Korean Job Discussion Forums

[thebektionary]

Just got offered this job.

I've heard horror stories about SLP and have read mixed reviews about this particular one. I really am not in the market for shitty hagwons as I have already suffered enough.

I'm just throwing this out there to maybe, hopefully get a response from someone who works there now and says that it's not that bad.

[ttompatz]

[thebektionary]

I am 95% likely to not take this job. I've seen your other comments about it. It is just frustrating that out of the four interviews I've had, I can get this job but nothing else. I have time so I will keep looking.

The contract I was given says this:

Workload


The Teacher will have 120 hours per month. The Teacher is expected to devote no less than 2.5 hours a day at the Institute for lesson planning, student evaluations, teachers� meeting, consultation with parents, and supervision of play. Upgrading one�s professional knowledge and skills is without additional pay. The work week will follow the yearly academic calendar issued by SLP, (Corp) Sogang Univ. The total teaching load including overtime will not exceed 130 hours a month, unless both parties agree.

Staff meetings will be scheduled at the discretion of the Institute Director. Attendance is required. Staff meetings will allow time for discussion of topics of current concern within the program such as new policies, procedures, method of training, instruction, curriculum, and other matters as needed. Staffs are encouraged to help work out practical solutions to problems at these meetings.

There are three or four teacher development courses in a year and they may be on Saturdays. The teacher is to attend the teacher development courses without extra payment.


Does indeed sound pretty shitty but doesn't say anything about the exact time like you mentioned.

[ttompatz]

If it is a standard SLP contract then yes it does and they will hold you to it.

If not, then get clarification (in writing) before you sign on the dotted line.

120 classes of 50 minutes = 6000 minutes per month.
120 hours = 7200 minutes per month.
1200 minutes difference = 20 more hours per month for the same money.

The question is not the 120 hours but the determination of what is a class hour.

Check, check, check and get it in writing - then you have something to go to the labor board with when it becomes necessary.

.

[thebektionary]

Thanks. You are continuously very helpful.

I feel lucky for getting an afternoon position in a decent part of Gyeonggi-do, but I still haven't even gotten my CBC back yet. I'm also willing to wait until April for the right position so I don't exactly want to rush into this. I'll find out about the class hour.

[thebektionary]

I turned it down. It was 7,040 minutes of teaching per month, and they weren't negotiable on the 11-8 working hours or the pay.

[Plume D'ella Plumeria]

You were wise to.

SLP = Slave Labour Program = Sh**ty Lost Progress (in your life).

Move on. Consider China. Not the easiest place to live but I've earned 17,000 RMB a month here and on that salary, the living is easy and can be quite luxurious. You have to be qualified though.

And be ready, if you do decide to come here, for a bit of rough and tumble ride at the beginning. As I said, it's not the easiest place to live, but once you get past that, you can live quite nicely here.

[thebektionary]

I have no doubt that China is a good place to work now but I've been traveling and living abroad a lot in the past few years, including 9 months at a nightmare hagwon, and I don't know if I have the energy to start up all over again in a new country. I'm going back to Korea because it's familiar and I have friends there.