Korean Job Discussion Forums

AtmaWeapon · Joined: 30 Jun 2011

Yesterday I was denied taking a sick day by my hagwon even with a doctor's note, apparently if you aren't bedridden in a hospital then you are OK to teach....got to thinking, everyone knows hagwons are notorious for denying sick days because there is no one to cover shifts (also not wanting to have to pay someone else), so why aren't there full-time substitute teachers, at least in Seoul? I would think there would be no shortage of work with the number of foreign teachers here.

meangradin · Joined: 10 Mar 2006

it may have something to do with schools refusing to pay between W30,000 -50,000/hour for a sub.

WadRUG'naDoo · Joined: 15 Jun 2010 Location: Shanghai

Yes, you would think such individuals would be more honest, caring, logical, and well-prepared. Quite shocking, really.

Skippy · Joined: 18 Jan 2003 Location: Daejeon

Why?

1) Not prepared. Remember some Hagwons have only so many teachers. They use the teachers as much as they can. They usually do not have a teacher sitting in the wings ready to sub or fill a class. Never mind, many Koreans well Korean businesses do not plan ahead of time. This country many times runs shoddily or last minute.

2) What is acceptable or not?. Sometimes a Korean teacher can fill in. Sometimes they can not. Why? People pay good money to get a waygook teacher. Sorry a Korean teacher will not cut it. When parents/children aka customers do not get their money's worth they can feel cheated. Keeping them satisfied can prove to be burdensome. School do not like giving refunds. Trying giving a refund for a class taught by a Korean instead of a waygook. Do you mind coming in on Saturday to cover the classes you missed?

3) Legality. Not all foreigners can teach anywhere they want. An E2 can not teach at another school easily. They need permission from immigration (some leeway is allowed for same schools/branch). Not all foreigners can teach legally, too. Sorry that Filipino women can not fill in. So there is no BIG supply of legally able people to teach. I mean what if back home a teacher is sick, can the janitor or Sally's mom fill in, no. Sally's mom may be willing, but the Education board and the Teacher's Union would have some problems with that.
Yes, there are F-series people, but they have their own problems from costs to well not being proper business-wise (sorry we want a white face no Gyopo) or legal wise (OK, but you have no tutor certificate or heck a degree).

4) Cost. Getting a teacher in, can cost of (let's low ball) 20k an hour to 50k an hour. Never mind the school may still have to pay the sick teacher, too.

5) Timing. Let's say the school does not mind paying and will find a legally able waygook to teach. So where do I go to get a teacher for a class that is in a couple of hours? Maybe there is some tutor or private teacher who can fill in. Some waygook sitting/standing by to run over and teach. Not really. Why not? Because they have their own schedule or life to keep. Why waste time and money of standing by for a low chance of someone maybe getting sick. If lucky they make some ok money for a short time. Easier to build my own client�le and maximize my profits. Never mind other timing issues from traveling, prep work, or other work conflicts come up.

6) Capability. Sometimes a person can jump right in and teach. Other's no, because the classes have a certain plan or schedule to keep. They are not prepared or know what to do exactly. Somebody new or different can really throw things for a whack.

Hope that helps.

Plus the numbers man! Thinking about it, the numbers do not make it worthwhile.

Edited to correct some bad language.

PatrickGHBusan · Posted: Wed Sep 12, 2012 9:55 am Post subject:

Simple answer: visa issues.

An E2 visa teacher needs permission to work a second location and cannot do that at the drop of a hat.

F-visa holders are not all teachers (most are not).

Other visa holders typically cannot legally teach.

viciousdinosaur · Joined: 30 Apr 2012

I'm one of those people who can substitute. I have an F-visa. Sometimes I see ads online looking for a sub, but guess what, I never take those jobs because they don't offer enough money. For 20,000/hr I'd rather spend a day in the park. If my regular wage is 35,000/hr why would I take a job making almost half that? Hagwons are cheap, cheap, cheap. For some reason they think they can pay a sub less than what they pay their regular employees. And that's why it never happens.

oppa637 · Joined: 05 Dec 2011

Subs in the USA get paid far less than the teacher they sub for. At least in Texas so I do not know why its expected to get paid more for subbing in.

I primarily see it as a visa issue.

Son Deureo! · Joined: 30 Apr 2003

I'm on an F-2, and I have Mondays off. I'll sub for you on a Monday for W40k/hr as long as you're not too far away from me (Seoul/Suwon area). PM me if you're interested.

Scorpion · Joined: 15 Apr 2012

Substitute teachers require planning ahead. And that just doesn't happen here.

Dodge7 · Joined: 21 Oct 2011

viciousdinosaur · Joined: 30 Apr 2012

Captain Corea · Joined: 28 Feb 2005 Location: Seoul

The school I first worked at was ok with sick days. Of course, they didn't like them, but they would do some schedule switches to make it possible when needed.

The more organized the school, the easier this is.

PatrickGHBusan · Posted: Thu Sep 13, 2012 3:27 am Post subject:

oppa637 · Joined: 05 Dec 2011

schwa · Joined: 18 Jan 2003 Location: Yap