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seoulonmind
Joined: 25 May 2004
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 Posted: Thu Jul 15, 2004 7:01 pm Post subject: |
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chronicpride:
Are you saying that I have to know how to read and write in English or Korean? I am assuming English. How much do I need to go over myself. I would have to have a round trip plane ticket. I cant fine one for under $1000 and then I hear I need like 1 or 2K to live on. I am not sure I will be able to have all that cash when it comes time for me to go. Also, I am worried about navagating around to the Hagwons since signs are in Korean, are they in English at all, can you get directions from people on the street etc. I see myself getting there and struggling to figure out how to get to the job because I cant read the subway or bustop in Korean. I lived in Spain for almost two years, but I was intermediate Spanish then. Comments?
Thanks
Bri |
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prosodic
Joined: 21 Jun 2004
Location: ����
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| Posted: Thu Jul 15, 2004 7:05 pm Post subject: |
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| seoulonmind wrote: |
| peppermint wrote: |
Be flexible, don't expect anything to be like it was at home, and follow the status quo. Everytime I've run inot trouble here it's because I asked for something that the other teachers didn't. Mind you, in one case all I was asking for was medical insurance.  |
peppermint:
You got into trouble just for asking for the medical insurance that they HAVE to provide you? |
So far, I've been able to defend hagwons on this thread. This time, I can't. There are several hagwon owners who assume that most foreigners don't know anything about their rights under Korean law. These BAD hagwon owners also assume that the foreigners who do know their rights will get frustrated by the system if they try to complain to the authorities. The hagwon owners are correct most of the time. Even if a foreigner manages to successfully complain to the authorities and get a violation corrected, there are a thousand legal ways in which a hagwon owner can then make life more difficult.
All of a sudden, you get the worst class schedule and it's only a coincidence that this happens right after you complained to the Ministry of Labor. All of a sudden, you're told to move out of your nice apartment next door to the school and into a not so nice apartment that's an hour away by subway. Hey, the contract says you get housing, it doesn't say where. Again, it's just a coincidence that this happens right after you insisted on getting medical insurance. And of course the owner will deny that you are not being made an example of to discourage the other foreign teachers from complaining.
That said, it will not happen at every school. There are good situations out there waiting to be found. |
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prosodic
Joined: 21 Jun 2004
Location: ����
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| Posted: Thu Jul 15, 2004 7:08 pm Post subject: |
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| seoulonmind wrote: |
| I would have to have a round trip plane ticket. I cant fine one for under $1000 |
Where do you live if that's the best you can do? During the off-season, it should possible to get a flight from the U.S. eastern seaboard for under $700. During the peak season for under $900. From the U.S. westcoast, under $600. |
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seoulonmind
Joined: 25 May 2004
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| Posted: Thu Jul 15, 2004 7:12 pm Post subject: |
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Grotto:
Wow, and you got this job WHILE you were in Korea? Had you met the director and interviwed in person. Had you talked to the other reachers etc? When you said no to them did they get REALLY pissed and started giving you H E double L Hockey Sticks?
Are you going to go to another school in Korea when you finish this contract?
I have been in contact with YBM, and Yale Language in Daegu. I have been told they are good schools and its very possible to get job over the phone and have them send you to Korea.
I have also heard a lot that you get PREPAID airfare from the nearest International airport near you to Korea. Is this not the case?
I appreciate all the help you are giving me.
Bri |
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seoulonmind
Joined: 25 May 2004
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| Posted: Thu Jul 15, 2004 7:14 pm Post subject: |
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| prosodic wrote: |
| seoulonmind wrote: |
| I would have to have a round trip plane ticket. I cant fine one for under $1000 |
Where do you live if that's the best you can do? During the off-season, it should possible to get a flight from the U.S. eastern seaboard for under $700. During the peak season for under $900. From the U.S. westcoast, under $600. |
I live Arlington, VA, so I would fly out of Dulles Airport of Baltimore. I looked on expedia, and all those airline ticket websites that are suposed to give good deals. I put in the date for August though. Maybe it will be Different in Jan. |
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seoulonmind
Joined: 25 May 2004
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| Posted: Thu Jul 15, 2004 7:17 pm Post subject: |
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[quote="prosodic"]
| seoulonmind wrote: |
| peppermint wrote: |
| Be flexible, don't expect anything to be like it was at home, and follow the status quo. Everytime I've run inot trouble here it's because I asked for something that the other teachers didn't. Mind you, in one case all I was asking for was medical insurance. |
peppermint:
You got into trouble just for asking for the medical insurance that they HAVE to provide you? |
So far, I've been able to defend hagwons on this thread. This time, I can't. There are several hagwon owners who assume that most foreigners don't know anything about their rights under Korean law. These BAD hagwon owners also assume that the foreigners who do know their rights will get frustrated by the system if they try to complain to the authorities. The hagwon owners are correct most of the time. Even if a foreigner manages to successfully complain to the authorities and get a violation corrected, there are a thousand legal ways in which a hagwon owner can then make life more difficult.
All of a sudden, you get the worst class schedule and it's only a coincidence that this happens right after you complained to the Ministry of Labor. All of a sudden, you're told to move out of your nice apartment next door to the school and into a not so nice apartment that's an hour away by subway. Hey, the contract says you get housing, it doesn't say where. Again, it's just a coincidence that this happens right after you insisted on getting medical insurance. And of course the owner will deny that you are not being made an example of to discourage the other foreign teachers from complaining.
