Korean Job Discussion Forums

[frankly speaking]

As I stated Hagwons give 10 days a year vacation as well as holidays. So as you previously stated that PS give 14 days, that is only 4 more days.

I disagree that public schools pay more. There are many Hagwon jobs for newbies that start at 2.2, most public schools jobs pay less than that unless you have teachers license, TESOL/TEFL certificate, Masters, etc.

I don't think that the extra 4 days that you get in Public schools is worth dealing with huge class sizes and long office hours.

OP, don't take a contract unless your actual contact teaching hours and schedule are posted. You will end up getting screwed. Also have it in writing what constitutes 1 class hour.

I have worked for schools that there are 6 50 minute periods a day. 50min. class =1 hour of teaching.

I have also worked at schools that had 45 minute classes, 1hr=1hr. 8 (45 min.) classes are a lot harder than 6 (50 minute) classes.

[nikkyfirefly]

I know this thread is old but I'm facing a similar job offer issue and as a newbie I'm wondering if the standards have changed at all since.

I'm being a offered a position that has the following schedule laid out:

Kindergarten classes are 30 and 40 minutes in length beginning at 9:50am ending at 2:25pm respectively.

Elementary classes are 40 and 50 minutes in length beginning at 2:35pm, 3:20pm, 4:10pm, 5:05pm, 6:00pm ending at 3:20pm, 4:05pm, 5:00pm, 5:55pm, 6:50pm, 7:45 p.m.
respectively.

9:30 am - 6 pm (2) - 9 hours
9:30 am - 6:50 pm (1) - 10 hours
9:30 am - 7:50 pm (2) - 11 hours
= 45 hours (discounting 1 hour lunches)

So aside from the 30 hours of teaching I also have 10 hours of office work per week and I'm not allowed to leave the school during breaks/office time.

Pay is 2.2 million won.

Again input/advice would be greatly appreciated!!!

[ttompatz]

30 hours teaching + 10 hours of office time is a 40 hour work week (standard by any stretch).

NOT being allowed to leave on your lunch or other breaks on the other hand is a violation of the labor standards act.

Article 50 (Working Hours)
(1) Working hours per week shall not exceed forty hours
excluding recess hours.
(2) Working hours per day shall not exceed eight hours
excluding recess hours.
(3) In calculating working hours under paragraphs (1) and
(2), the waiting hours, etc., a worker spends for work under the
direction and supervision of his/her employer shall be regarded
as working hours.

Article 54 (Recess Hours)
(1) An employer shall allow a recess period of more than
30 minutes for every 4 working hours and more than 1 hour
for every 8 working hours during the working hours.
(2) A recess period may be freely used by workers.

http://www.moel.go.kr/english/poli/poliLaw_view.jsp?idx=254&tab=6

.

[SeoulNate]

[bmaw01]

[Milwaukiedave]

Not allowed to leave school? Are they going to handcuff you to a desk?

Yeah I think there are enough red flags there that you should pass.

[Blanca]

Also OP, be careful of the wording surrounding "working hours". You might only be teaching 30 hours, but if those consist of 40 45-minute classes you're going to burn out pretty quick.

By all means get an upper limit on teaching hours, but also get an upper limit on number of classes per week. Anything more than about 32/33, especially with kindie, will be very hard work.

[Cartman]

My, how times have changed. When I was in Seoul in 2009 - 2010, the standard working hours at my Hagwan were either 9am - 1pm or 1:30pm.. or 1 or 2pm to 7pm. Supply and demand in full effect now

[bmaw01]

[nikkyfirefly]

Thanks guys! I have a lot to think about. I'm scared to turn down this offer and not find anything better...

Here is the actually scheduling and working hours clauses as they were written into the contract..

Scheduling
a. Kindergarten classes are 30 and 40 minutes in length beginning at 9:50am ending at 2:25pm respectively. Elementary classes are 40 and 50 minutes in length beginning at 2:35pm, 3:20pm, 4:10pm, 5:05pm, 6:00pm ending at 3:20pm, 4:05pm, 5:00pm, 5:55pm, 6:50pm, 7:45 p.m.
respectively. The Employee will finish her teaching schedule at 6:00 p.m. once a week, 6:45 p.m. twice a week and 7:45p.m. twice a week.
There will be no classes on weekends and national holidays.
b. The Employee’s schedule will be different during the summer and winter sessions of the school year and
c. Each intensive session will be 4 weeks long and will take place in January and July or August of each year. And school ending time is the same as regular days during intensive session.
d. Sixty (60) minute classes fulfill one (1) contractual hour.
e. The number of regular teaching hours will be 30 hours per one week.
f. The teaching schedule can be changed at any given time by the Employer. The Employee is responsible for maintaining a pleasant working environment and following the schedule of conduct set up by the employer.


. Working hours & Responsibilities of Teacher
a. During the term of this contract, the teacher shall be required to work from Monday through Friday. The working hours, defined as the hours the teacher should remain at BLANK including lunchtime and preparatory time shall be from 9:30am to 6:50pm(on Monday to Friday). These working hours may be subject to change according to the employer's situation. However, the maximum teaching hours, which means teaching time for classes, 30 hours per week will be kept. In the case of exceeding 30 hours per week for teaching time, not working time, overtime will be paid at 20,000 won per hour.
b. Classes and teaching hours are scheduled at the institute's sole discretion
c. Special Events that might be held on Saturdays (Christmas Concert, Family trip, Pajama Party etc.) do not count as overtime.
d. Payment made for assigned teaching hours is inclusive of payment for preparation and administrative duties connected with those assigned classes. Employee is required to attend meetings and workshops scheduled by employer without extra pay.
e. The Instructor is expected to devote no less than 2 hours a day at the Institute for the lesson planning with co-teachers, student evaluations, syllabuses, report cards, field trips, supervision of play, maintenance of the English environment during breaks, workshops, staff meetings, and upgrading one’s professional knowledge and skills without additional pay. The work week will follow the yearly academic calendar issued by the School.
f. The Instructor will prepare a big test and student report cards as required by the curriculum and administer an oral test and prepare student report cards on the subsequent months for each class.
g. The Instructor is required to check all homework, essays and journals to ensure students are adequately grasping the presented material.
h. The Instructor shall respect the Korean people’s moral standards and customs.
I. Any form of physical punishment will not be allowed by the Instructor.

[arod204]

Sounds awful. I'm not joking when I say I have 8 hour shifts and want to job off a bridge already.

Chances are if they are giving you those hours, they wont be afraid to work you to the bone either. I'd never teach English in Korea again tbh. What a horrific shit show my last 2 months have been.

[nicwr2002]