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mindlessroller21
Joined: 08 Aug 2011
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 Posted: Sat Oct 29, 2011 11:32 am Post subject: Re: Very high pay with chain hagwon... bad sign? |
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| ontheway wrote: |
You shouldn't come to Korea until you finish your E2 visa process. If they are asking you to come before you have a visa in your passport, that is a bad idea. (I'm assuming you don't already have some kind of F visa or something that let's you come right away.)
Other details sound like Avalon.
2.5 is a tad high for a new beginner. It could be because the 5 days including Saturday requirement is less desireable. Check that you will be getting National Pension, National Health Insurance, income tax NOT at 3.3% or 3.5% but rather at the appropriate level according to the tax table.
Yeah, and you will need that air conditioner. |
Yeah, I'm flying in to Seoul and then the school is flying me to Tokyo on a visa run. Have people had bad experiences with this setup in the past?
I don't really get the burnout comments... I'm working 5 day 30hour weeks... seems pretty standard to me.
It would be really nice to get the chance to talk to a teaching veteran via skype, even just IMing. Please PM me youre skype id if youd be willing to have a quick chat with me! |
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soyoungmikey
Joined: 29 Jun 2009
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| Posted: Sat Oct 29, 2011 1:01 pm Post subject: |
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| Run the other way. Find a new job. You will get screwed the moment you get here. Don't come to the country unless they sponsor your visa first. What happens (and it's wouldn't be unlikely) if you get here and no one shows up to meet you at the airport, no job etc. Then you'd be out of pocket a plane ticket. Don't settle for anything else then a sponsored visa before leaving and make sure the contract is explicitly clear with respect to hours a week, responsibilities, housing, health insurance, pension otherwise expect to be taken advantage of. |
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mindlessroller21
Joined: 08 Aug 2011
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| Posted: Sat Oct 29, 2011 3:48 pm Post subject: |
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Yeah I'm thinking I may demand that they pay for the ticket if I can't get a visa upfront.
I do have a contract in hand though. Is this contract valid as soon as I sign it and if so wouldn't I have legal recourse if they bail on me once I get there?
Please answer this question with as much information as possible if you are able because it may be the single factor that influences my decision! |
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northway
Joined: 05 Jul 2010
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| Posted: Sat Oct 29, 2011 4:21 pm Post subject: Re: Very high pay with chain hagwon... bad sign? |
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| mindlessroller21 wrote: |
| I don't really get the burnout comments... I'm working 5 day 30hour weeks... seems pretty standard to me. |
Working thirty hours per week isn't the same as teaching thirty hours per week. Teaching thirty hours per week means your'e actually working quite a bit more than that, considering the prep and marking involved. |
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mindlessroller21
Joined: 08 Aug 2011
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| Posted: Sat Oct 29, 2011 4:45 pm Post subject: Re: Very high pay with chain hagwon... bad sign? |
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| northway wrote: |
| mindlessroller21 wrote: |
| I don't really get the burnout comments... I'm working 5 day 30hour weeks... seems pretty standard to me. |
Working thirty hours per week isn't the same as teaching thirty hours per week. Teaching thirty hours per week means your'e actually working quite a bit more than that, considering the prep and marking involved. |
I understand theres alot of prep but aren't almost all positions 30 teaching hours? |
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thegadfly
Joined: 01 Feb 2003
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| Posted: Sat Oct 29, 2011 4:57 pm Post subject: |
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I think the "100-hour month" is becoming more standard -- that is, around 25 teaching hours a week.
Another thing to consider is the actual amount of time per class -- I would MUCH rather teach a 90-minute class than two 45-minute classes, even though they are both 90 minutes of work. For me, the two 45s are both more prep AND more effort. If, for 30 hours, I have 20 classes at 90 minutes each, then that would be pretty easy for me. If it is 30 classes at 60 minutes each, that would be much tougher, but I could survive. If it were 40 classes at 45 minutes each, it would definitely wear me down and make me hate life.... |
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tran.huongthu
Joined: 23 May 2011
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| Posted: Sat Oct 29, 2011 5:23 pm Post subject: |
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| mindlessroller21 wrote: |
The position is either in Daechi or Bundang, that hasn't been decided yet
I get housing covered in the contract. I get pension and insurance and severance.
