Korean Job Discussion Forums

contacts · Joined: 19 Nov 2009

Hey guys, wondering if you could help me a bit more:

I was just wondering what you guys though the most important, most helpful, or most telling questions one should ask a current teacher at the school before deciding on whether or not to sign a contract. The ones i'm thing of are: hows the apartment situation, how long are your days typically, how often do ask for overtime, how easy is the korean faculty to get along with?

Any questions you guys feel would give me the best idea of the work environment, please share em! Thanks!

Olivencia · Joined: 08 Mar 2009

1. How old is the school?
2. Are there any foreign teachers there? If so, how many and where are they from?
3. How many classes a week do I teach?
4. How many minutes are each class?
5. What time are the classes?
6. What are the ages of the students?
7. What is the maximum amount of students per class?
8. Is there good teacher support?
9. Is there a dress code?
10. What specificaly is the apartment furnished with?
11. How many bedrooms does it have? Is it shared?
12. How long does it take to walk to the school? By bus? etc?
13. What textbooks are used?

climber159 · Joined: 02 Sep 2007

Perhaps the most important question to ask is, "how many students are enrolled in the school?"

Assuming this is a hagwon you're pondering, the size of the student population is inversely correlated with probability of the teachers being cheated on their pay and benefits.

morrisonhotel · Joined: 18 Jul 2009 Location: Gyeonggi-do

Are you paid on time every time?

conbon78 · Joined: 05 Jun 2008

Are there ever classes I will be asked to teach that are not stated in my contract? (I was asked to come in on 3 Saturdays for make-up classes, even though I wasn't suppose to work Saturdays).

Have foreign teachers ever been fired? If so, why?

What makes someone a successful teacher at this hagwon?

How long is the preparation time for each class? Is that given in the contract or is that additional time spent?

That's all I can think of for now...

jmuns · Joined: 09 Sep 2009 Location: earth

if you are replacing them, "why are you leaving?"

contacts · Joined: 19 Nov 2009

thanks guys. drafting up my questionnaire now!

Kikomom · Posted: Wed Dec 30, 2009 3:31 pm Post subject:

These are good:

Have foreign teachers ever been fired? If so, why?

What makes someone a successful teacher at this hagwon?

Are there any foreign teachers there? If so, how many and where are they from?
--You can meet them on Facebook

What specificaly is the apartment furnished with?
--dishes, pots and pans, air conditioner, tv, table/chairs should be mentioned and requested if not included.
--Get them to throw in a microwave too. Besides the fridge, stove, bed, closet, washer, drying rack, bed, closet, bedding. And will it be clean? Tell them to set up maid service and you'll decide if you keep, it if the job is done right.

--Don't settle for anything less than what's in the job ad, and make sure it's all in the contract.

How many bedrooms does it have? Is it shared?
--Don't share with anyone other than a lover, wife, hubby, or kid. No longer than a week or two at most.
--Two people in those shoe boxes are a lot. You can hardly turn around. Learn to live simple (not hard for college kids, I guess). Prepare to spend a lot of time at school and restaurants, etc.

How long does it take to walk to the school? By bus? etc?
--get some addresses, gus, dongs, and Google Earth it to see the lay of the land. Google Earth shows mileage too
so you can see where you're situated.

What textbooks are used?
--how free are you to develop curriculum? Or do you have any freedom with it at all? By-the-book is REALLY boring, I hear.
--Ask about technology and what's available for classroom use?

And this is the most important:

Are you paid on time every time?

--Did the last teacher get his severance on time (included in last pay), Any pension problems, Health Insurance? Should be 50-50% deducted each pay.

--How are airfares being paid? Anyone have any trouble with that? Get it in your contract and don't let your recruiter try to get you to buy your own if it's offered in the job ad--they'll buy your tickets if they said they would. (Hold em to it)

Ask the teacher you are replacing to please write out instructions on how to use the washer, ondol, a/c. And I know it's freezing out now, but make sure there IS an a/c in the apt. or at least in the contract.

elizabethbennet · Joined: 18 Aug 2009

I always ask some vaguer questions too, such as - what is the worst and best part of working at the school. If for "best" they put, "the location" it seems to always be a give-away that the school's not so great. "Worst" will get you a telling answer usually too.

And preparation time for classes is key, although some lazy teachers might underestimate actual preparation time. Asking if there are "extra duties" outside of teaching classes is also important.

And I would be sure to ask what the boss and head teacher are like. Your relationship with them can make or break the experience.

Murakano · Joined: 10 Sep 2009

If you`re speaking to the person over the phone,ask him/her for their e-mail address also if they`re willing to give.

Reason being, the director of the hagwon is sometimes sitting within earshot of the teacher you`re talking to , to make sure he/she doesn`t say anything negative about them.

I think someone posted on here recently about that experience too. When the guy replied back via e-mail, he was told the `real deal` about the hagwon.

seonsengnimble · Posted: Fri Jan 22, 2010 9:08 pm Post subject:

One very important question is "How long have you been working at this school?" Many times, schools will give you contact information for someone who just started and hasn't experienced any crap from the school yet.

Also, "Have any foreign teachers renewed their contracts?"

Then the standard questions about being paid on time and in full, following the contract, class materials, hours, support and all the various other things you'll want to know.

I also recommend you talk to more than one teacher. If one teacher is leaving, and their last months pay, letter of release etc. are hinging on finding a replacement, chances are the teacher will be looking to find a replacement.

chachee99 · Joined: 20 Oct 2004 Location: Seoul Korea

PaperTiger · Joined: 31 May 2005 Location: Ulaanbataar

"I'm sure they make deductions...but have you ever found that they didn't pay your pension, health insurance, taxes, ect?"

"Is the Korean staff easy to get along with?"

"How big a priority is communicating with the foreign staff? Does it actually matter in the day-to-day work?"

"Do we have to eat in the school caf? Do we have to pay for it?"