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valhor
Joined: 19 Sep 2011
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 Posted: Mon Sep 26, 2011 3:30 pm Post subject: |
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Lol so whose going to let me in on all of these bad things that happen at Wonderlands? I have read some horror posts about bad bosses and what not, but can this really be the general description of all Wonderland's in Seoul?
I've already signed the contract, so at this point just looking for advice and maybe experienced stories from others that have done this same thing before. Yes, this will be my first experience in Korea, and I hope to make it a good one. I've already purchased Rosetta Stone Korean 1(which is off to a good start) and David Paul's Teaching English to Children in Asia which was recommended before.. I'm reading it, but really hard to digest for a non-teacher without any classroom experience. |
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TheUrbanMyth
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Location: Retired
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| Posted: Mon Sep 26, 2011 5:37 pm Post subject: |
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Here is a typical wonderland contract
http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=194942
| Quote: |
WONDERLAND
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT FOR TEACHER
First YEAR CONTRACT
Effective
This EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT has been made this
,2010 by
and between Wonderland Junior English School w
(hereinafter referred to
as the "Employer") and
, a citizen of
, passport no:
(hereinafter referred to as
the Teacher"). The teacher is hereby hired by the Employer and both
parties agree on the following terms and conditions:
1. PERIOD OF EMPLOYMENT
a. The total Agreement term is approximately one year, commencing from
the date of arrival in Korea and finishing on the last teaching day of
the teacher's twelfth teaching session.
b. The term of this Agreement includes twelve (12) full
consecutive teaching sessions, and all scheduled vacations
holidays that fall between or during teaching sessions.
c. The teacher agrees to discontinue residence in Korea under the visa
status sponsored by employer within five days of completion of this
employment.
2. CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT
The teacher's work shall consist primarily of the following:
a. EFL instruction in any and all phases of the Institute's program to
classes that range from the Preschool to High school
b. Curriculum design and implementation
c. Development of educational program and materials
d. Out-of-classroom activities for/with students
e. Grading and evaluation of students
f. Student counseling or evaluation
g. Attendance at teachers' meetings and workshops
h. Other related activities
Out of classroom activities? How many and when and where? Student counseling...what does this entail? What are these "other related activities and when...on a weekend/holiday?
3. DUTIES OF TEACHER
a. During the term of this Agreement, the teacher shall cooperate, and
comply with the instructions, training and supervision of the Academic
Supervisor and shall carry out such assignments as directed by the
Academic Supervisor. These duties shall include the instructional
program, related to the teacher's classroom duties, attendance at
scheduled staff meetings and workshops, and any additional duties
may be assigned by the Academic Supervisor. The Academic Supervisor
is responsible for establishing and communicating the Standards of
, 2010
and
and
Performance as related to the above-mentioned duties.
b. The Academic Supervisor shall also assign the teacher some duties
such as lesson preparation time for two hours prior to the class.
At all times during the term of this contract, males will wear ties
and females will wear dresses or dressy pant suits (unless otherwise
instructed).
4. SALARY & OVER TIME
A monthly salary of 2,100,000 won will be guaranteed for 120 teaching
hours per monthly session (1 hour is 60 minutes). This salary will be
paid on the tenth (10th) day of the following month. Each teaching
hour in excess of 120 teaching hours is considered as Overtime. The
overtime pay will be 18,000 won per hour. Attendance at scheduled
staff meetings and workshops (which is mandatory-no pay) cannot be
considered as Overtime.
Notice that it is not 120 classes but 120 HOURS (of sixty minutes each). That could mean you could be teaching up to 180 CLASSES of 40 minutes each. OT pay is low as well.
5. WORKING HOURS
During the term of this Agreement, the teacher shall be required to
work well and closely with the Academic Supervisor each week from
Monday to Friday, at the times the Academic Supervisor shall direct.
6. TRANSPORTATION
The Employer will purchase for the teacher an economy class ticket
from the closest international airport of point of hire to Korea.
After completing the one-year contract the teacher will be provided a
return ticket. If the teacher goes out to the other countries except
home country, the teacher will be paid US $400 as a return ticket. In
the event that the teacher will fully leaves the school before his/her
contract is over, the school will not be responsible for the return
ticket. If the teacher willfully leaves the school before 6 months,
the teacher must payback the initial airfare or the school may deduct
the amount of airfare from the teacher's last payment.
7. ORIENTATION TIME
After arrival in Korea, teachers may be allowed a few days for
adjustment and school orientation before beginning regular teaching
duties. The orientation days will be spent in the institute preparing
for classes and learning the instructional system.
8. MEDICAL INSURANCE
The teacher will be covered by medical benefits under the Korean
Medical Insurance Union, a private health organization. The costs
of this coverage will be borne half by the Employer and half by the
teacher. Payment will be made by deduction from the teacher's salary,
at present 3.3%, and alike amount contributed by the Employer.
3.3% for MEDICAL INSURANCE? Since when? And NEVER go for a private health organization...that is an attempt to cheat you out of Pension.
9. HOUSING
The School shall provide furnished single one-room studio apartment.
Furnishings provided by the Employer include; comforter, pillow,
television, bed, kitchen table, chairs, two-burner gas hot plate,
refrigerator, wardrobe, telephone, and washing machine,
No A/C? Not even a fan? Korean summers can be brutal.
Selection of
apartments will be made by the Employer. The cost of monthly service,
utility, and telephone charges for the accommodation provided will be
paid by the teacher. In the case of a shared apartment, costs will be
shared by both teachers. For the first three months, the Employer will
collect 200,000 Won per month deposit for utilities and phone charges
even if the teacher pays these charges each month. This deposit will
be refunded two months after the completion of this contract.