The only things this contract does not offer which most do is Korean Holidays off and an air conditioner. Also I have the possibility of working saturdays although I get 25k overtime or 3 mil a month if I work 6 day weeks.
Any opinions on how much its gonna suck not to get korean holidays off? |
My advice is to work Saturdays. This isn't hard work really and half the battle is showing up. If you know what you are doing you will be prepared for just about anything. Another bonus is you can get good money without having to worry about teaching illegal part-time gigs. After a year hopefully you can make good money without having to work so much, but that might be a bit too optimistic in a job environment where people blatantly and openly ask for jobs on these forums. |
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sallymonster
Joined: 06 Feb 2010
Location: Seattle area
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| Posted: Sat Oct 29, 2011 7:56 pm Post subject: |
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| Personally, I would never take a job where I had to work Saturdays and holidays. Or a job that had me work illegally before getting a visa. |
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The Floating World
Joined: 01 Oct 2011
Location: Here
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| Posted: Sat Oct 29, 2011 10:37 pm Post subject: |
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| thegadfly wrote: |
I think the "100-hour month" is becoming more standard -- that is, around 25 teaching hours a week.
Another thing to consider is the actual amount of time per class -- I would MUCH rather teach a 90-minute class than two 45-minute classes, even though they are both 90 minutes of work. For me, the two 45s are both more prep AND more effort. If, for 30 hours, I have 20 classes at 90 minutes each, then that would be pretty easy for me. If it is 30 classes at 60 minutes each, that would be much tougher, but I could survive. If it were 40 classes at 45 minutes each, it would definitely wear me down and make me hate life.... |
Very, very pertinent.
I have just started teaching 2 hr and 3 hr classe and rather than being tougher than the 45 min classes, it's a lot better. The main reason not being to do with prep, rather not having to constantly deal with new bad behaviour every forty five mins again and again and just as you get one class settled and in the flow, bang, it's over and you have to go through it all over again. With the longer classes (you need good materials) once they settle, it's pretty good. They still expect games etc, but are willing to work to earn them more. |
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mindlessroller21
Joined: 08 Aug 2011
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| Posted: Sun Oct 30, 2011 5:51 am Post subject: |
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| mindlessroller21 wrote: |
I do have a contract in hand though. Is this contract valid as soon as I sign it and if so wouldn't I have legal recourse if they bail on me once I get there?
Please answer this question with as much information as possible if you are able because it may be the single factor that influences my decision! |
Could anyone provide insight on this issue? |
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northway
Joined: 05 Jul 2010
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| Posted: Sun Oct 30, 2011 6:14 am Post subject: |
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| mindlessroller21 wrote: |
| mindlessroller21 wrote: |
I do have a contract in hand though. Is this contract valid as soon as I sign it and if so wouldn't I have legal recourse if they bail on me once I get there?
Please answer this question with as much information as possible if you are able because it may be the single factor that influences my decision! |
Could anyone provide insight on this issue? |
Without a valid work visa you don't really have any legal recourse for anything. |
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thegadfly
Joined: 01 Feb 2003
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| Posted: Sun Oct 30, 2011 6:45 am Post subject: |
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| mindlessroller21 wrote: |
| mindlessroller21 wrote: |
I do have a contract in hand though. Is this contract valid as soon as I sign it and if so wouldn't I have legal recourse if they bail on me once I get there?
Please answer this question with as much information as possible if you are able because it may be the single factor that influences my decision! |
Could anyone provide insight on this issue? |
Personally, I have never flown over to Korea without A) a work visa number and B) a prepaid-by-the-school airline ticket.
I HAVE, however, flown from Detroit to Chicago as the first leg of my trip to Korea, used the layover to hit up the consulate/embassy/whatever it is there in Chicago to pick up my passport with my E-2 visa in it, then back to the airport for the next several legs of the journey. Had my visa been delayed, I would have been SOL. Luckily, it wasn't, and I was fine.
