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theaims
Joined: 13 Jan 2009
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Posted: Wed Dec 22, 2010 4:11 am Post subject: strong possibilty im getting fired......... |
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hello i need some advice!
there is a strong possibility im about to get fired (long story)
anyway, im seeing it as a blessing in disguise and i really want a public school position.
what are my options?
ive been in my hagwon for 6 months now but i dont think my boss with give me a nice reference.
i was thinking of lying to my public school recruiter and saying i have never worked in korea before is that a possibility?
could i get my visa cancelled and apply for a fresh one in japan?
thanks for your help! |
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interestedinhanguk

Joined: 23 Aug 2010
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Posted: Wed Dec 22, 2010 4:27 am Post subject: |
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Getting a public school job seems to be difficult. Though, perhaps it's easier if you're willing to live in the sticks. Most of them seem to want public school experience. |
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lifeinkorea
Joined: 24 Jan 2009 Location: somewhere in China
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Posted: Wed Dec 22, 2010 5:02 am Post subject: |
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Consider the costs involved if you try to do the whole routine over again. Personally, I would rather put up with hagwon crap for a couple months, get less pay, and work out some deal where the hagwon would give a good reference for a public school job in March. It's only 2 months around the corner and after the school accepts you and gets your visa transferred you can split. Move into a goshiwon or something.
I don't see the point in going to Japan, paying the airfare, paying for a place to stay, waiting for the paperwork to get through, and then hoping a school will pay for your flight back (if not, you have to pay it). It's much easier to transition in the country. At least try all options. |
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Skippy

Joined: 18 Jan 2003 Location: Daejeon
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Posted: Wed Dec 22, 2010 6:15 am Post subject: |
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Before your school blows up on you - GET YOUR PAPERWORK!
Also turn around to getting a public school job is a little long. Many have already started interviewing and that. Maybe you might fill deadmans boots.
My advice is start preparing. Get paperwork, start packing and organizing, looking for a job, and get some education about what happens when you quit and that.
When you think you are ready - quit your job. Till then suck it up and good luck. |
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Troglodyte

Joined: 06 Dec 2009
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Posted: Wed Dec 22, 2010 4:32 pm Post subject: |
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lifeinkorea wrote: |
Consider the costs involved if you try to do the whole routine over again.
I don't see the point in going to Japan, paying the airfare, paying for a place to stay, waiting for the paperwork to get through, and then hoping a school will pay for your flight back (if not, you have to pay it). It's much easier to transition in the country. At least try all options. |
A trip to Japan is relatively cheap. If you're in a city, check out the travel agents who offer package trips. Say that you want to go to Fukuoka for 2 days and 1 night. You can often find deals for 300,000 Won (return plane ticket + 1 night in a business hotel). If you're near Busan, then just take the ferry and stay at a cheap hotel. The SunLife Hotel across from Hakata train/subway station is nice and cheap. Once you come back you're good for 3 months (6 if you're Canadian). Find yourself a place to stay in Seoul or Busan. Job hunt. If you have already had an E2, then you can do a visa run to Japan, so it's to your advantage to tell schools/recruiters that you've worked here before. Most don't care too much that you've run from your previous employer. Just give them a reasonable excuse (e.g. not paid, etc.).
If you think that your boss is a jerk, then don't negotiate your departure with him. Unless you have something major to deal with (e.g. he owes you a lot of money or he blatantly broke some serious law) and you're willing to overlook it, then you can't trust any deal you make with him. He may say, "Sure. You can work two more months then I'll give you the LOR and partial severance, etc." But then when your last day arrives, you're likely to get nothing. No salary (deductions for bogus stuff) and he'll have reconsidered and decided not to give you the LOR. Then you'll have worked for nothing.
My advice.... start job hunting now. Tell schools your situation and that you're looking for a start date around _________ (a week or so after your next payday). If they accept, what you'll likely do is leave Korea after the next payday. If you're unsure when you'll be paid, then the ferry is a good option. Come back. Submit your documents to the new school to apply for a visa. Probably at this point you may start working at the school unofficially. The visa number should arrive within a few weeks. When you have it, the school will pay for a visa run to Japan to get the new visa. (The contract will also state that they'll give you a flight home after 1 year.) |
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lifeinkorea
Joined: 24 Jan 2009 Location: somewhere in China
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Posted: Wed Dec 22, 2010 4:51 pm Post subject: |
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Say that you want to go to Fukuoka for 2 days and 1 night. |
You can get new documents and CBC in 2 days?
The OP hasn't said anything about not getting paid. As long as there is an income, it is a stupid move to stop the cash flow. Right now, the hagwon seems like it will cooperate if it can use the teacher. When the money stops coming in, obviously stop working there. I just don't see the point in returning on a tourist visa just do the same stuff you could be doing now with money coming in. Go when you have the paperwork. |
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ippy
Joined: 25 Aug 2009
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Posted: Wed Dec 22, 2010 5:04 pm Post subject: |
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I think i speak for everyone here when i say "whats the long story?"
http://imgur.com/tCp90.gif |
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lifeinkorea
Joined: 24 Jan 2009 Location: somewhere in China
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Posted: Wed Dec 22, 2010 5:15 pm Post subject: |
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"whats the long story?" |
The OP showed too many MJ videos in class  |
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carleverson
Joined: 04 Dec 2009
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Posted: Thu Dec 23, 2010 12:05 am Post subject: |
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The boss is probably using the threat of firing him/her to scare the teacher into working harder / complaining less.
Nonetheless, get documents ready, apply to other jobs, and network with others to get more information about public schools. |
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Troglodyte

