Korean Job Discussion Forums

[viva_chikilicuatre]

I have searched, I promise, but I've only found threads about tutoring on the sly, which I've decided not to do.

If one has an employer who is cooperative, is there any way to do lessons at students' homes and have the students pay the school who then, after taking a cut, pays you?

I'm working part time at a kindergarten and I have an E2 visa. My boss has asked a supposedly knowledgeable associate who unfortunately misunderstood the question and said only that privates are illegal. Which we already know thanks to the sticky regarding private lessons...

[ED209]

It isn't simply a matter of employer permission. Your visa is tied not only to your employer, but also to the 'location' of your employment. You also can't list a 'home' as a place of education(which are the only places you can add to your visa).

An employer also can't ask you to work at another of their schools if the address of that school isn't listed on your visa, so watch out for that one.

You could try to find a part-time job at another school, with your employer's consent and(most importantly) immigrations.

Be careful as many employers are ignorant of, or see themselves, above immigration law. Yet you are the one who will ultimately pay with heavy fines, deportation, tougher visa re-application processes and even imprisonment.

[frankly speaking]

Years ago, my school would send me to do one on one lessons at peoples homes. I didn't know it wasn't allowed on the E2. I wouldn't do that now.

I have done private lessons arranged by my school at the school. The school took about half though. I would work 2 hours on Saturday and 2 hours on Sunday. I made the argument that I should get more than 25,000 an hour overtime because it was the weekend. He gave me 35,000 an hour. I am certain that he made 50-70,000 an hour. I just taught at the school.

I actually don't suggest that inexperienced teachers do a lot of private lessons and overtime. You will get burnt out.

Think this way. Most teachers just working normal hours can save at least 10,000 USD if not 15,000 for a year. That isn't bad at all, why kill yourself working?

[Sector7G]

First of all, listen to ED209, he gives sound advice.

Secondly, and yours may be a completely different situation than mine, but last year I signed on with a hagwon though I had no less than 5 solid offers elsewhere, because on top of the 2.7k a month the owner offered me, she also said that not only would she be ok with me doing privates, she would also help me find them.

Well, 4 days after I started I found out that she had sold the place. She had just needed a native teacher in place for the sale. The new owner was not obligated to honor my contract. (it actually did not work out too bad but that was no thanks to her)

She had conned me, but I had been greedy. That is how con artists do what they do. Live and learn.

[PatrickGHBusan]

Ed is spot on.

By the way, on an E2 you cannot get legal permission to teach private lessons.

As said, a second location is fine with employer permission and immigration official approval.

Anything else is illegal.

[sojusucks]

[lifeinkorea]

What if you do an online lesson? Go to the school and teach at the school. You can use a site like http://www.edufire.com to teach at.

[viva_chikilicuatre]

I appreciate the words of caution as I've already had and gotten away from a job where they routinely asked me to do illegal stuff for low pay. What I didn't make clear was I hoped to find a way to do this legally.

The way it looks, though, I think I'll trust ED and forget the whole affair. I can always teach extra classes at the school if the schedule and money are right. Thanks everybody for the responses.