Korean Job Discussion Forums

[JulieAnne81]

[JulieAnne81]

Appreciate the responses. Just to narrow it down, I've made a list of more specific questions:

1) Where do you work?/What type of job do you have? Again, I'm really interested to hear from people who work at hagwons or in after school programs at public elementary schools.

2) How long have you worked there?

3) What's the most vacation time you've had off in a year? Consecutively?

4) What are some other perks in your contract? Housing, pension, severance after one year, etc.? I know housing isn't always provided, but a stipend is most likely offered. Not sure about the rules for pension and severance...

5) Pay... It's rude to ask how much you get, so feel free to ignore, or send me a pm, if you'd prefer.

[byrddogs]

This thread is just another reminder that I left at the right time. I worked in a hagwon initially and got the standard 10 days plus national holidays. Said hagwon started making teachers come in on Sat. to "make up" days taken during vacay time. Moved onto ps with the standard 21 allotment where I was fortunate enough to get all of that plus stay at home "on call" days equaling more.

Fast forward to now to where (not in Korea, but at a Korean gov school nonetheless elsewhere) working a fully paid 190 school year just like the K teachers do. We just started a 9 day break tonight.

[JulieAnne81]

I know people who work at public schools get more time off than people who work at hagwons and in after school programs, but it varies from school to school based on camps, deskwarming expectations, etc.

I also know people who work at universities get the most time off, but that time can be cut down significantly by camps as well, depending on whether or not they're optional.

My brothers both work at universities here and have urged me to make the switch, but since I have a B.A. and B.Ed. (no M.A.), it would be difficult to get a position, and I'm not sure I want to try. I think my personality is better suited to teaching children.

[Underwaterbob]

After a couple of years at one public school, I up and told them I would not be working any extra classes one summer vacation because I was going to Italy. They actually had no problem with that and let me go. This was years ago though, the new EPIK seems a bit more anal in its enforcing hours-per-week-taught than it was before. I don't think I would straight-up get away with it anymore, but they'd probably let me do it if I promised to work extra hours during the next vacation or something.

[Who's Your Daddy?]

^^I don't think they would. I think you'd be fired now. But it all depends on the principal.

[Beeyee]