Joined: 06 Dec 2009
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Posted: Thu Dec 23, 2010 8:01 am Post subject: |
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lifeinkorea wrote: |
Quote: |
Say that you want to go to Fukuoka for 2 days and 1 night. |
You can get new documents and CBC in 2 days?
The OP hasn't said anything about not getting paid. As long as there is an income, it is a stupid move to stop the cash flow. Right now, the hagwon seems like it will cooperate if it can use the teacher. When the money stops coming in, obviously stop working there. I just don't see the point in returning on a tourist visa just do the same stuff you could be doing now with money coming in. Go when you have the paperwork. |
You get all your docs ready BEFORE you do the run to Fukuoka.
Even if you get a job offer, you can't start the visa application process until your current one is cancelled. That's why you need to leave the country. It's the only way that you can cancel your own visa without the school's cooperation.
OP, if you're currently in Korea (especially in Seoul or on the subway line) and have all docs ready, it won't take you long to get a job. Especially if you're willing to hang out at the new school while you wait for them to finish the visa application process. If you push the recruiters to find something soon, it will probably take you a couple weeks to get a decent offer, and another week or two to get a visa issuance number. Then off to Japan. You can reduce that time a bit by applying to recruiters about 2 weeks before your next payday (make absolutely sure not to write to the recruiter who set up your current job). And it's possible that the new school would like you to "be at the school" while you wait for the visa. So you may only have to stay at a hostel or yokwon for a couple days. Maximum a few weeks. Consider it a resting holiday between jobs. |
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lifeinkorea
Joined: 24 Jan 2009 Location: somewhere in China
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Posted: Thu Dec 23, 2010 12:58 pm Post subject: |
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could i get my visa cancelled and apply for a fresh one in japan? |
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You get all your docs ready BEFORE you do the run to Fukuoka. |
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olsanairbase
Joined: 30 Aug 2010
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Posted: Fri Dec 24, 2010 12:40 am Post subject: |
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Go to the Philipinnes its much warmer this time of year, but it does take longer to process.
(If you got money saved up I would opt for the warm weather. The airfare cost is about the same and the cost of living there is much less than in Japan. The key is if you have the time.
As far as changing your visa make sure your new employer has "pull" they can make that visa get processed anywhere in a few days with a little money under the table. |
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TheresaTheresa
Joined: 24 Feb 2010
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Posted: Sat Dec 25, 2010 10:27 pm Post subject: |
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carleverson wrote: |
The boss is probably using the threat of firing him/her to scare the teacher into working harder / complaining less.
Nonetheless, get documents ready, apply to other jobs, and network with others to get more information about public schools. |
That could be true. Have heard of that. I always find that threat silly in light of the fact that teaching ESL in a hagwon is not rocket science and there are a zillion and one jobs in the field in Asia. Maybe it's a threat that works well on Koreans... |
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Troglodyte

Joined: 06 Dec 2009
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Posted: Sat Dec 25, 2010 11:08 pm Post subject: |
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TheresaTheresa wrote: |
carleverson wrote: |
The boss is probably using the threat of firing him/her to scare the teacher into working harder / complaining less.
Nonetheless, get documents ready, apply to other jobs, and network with others to get more information about public schools. |
That could be true. Have heard of that. I always find that threat silly in light of the fact that teaching ESL in a hagwon is not rocket science and there are a zillion and one jobs in the field in Asia. Maybe it's a threat that works well on Koreans... |
That's pretty much it. They have no idea how Joe Foreigner would react in that situation and assume that he'd react no differently than Teacher Kim would.
Sometimes they cook up an excuse for firing a teacher so that they can save face. e.g. "The parents think that you're methods aren't producing results. Change them or we'll fire you." (Translation = "My business management skills suck and I'm loosing money. You're the easiest expense to cut out of the equation, so I'm going to can you if a miracle doesn't happen soon and I don't get my business turning a profit.") |
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TheresaTheresa
Joined: 24 Feb 2010
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Posted: Sat Dec 25, 2010 11:38 pm Post subject: |
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Troglodyte wrote: |
TheresaTheresa wrote: |
carleverson wrote: |
The boss is probably using the threat of firing him/her to scare the teacher into working harder / complaining less.
Nonetheless, get documents ready, apply to other jobs, and network with others to get more information about public schools. |
That could be true. Have heard of that. I always find that threat silly in light of the fact that teaching ESL in a hagwon is not rocket science and there are a zillion and one jobs in the field in Asia. Maybe it's a threat that works well on Koreans... |
That's pretty much it. They have no idea how Joe Foreigner would react in that situation and assume that he'd react no differently than Teacher Kim would.
Sometimes they cook up an excuse for firing a teacher so that they can save face. e.g. "The parents think that you're methods aren't producing results. Change them or we'll fire you." (Translation = "My business management skills suck and I'm loosing money. You're the easiest expense to cut out of the equation, so I'm going to can you if a miracle doesn't happen soon and I don't get my business turning a profit.") |
You are spot on! Last "school" I worked at was appallingly mismanaged. I could not believe the behavior and conduct passing for management and the "manager" really thought she was doing a good job.  |
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