Korean Job Discussion Forums

[wanderingsalsero]

I've heard some talk lately about two or three changes the Korean education establishment has made lately for the purpose of lowering their costs (of staffing their conversational English teaching positions). And I'm wondering what, if anything, anybody else is hearing.

1. I've heard about the TALK program....something about requiring the teachers that get here through it to not only get paid a little less but also to have to 'board' with one of the Korean teachers at the school where they teach. My thinking is that there's probably some Korean teachers who would like that. And no doubt...they'd be getting some compensation from the schools for doing it.

2. And I heard something about wives of anybody who's already over here on a regular visa to teach in the public schools .....providing that can pass a competency test of some kind.

3. And I've heard that there are some places where groups of teachers are being told either that they'll not be renewed (when the time comes around) or that they're being terminated early.

I'm not necessary complaining but I'm just wanting to get the straight scoop as early as possible. My contract comes up in a few months.

I always felt pretty strongly that it wouldn't be very logical that the 'bean counters' in the educational establishment are constantly looking for ways to shave pennies out of their budget. I mean, the Korean economy's got to be feeling some economic pinch too, just like most other countries.

Anybody can shed more light on this subject?

Regards,
WS

P.S. I'm talking about the public school system of course.

[oldfatfarang]

Hmm, let's see (some are mine - some I've read on Daves):

- rural allowance not paid.
- overtime classes cancelled and moved into unpaid 'vacation' camp classes.
- unpaid camp classes.
- Compulsory unpaid Korean teachers' classes during vacation.

- extra-to-contract vacation time stopped and replaced with compulsory unpaid vacation camp classes.
- leaving school eary for errands = time taken from vacation days.
- mandatory deskwarming in vacation for most EPIK teachers.
- transferring to a new POE = benefits cut: no Exit Allowance (old POE), no Entry Allowance (new POE).
- inexperienced younger (read cheaper) teachers hired over experienced (older) (level 1) teachers.

- contract changes (teacher may have to teach solo).

Yep, I'd say someone is trying to save money. Interestingly, I read recently on Daves that a Korean teacher also wasn't paid extra for teaching vacation camp classes.

[valium kilmer]

I'm on the TaLK program. It suits me okay I guess, as I completed a HND (one year shy of a degree) and never topped up. I'd been here to visit a friend before and due to personal reasons really wanted to get away (nothing criminal mind.)

As I can bypass the degree thing, that's quite useful, but I can't imagine why anyone with a full degree would choose to do it:

The pay is fixed at 1.5 and hasn't changed in 3 years to the best of my knowledge.

There is no severance pay

If you choose to stay longer than a year (contracts are 6 months or 1 year, 2 years maximum) you will receive either a return ticket to your home country (valid ONLY in July/August IF your school will agree to it) - or 500k. This is pretty insulting to me - given that they are already avoiding a flight ticket, should I wish to go home and return for my 2nd year at a later date. Also, at the moment, a ticket home is nearly 4x this cost.

The jobs are in the country side - there IS transport allowance available but it's not an entitlement - it is up to the provinces to decide (as I was informed when they stopped mine recently.)

As with the above - they offer a monthly cultural allowance, but I didn't receive that this semester either.

On the plus side, the 6month options are quit useful. I have my own place - I chose this one, but my last place was pretty nice too (a home stay is an option, but I wasn't interested in that. I'm also not aware of anyone being forced to board with the teachers.) My school is really nice (though that's the luck of the draw.) Also, as mentioned above, I can be in a country I really love without completing my degree (though my plan is to rectify this when I go back next year.) And it's only 15 hours a week (though with prep time - we have no text books - and travel, it does basically become a 40 hour week). The vacations are pretty generous too (if you don't end up desk warming - which can happen - I've been lucky in this respect.)

I think there are certain elements of cutting corners/saving money where possible - and I wish that weren't the case (at my expense). However, I still have enough money to do what I want, I'm just not saving like my friends are or travelling to Thailand/China every break I get.

[Junior]

[I-am-me]

Yes, they are cutting expenses. No morel long term teachers. Just too expensive after 3 years. I know several who have already been told they wont be renewed and still looking for positions. 2.5 compared to getting a new teacher for 2.1. very easy.

[djsmnc]

This just means we need to start upping negative rhetoric to scare potential noobs off.

[carleverson]

[Steelrails]

If you want to not go through all the shenanigans it just means you have to come back every semester with a nice bottle of liquor for your principal, something along the lines of Gold Label, Royal Salute, Henny/Remy XO, Ballantine's 21. Don't forget the VP too. He can get VSOP or Jack Daniel's or something like that.

Get some cologne/perfume or expensive shampoo/cosmetics for your co-teach. Send away for that 45 dollar Shin Soo Choo signed baseball back home. Total cost 300,000 won a semester, makes life infinitely easier.

That and show up on occasional weekend. Burn the midnight oil assembling some sort of fun activity that requires a lot of handmade materials. Proof-read that term paper for a teacher's thesis. Coach the basketball team during lunch. Find little things to do during desk-warming time that help others. Have an a occasional snack day for your after school. When that kid is walking down the street and screams "Hi!!" smile, wave back, and go and meet their parent. Then go and buy a bag of chips at mom's Su-pa or get an order of fried chicken once a month from their NeNe's. Bring your friends to mom's Gook-Su shack and ask them how their kid is doing. Word spreads amongst the parents and there you go.

I got a raise, lengthened vacation time, paid extra curricular classes worth an extra 400k a month that required sitting down and reading articles together (made all the above worth it after 2 months, after that was pure profit), camp pay, camp bonus pay, an easier co-teacher, paid return flight, errands at any time, and a re-sign bonus.

Learn to play ball. You skimp them, they'll skimp you. But do remember to make sure that if any abuse what you offer, you'll take it away.

Yes, English here can be a game. Learn to play it.

[Smee]

EPIK has started hiring a few (12) Indian English teachers for this fall semester:

http://briandeutsch.blogspot.com/2010/06/epik-looking-to-hire-12-indian-english.html

In other places they use teachers in Wyoming to teach students in rural parts of Korea and Asia, something which truly is more cost-efficient than trying to ship a NSET to outlying areas.

And we've read a lot about public schools and their recruiters not hiring older, experienced teachers because they don't want to pay them the salaries they command at those higher levels:

http://briandeutsch.blogspot.com/2010/04/no-room-for-older-experienced-teachers.html

http://briandeutsch.blogspot.com/2010/05/bad-market-for-teachers-in-us-will-mean.html

[Who's Your Daddy?]

I thought the TALK program was a way of hiring Koreans but bypassing the Korean teachers union.

[brier]