Korean Job Discussion Forums

[JohnRibal]

Hey everyone,

Here's the situation: I'm 2 months into a 1 year contract teaching kindies and I want to quit. This is my first time teaching kindies and my first real experience interacting with kids this much but I just don't like teaching this age group, really dislike interacting with them, and want to leave.

Because the school has treated me fairly and hasn't tried to cheat me out of any money or anything, I'm quitting in accordance with the contract . I've given my 60 days notice and am prepared to pay back the airfare. However, they're saying I should stay at least until the school year switches over (sometime in late February, basically 1 additional month past my resignation date). I'm really unhappy at work and even the prospect of already staying an additional two months is difficult. I want to leave the job ASAP but would feel bad about pulling a runner since they don't deserve it.

Also, this hagwon is a little different than your typical hagwon. The students are taught many different subjects, all in English and I have the same set of students throughout the day. It's basically like a regular school, but taught in English. The school is also fairly well off, most of the students are from middle class+ families. I know there may be some sadness for the kids when I go but, they'll get over it...

Now, they're trying to emphasize that it's my responsibility to uphold the image of the school and stay longer so that the parents don't get a bad impression and pull their child out of the school. I am fairly certain this is their only concern: how this will look to parents and affect their bottom line. I feel it'd be best to get someone here who actually enjoys teaching instead of someone counting down the days until they are done. Other than my work, I have no issues with Korea and my life outside of work.

So here's my question: Is it really my duty to maintain the image of the school and please the parents to that extent where I have to work even while I'm miserable? Is this just me being completely selfish and thinking of myself?? I feel I don't really owe anything more and how successful/profitable they are is not my concern. I'm doing my job to the best of my ability, and will continue to do so until my last day. I feel that's what I owe them. Thoughts and opinions?? Thanks to those who read this!

[plchron]

i think you know the answers to your questions and just need reaffirmation. It is not your responsibility to uphold the image of the school so they can squeeze a couple more bucks out of unsuspecting parents.

If you feel guilty help them find another person without using a recruiter (they save money) and let them lie to the parents and say that one of your family members is dying and you have to go home and take care of them. That way they save face and get another person without paying the recruiter fee.

[JohnRibal]

Yea, that's true. Just wanted an outsiders perspective on things. There's a slight problem with making up an excuse. My predecessor also quit early into their contract. And I believe they already used a similar excuse, so this time they'll probably know any reason along those lines will be made up. I offered to go along with any explanation they decide to tell parents but they don't think it'll work. I offered an even crazier idea, telling the truth: that I'm unhappy with teaching kids and have tried my hardest but just can't continue doing it.

Thanks for the quick reply plchron!

[Rutherford]

I think you're underestimating how crucial keeping a good appearance is to a hogwan. It can really be make-or-break and parents here are extremely fickle. All it takes is one mother irrationally angry at her child's teacher leaving to convince a whole group of moms to pull their kids out.

Somewhere in your preparations to teach in Korea you might have read about how important it is to save "face" in Asia. If you didn't, now might be a good time. It sounds to me like your school is offering you an agreement that saves face for both of you. You get to leave early from the one year contract you signed (though one month later than you'd like), and they avoid having to provide embarrassing explanations to all the parents. It sounds very reasonable to me.

If you take this agreement you can probably expect them to give you a letter of release, should you wish to stay in Korea, and not to screw you on your last paycheck. If you don't take this agreement, there's a good chance you will offend them on a professional and personal level and you might have problems getting all the money you're owed and a letter of release.

[koreatimes]

I agree with plchron. 2 months is not enough for parents to rely on a teacher. Did all of the students flock to the school when the original poster was hired?

Actually, they should get a replacement before any new period, because then they can make sure they have a good teacher. Either they can get an extension to finish off the year or they too could be replaced before the next year. It makes more sense to me to hire earlier than exactly when the semester starts. Too many problems could go wrong and the school would have no time to get another teacher.

Leave after your 60 days, tell them you are sorry and it simply didn't work out. It shouldn't be hard for them to get a replacement.