A deposit even if you pay the charges? And refunded after 2 months? Yeah sure...it's code for "we will keep this money and hope you forget about it after 2 months."
10. SEVERANCE PAYMENT
Upon completion of this one-year contract, the teacher will receive
one additional basic salary of 2,100,000 won as a severance payment
in accordance with Korean Labor Laws. This payment will be made at
the time of completion of the contract period and income tax will be
withheld from this payment.
Except that if you do any OT in the last three months then that has to be calculated into the severance pay as well.
11. VACATION & NATIONAL HOLIDAYS
Teachers will follow the Wonderland vacation schedule. The teacher
will observe holidays as scheduled by the Employer and detailed in a
yearly calendar provided with this contract.
12. DISMISSAL OR VOLUNTARY RESIGNATION
a. The Employer will have the right to dismiss the teacher in case of
neglecting his/her duties under this Agreement, including but not
limited to, frequent absences from the Place of Employment without the
approval of the Academic Supervisor, or receiving reprimand letter
twice, or manifesting inability to perform the duties stated under
this Agreement.
Prior to any such dismissal, the teacher will be warned of
dissatisfaction with performance and will be afforded at least twenty
(20) working days in which to remedy the same. Criminal or other
conduct that has been clearly substantiated inside or outside the
Place of Employment and that would, in the opinion of the Academic
Supervisor and the Employer, seriously jeopardize any student or staff
person, or the reputation of the Employer, will be cause for immediate
dismissal and neither warning nor time for remedy will be allotted.
b. Teachers will not be allowed to teach private lessons outside of
the place of employment without permission of the Employer. Such
action is grounds for immediate dismissal. In this case, the Employer
will not pay the teacher return ticket and severance payment.
13. GOVERNING LAW & JURISDICTION
This Agreement will
Republic of Korea.
be
governed
by
the
appropriate
laws
of
the
* Teaching sessions and vacations and holidays (according to the
Wonderland session calendar) can be viewed in the "Job Opportunity"
section of our web site at: http://www.wonderland.or.kr.
In witness thereof, we have affixed our signatures hereon. |
My responses are in bold above.
To sum up you get low pay, a lot of classes/time, no pension, a deposit, an excessive amount for medical insurance from a private organization which doesn't provide the same services as the national one does.
A terrible contract overall.
And that is why I wouldn't work at Wonderland. Your contract may be different though. |
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Nester Noodlemon
Joined: 16 Jan 2009
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| Posted: Mon Sep 26, 2011 8:55 pm Post subject: |
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| valhor wrote: |
| CentralCali wrote: |
| Of course they're friendly. They're probably still in shock that there's still people signing up for Wonderland, CDI, or BR. |
I mean, I think it all depends on location man. I haven't been able to find anything bad about this one in specific. |
Congratulations on your new job. |
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Mr. BlackCat
Joined: 30 Nov 2005
Location: Insert witty remark HERE
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| Posted: Mon Sep 26, 2011 11:23 pm Post subject: |
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Jeb: Dude, this Florida heat is unbearable. Let's go for a swim!
Ray: Sure. Let's go for a dip in this swamp.
Jeb: I don't know man. My momma told me about gators that live in the swamps by our home.
Ray: Yeah, but not this specific swamp.
Jeb: I guess not. But there's a nice swimming pool down the road, why don't we just go there?
Ray: It's public! Gross!
Jeb: Well, we could just bike to the beach and swim there.
Ray: I hate the sand getting in my shorts.
Jeb: Well, my daddy'll drive us to the lake next town over.
Ray: Nah, too far! I wanna cool off right now!
Jeb: Didn't you read that book, "Gators Love Swamps?"
Ray: Uh, that was written like 10 years ago. What's the chances there are still gators in the swamp? Besides, my cousin's girlfriend's dentist's dog walker's niece told me it was fine. On the internet.
Jeb: Dude! I think I just saw something move in there.
Ray: Listen man, even if there are gators in there, what're the chances they'll come after you? They'll probably go feed on some other kids swimming around the corner. Anyway, we've already decided there is absolutely nowhere else to go swimming around here so this is our only option.
Jeb: What about the public pool? Or the beach? Or the la...
Ray: CANNON BOOOOOOOOOOMB!
Jeb: Y'know what? I'm just going to eat a popsicle. |
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valhor
Joined: 19 Sep 2011
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| Posted: Tue Sep 27, 2011 8:46 pm Post subject: |
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Very clever of you Black cat, i'm impressed.. *applause*
Anyway, has anyone worked for a Wonderland with some experience I could hear about? |
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matthewschmidt
Joined: 18 Jun 2009
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| Posted: Wed Sep 28, 2011 12:49 am Post subject: |
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I worked at a Wonderland for a year.
Pros:
I got paid on time. Got my full severance, airfare, pension, apartment deposit etc. The classes were easy enough to teach. No incredible horror stories.
Cons:
I generally taught at least 43 classes a week, more during intensives. The work day was long and exhausting. 30 teaching hours a week could easily mean 9 forty minute classes a day with all of your breaks spent lesson planning, grading journals, filling out report cards etc. The work day was 9:30 to 7:10. Lunch was 45 minutes. The rest of the day I generally had things to do. No thumb twiddling, desk warming time to speak of.
Summary:
My Wonderland experience was that I had a longer work day and taught way more classes than my friends who taught at other schools. I wouldn't wish the schedule I taught on anyone. Maybe your experience will be different but don't say you weren't warned.
My personal silver lining is that I'm coming back to Korea in November to a 12-8, 28 class a week job that will seem like heaven by comparison. |
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