I wouldn't suggest even doing something as risky as that, and I think flying over on your own dime, or without a visa number issued are far riskier.
Some folks do just fine with it, though -- depends upon your tolerance for risk.... |
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some waygug-in
Joined: 25 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Mon Oct 31, 2011 8:27 am Post subject: Re: Very high pay with chain hagwon... bad sign? |
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I don't really get the burnout comments... I'm working 5 day 30hour weeks... seems pretty standard to me.
[quote]
You mentioned working Saturdays, so I assumed you would be working more than the standard 30 hours/week.
Believe me, after teaching 30 hours of unruly kids in a hagwon you will not feel like teaching on Saturday, (not even 1 class).
You will need the time to relax, relieve stress, shopping, sight-seeing and or some other things that will keep you from going completely batty.
Regarding the idea that you will be given another day during the week if you work Saturday:
I'd confirm this with a previous teacher if possible.
I'd check the wording of your contract carefully.
or you may find yourself in this scenario:
You: I worked on Saturday, so what day can I have off this week?
Boss: You work when we say work.
You: But you told me that I could have a day off if I worked Saturday.
Boss: I don't know what you are talking about. Check your contract, it says you work when we say work, so back to work!
You: 
Last edited by some waygug-in on Mon Oct 31, 2011 9:19 am; edited 1 time in total |
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ontheway
Joined: 24 Aug 2005
Location: Somewhere under the rainbow...
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| Posted: Mon Oct 31, 2011 9:19 am Post subject: |
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| mindlessroller21 wrote: |
| mindlessroller21 wrote: |
I do have a contract in hand though. Is this contract valid as soon as I sign it and if so wouldn't I have legal recourse if they bail on me once I get there?
Please answer this question with as much information as possible if you are able because it may be the single factor that influences my decision! |
Could anyone provide insight on this issue? |
Have you ever had an E2 visa to teach in Korea before? I'm assuming from your posts that the answer is no.
There was a time that coming to Korea without a visa to be followed by a visa run to Japan was fairly common. Then the rules changed, and new teachers had to have an interview and get their first visa in their home country. Now there have been some additional changes, but is it actually possible at the present time to get your visa in Japan as a first time E2 holder?
If the answer to the above is no, then no way should you come without a visa. But, it may be possible again.
So, let's assume that you can get your E2 visa in Japan.
Second, however, is why do it?
The paperwork through Immigration is not faster by doing the visa run. If you express the documents to Korea to start the process, and your employer submits them immediately, the process will begin before you could arrive without a visa. So, having to then do a visa run actually means the process will take longer and be more expensive.
Sounds like they are desperate and need an emergency replacement for whatever reason. They will have you teaching illegally without a visa. Of course it could be that they want you to come early for training and to look you over. Then they can reject you and send you home with less cost or obligation if they don't like you.
As to your contract question. You could have a good contract and have grounds for a lawsuit if they didn't hire you, or left you at the airport or whatever. But, you would be stuck in Korea with no visa and no job and only the potential damages from a lawsuit to hopefully collect at some future date. A lawsuit over a job that you never actually held, and never worked (at least not legally) and never had a visa for leaves you in a difficult position for a suit. You could win but it could cost more than you would collect. Only major damage lawsuits are worth pursuing - this goes both ways.
I believe that you should, nearly every teacher should, get their E2 visa before coming to Korea. |
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Highwayman
Joined: 22 May 2011
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| Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2011 7:20 pm Post subject: |
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| The Floating World wrote: |
2.5 IS high for a newbie.
My friend with 3 yrs exp here is at a uni earning 2.3mil.
My freiend who ha sbeen here for 8 yrs works at a Christian HS for 2.2mil plus 700k housing allowance.
I make 2.4mil at a hakwan and I've been here 7 yrs. |
Are you teaching 6 hours a day? That's a whole lot of hours. At 2.5 million, the deal he's getting doesn't seem particularly sweet. |
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