How long have you taught in Korea and how many schools? |
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seoulonmind
Joined: 25 May 2004
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| Posted: Thu Jul 15, 2004 7:19 pm Post subject: |
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Guys I am getting A LOT of good info here, ,KEEP IT COMING! heheh
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peppermint
Joined: 13 May 2003
Location: traversing the minefields of caddishness.
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| Posted: Thu Jul 15, 2004 7:30 pm Post subject: |
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| seoulonmind wrote: |
| peppermint wrote: |
| Be flexible, don't expect anything to be like it was at home, and follow the status quo. Everytime I've run inot trouble here it's because I asked for something that the other teachers didn't. Mind you, in one case all I was asking for was medical insurance. |
peppermint:
You got into trouble just for asking for the medical insurance that they HAVE to provide you? |
Yeah, and in another case it was fo asking them ot follow my contract as written. There were some good clauses which the director claimed to have missed like getting paid every two weeks and scheduled vacation time.
I've been here a little over two years and am into my fourth contract. I won't say things are perfect at this school, but no job anywhere is perfect. I get paid on time, my contract is followed, and I've got the support of the admin, if not my co-workers.
Last edited by peppermint on Thu Jul 15, 2004 7:33 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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prosodic
Joined: 21 Jun 2004
Location: ����
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| Posted: Thu Jul 15, 2004 7:31 pm Post subject: |
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| seoulonmind wrote: |
| How long have you taught in Korea and how many schools? |
I've taught at a total of four different hagwons. I've been fortunate. There's only been one time when I've even had to threaten to go to the Ministry of Labor. Anything negative I've written has been purely second-hand information. |
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seoulonmind
Joined: 25 May 2004
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| Posted: Thu Jul 15, 2004 7:34 pm Post subject: |
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| What does everyone think about YBM? Getting the job from the US? If I use another school I am just going to make sure I gollow ALL advise from you all and in the FAQ |
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prosodic
Joined: 21 Jun 2004
Location: ����
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| Posted: Thu Jul 15, 2004 7:40 pm Post subject: |
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| seoulonmind wrote: |
| What does everyone think about YBM? Getting the job from the US? If I use another school I am just going to make sure I gollow ALL advise from you all and in the FAQ |
I say go with YBM. They may pay a little less than other schools, but they do everything by the book. They're the largest chain and that makes them more visible to the authorities. I've spent some time there. |
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seoulonmind
Joined: 25 May 2004
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| Posted: Thu Jul 15, 2004 7:46 pm Post subject: |
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prosodic:
And your experience there was a good one? The ad said that you have to have shared housing with them. It also said they give you a relocation allowance of (I am not sure about this figure but I think it was:) 400,000 Won, plus a 50,000 visa subsidy. I however have not asked anything about this yet as we have only emailed eavh other a few times and are set to talk on the phone soon.
Were the teaching conditions good at YBM?
Bri |
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oneiros
Joined: 19 Aug 2003
Location: Villa Straylight
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| Posted: Thu Jul 15, 2004 8:06 pm Post subject: |
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Just to back up Grotto's story, I've had a very similar experience.
First two years, worked for a big chain school. I got the job overseas from a recruiter, and, to top it off, it was a brand new branch that was just opening. I had really good experiences there.
Third year, I decided I needed a change of scenery, so I went for a school out in the provinces. I spent a few months looking for the right school, covered all my bases, and everything seemed fine. For the first month. Then the director decided to invest a whole bunch of money in another business, meaning there was no money to run the hogwan anymore. Supplies stopped being bought, I didn't get any of my promised benefits (ie health insurance, working appliances etc), the promised class sizes of 4-5 kids started turning into 9 and 10 kids thrown together by age rather than level (imagine a kid who doesn't know their alphabet thrown into a Let's Go 4 class), and pay started getting late.
4 more teaching days left, and then I'm going back to the big chain. |
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seoulonmind
Joined: 25 May 2004
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| Posted: Thu Jul 15, 2004 8:08 pm Post subject: |
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I will definatly try and get on with YBM, they seem interested so far. I have all the qualifications.
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prosodic
Joined: 21 Jun 2004
Location: ����
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| Posted: Thu Jul 15, 2004 8:32 pm Post subject: |
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| seoulonmind wrote: |
prosodic:
And your experience there was a good one? The ad said that you have to have shared housing with them. It also said they give you a relocation allowance of (I am not sure about this figure but I think it was:) 400,000 Won, plus a 50,000 visa subsidy. I however have not asked anything about this yet as we have only emailed eavh other a few times and are set to talk on the phone soon.
Were the teaching conditions good at YBM?
Bri |
It was fine. I can't give you an opinion on their housing because I had my own. I can tell you that they're willing to provide key money and a housing subsidy if you can find your own place. The important thing is that they pay on time and they don't do anything shady.
Teaching conditions are also ok. I can't think of another hagwon where you can teach only adults and have a block shift. Split shifts lead to burnout.
Their set curriculum is inadequate. You'll have to supplement it. They make you use books that they publish. In my opinion, the textbooks are rubbish. They inconsistently use both British and American spelling and grammar. But a good and experienced teacher can do a decent job with any textbook. In the advanced classes, you can get away with not using the textbook at all, or only when you can't think of anything else to do. In the lower classes, you'll probably wind up using the textbook everyday and will have to explain when a sentence follows British rather than American usage.
If you're interested, they have Korean language classes at the Chongno branch. The classes are decent and you get a discount if you work there. |
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