[Modernist]

I am anxiously awaiting northway's post reminding everyone that teaching kinder really isn't that bad, because they learn so fast!

I will duly note, as I continuously do, that this is YET MORE evidence that teaching kinder SUCKS and unless you KNOW for a fact that you like it and can handle its distinct issues and routines [preferably because you have extensive experience with young children], you are destined to hate it and end up like this unfortunate OP.

I agree that the only issue here is whether you want a LOR or not. If you don't care about that, then you have more than done your moral and ethical duty by adhering to the contract provisions about giving notice and repaying airfare costs. 60 days is enough time for them to find a replacement, especially in the current market.

As for Korea and its 'saving face' issue, I personally hardly care about that BS. It's one of the worst things about them, that and their infuriating unwillingness to just state things clearly. They should have been more responsible in their selection process and taken the time to find someone who had applied experience with kids in their age group, ESPECIALLY since you yourself were the replacement for an early quit.

It's not your job to come up with an excuse for the parents, and you aren't responsible for their business conditions or whether kids leave. Who cares what happens to the hagwon? It's not exactly a pillar of the community. They go out of business all the time. Stick to your guns and tell them they can either say the truth or you will go along with a made-up excuse of their choosing.

Doing a runner would be over the line. I've said that before. If they've treated you fairly you should do the same. That doesn't mean you torture yourself for another month so they can save won, I mean face. If they're offended about it, well, do you really care after 2 months?

As long as you leave after you get your last pay deposit [day of is best] they shouldn't be able to cheat you out of any owed money. Get out, save your mental health, learn your lesson and be more careful the next time.

[JohnRibal]

Thanks for all the replies guys! They have reaffirmed a few of the things I've been thinking about lately.

I'm not looking for a letter of release. I know you can cancel your e2 by just leaving and going through the whole process again if I want to find another job so I'm not too worried about that. Even if I'm wrong about that, I don't want a LOR.

@Modernist: I actually brought up that fact to my boss, the fact that he could have hired a person that already had experience with children instead of me. I didn't want to exactly throw it back in their face for hiring me, but it seems they sort of gambled. Maybe they hired the newbie (me) as the cheaper/cheapest option.. However, I guess I did underestimate this job.

@Rutherford: Thank you for the warning about the pay. I've already quit according to the terms in their contract. True, I've already heard about how picky some parents are and that they can be fairly unreasonable. But I just don't feel it is my duty/responsibility to worry about that issue. Staying so they don't possibly cheat me out of money owed would be a shame. I hope it doesn't have to come to that but I guess I need to be prepared for a fight.

There is one thing I'm worried about. There's a clause in the contract, under the quitting early section, stating: "Employer may assess the loss by such an act and charge such amount to Teacher."

Is that actually enforceable? I don't think the affects would be seen until after I have left anyway, if there even are any. So how likely would it be that they would actually pursue me for any damage or are these just scary words put in place to intimidate?

[plchron]

that clause in your contract might be intimidation, it might be real. Legally they aren't allowed to withhold your pay from your pay check.

If they perceive losses then they have to sue you for those losses or settle with you before or after they pay you. That won't stop them from withholding money from your paycheck illegally.

Sounds to me like you should either pull a midnight run after next pay period or feel them out and ask them straight up if they are going to take any money out of your paycheck.

Remember, even if they have been nice to you until now, they can still steal from you later (in the next 2 pay periods).

Try to contact the teacher before you and see what happened in their situation.

[jamasian]

I understand your feelings about not liking a job even though they have been good to you. I would (and have) stayed just a bit longer to help everyone save face. I am not asian but I like to keep a good reputation and it's important to me personally that I don't ruin someone else's provided they are good people.

I'm not attacking you just implying that you should think about if their reputation matters to you because you do play a part in their customers views of them.

That being said, if you decide that it's none of your business just tell them early on that no matter what you will be leaving at the end of your 60days. Send reminder mails at the 30th and 15th mark if you have to. this way at least you still save face for yourself. No need to run. You are being honest.