep crapping on us. The future looks worse. It would be different if I were on an E-2, but now that I have an F-2, I wouldn't work a public school job unless it were PT and paid 40,000 to 50,000 per hour. It's just not worth the bother, given what else is out there.

I believe in "grief to dollar ratio" in terms of work. Currently, the public school jobs are a lot more grief for the money you make -- at least compared to what I used to get for the same job. If my uni decides on term limits or whatnot, and I have to look at other means of income, it will not be as FT public school teacher. Only PT would suffice, so that I could work elsewhere with no hassles.

whome? · Joined: 13 Nov 2009

None of this pertains to me, but I do feel sympathy for those having to deal with this crap.

Some sort of actual mobilization might work. If enough teachers instead of going on vacation opted for the return ticket to go 'home' for two weeks, and then come back, that might do it.

I highly doubt that they budget for every teacher to go back and return. If 100 teachers do it that's at least a 100,000 dollars US. No small chunk of change. If 250 you're looking at maybe a quarter of a million dollars.

That alone might change the policy.

lifeinkorea · Joined: 24 Jan 2009 Location: somewhere in China

Burndog · Joined: 17 Feb 2008

Firstly, the contract doesn't state that a Korean Teacher always needs to be present in class. I would quit if it did. The last thing I want is a Korean Teacher in my class room!

Secondly, Bassexpander, you don't really believe that finishing early and the surety of getting paid are the only differences between a Hakwon and a PS do you? If so, you have been in your cushy Uni Post too long! The main benefit of a GOOD PS position is autonomy. At a Hakwon someone's always watching you. At my PS, I'm free. I can come and go as I please, and so long as I teach well, then they let me be. So...much like back home...there are days I leave at 3, and days I'm there until 7 (if I'm on a creative roll). Nobody cares either way. Try leaving your Hakwon job an hour and forty minutes early! Also...teaching hours. Big difference.

Thirdly, to clarify something someone said above, yes...in Vacation periods the required teaching time is 20 hours...NOT 22!

I'll stop with the numbers...but whoever said that our contracts are similar to the Korean teacher's contracts...is dead wrong. They have a long established union, and they have a long history of entrenched workers rights....we have stuff all. Well..we have a piece of paper. Anyone who thinks that we have a similar contract to our Korean counterparts is fooling themselves.

Also, someone above mentioned that GEPIK can change our contract any time they like...and they just have!!! Well...that's rubbish. Nothing within the latest spate of announcements is outside of our contracts. Nothing. It's all there.

I will say this...as someone who is allowed to generally do as they please, am I happy about suddenly being told that this won't apply during the vacation period. That I will have to sign in and out of school, and will need to attend from 8:40 - 16:40? No...I'm pretty peeved. BUT...I knew when I signed my contract that it was a possibility...and now I just need to think about whether I will re-sign for next year, or look at a Hakwon job. But I'm not gonna be all dickish about it. It's my stupid fault for not having my contract specifically amended when I re-signed. I won't make that mistake twice...and I won't blame GEPIK for it either.

nicam · Joined: 14 Jun 2008

bassexpander · Joined: 13 Sep 2007 Location: Someplace you'd rather be.

louiloui · Joined: 14 Oct 2008

GEPIK sucks if you have to deskwarm. I think some people get lucky, and get good jobs where there are reasonable people working. However, the growing trend is toward a strict by the book policy. GEPIK is becoming one of the least desirable jobs in Korea as far as I'm concerned.

nautilus · Joined: 26 Nov 2005 Location: Je jump, Tu jump, oui jump!

cjgmiami · Joined: 09 Dec 2009

I have been wanting to post ever since the directive was given, however, I've been waiting for administrative approval by the website.

Like many others I am disappointed with the recent memo? directive? contract amendment? There were several things to be mad at:

1) the obvious implication that work cannot be done at home

2) the timing of the memo (conveniently after most re-signed their contracts, and a couple weeks before the start of vacation and plans have been made)

3) the implied insult that my time can be disposed of

4) and the manner in which this was enacted (an email from a top/nameless official disiminated to co-teachers. Instructions only provided in Korean. No explanation or clarifications. Only "do this, this is mandatory")

5) The amount of cultural insensitivity. Not too surprisingly the position of the Head Provisional Education Officer was granted on the merits of age and education not time abroad or cultural understanding. NO FORUM was provided to give explanations to Foreign Teachers. No venue for questions, comments, suggestions were provided. No explanations were provide explaining: why, how this will affect me, what is expected, options for un-pain vacation, etc. Not even an English translation of the memo can be provided by the office?!?! This is going directly to the Foreign Teachers. Unbelievable!

As a matter of personal respect, I find it impossible to remain complacent. It puts me in a difficult situation because I cannot simply comply with something that I feel is outrageous, unfair, and insulting. I just re-signed and plan on using the vacation days during winter vacation, hoping that the policy will be repealed by summer. If not.... considering walking.

What can we do?

I'd encourage EVERYONE to call Dain Bae and express your disapproval of this memo. She will not talk to you and tell you to speak with the people below her. Give them a call as well and discuss your problems with the memo. The person I spoke with was quite helpful and understanding. Then, I'd follow up with a documented email to Dain Bae and the District Coordinator. I would explicitly (as I have) request that they provide follow-ups on the progress of your suggestions and feedback. If none is provided follow-up with them. Suggest that the measure is repealed and autonomy is given back to the schools. In the very least, this should be debated among the people this directly effects (Foreign Teachers) and the policy makers.

Let's not let them get away with this. They view us as weak and at the bottom.