Korean Job Discussion Forums

magnumface · Joined: 25 Sep 2004 Location: itaewon, seoul

Hi again, a couple of u asked who sponsored the E2 visa. Well although we have been teaching for a week, we haven't actaully gone for the E2 visa yet (we had to get our transcripts sent over)- so not quite sure regarding that. We were in Korea to teach at a summer camp so just had a temp work visa for that. No-one at the school seems to speak English so all discussions are through the recruiter master politician himself

J.B. Clamence · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

You wil have to go to Japan to get your visa. Hasn't your school at least told you when you're going? If they just have you teaching without a visa "until further notice", I would be worried.

kiwiboy_nz_99 · Joined: 05 Jul 2003 Location: ...Enlightenment...

Make sure they pay for your return ticket to Japan, and give you accomodation money if you have no friends to stay with. Many school will try to make you pay your own way to Japan, and the tickey plus accomodation and transport and food for two days can really clean you out.

Zed · Joined: 20 Jan 2003 Location: Shakedown Street

Seriously man, you may be new here but when you get burnt you'll wish you had heeded some of this advice. The SCHOOL pays YOU! NOT the recruiter.

Hollywoodaction · Joined: 02 Jul 2004

Gord · Joined: 25 Feb 2003

Yesterday · Last edited by Yesterday on Tue Sep 28, 2004 12:24 am; edited 2 times in total

Okay - lets get the facts straight....

Unlike a Hagwon, University, Company - which is classified by the "Korean government" as a private-business - owned by private persons who may choose to pay an employees salary - in any manner, (cash, bank account, cheque) late, not late etc etc -

a Public School is a "Government school". The ""recruiter"" you are talking about is NOT a recruiter.

"A recruiter is usually some private person/business who has established their own business, finds and offers teachers for sale to any business who wishes to purchase them for fees ranging from 2 million won - 3 million won+ - (depending on whether the recruiter had to transport the teacher from another country or whether the teacher was already currently in korea"... etc and also "depending on what visa the teacher already had..."

The so-called recruiter you are referring to is NOT a RECRUTIER.... Government Public schools allow "School Managers" to apply for and purchase contracts on their schools for periods of 1-3 years. The contract allows the "School Manager" to be the sole Manager who can place Foreign English teachers at the school and set up "English classes" at the school. Hence giving the "School Manager" the sole right for the length of their contract to organise, set-up, establish, run English classes at the Public school and to "employ and place Foreign English teachers at the school". "The School Manager" is NOT PAID any fee for employing and placing the foreign teacher into the school - but instead has the duty to the school for which they have the contract with - to ensure that students have the chance to study English at a FEE MUCH LOWER than that offered by any neighbouring Hagwons.

This enables many korean students who have never had the chance to study in private English hagwons the chance to study English that their own school - within the comfortable environment of their "own schools classrooms". These classes are organised by the "School Manager, Foreign teacher and sometimes a Korean assistant teacher".

These "School Managers" are NOT JUST private business people - THEY are often sponsored/backed by very large Korean Companies (which I am not going to name - for their privacy) and the "Seoul Metropolitan Ministry of Education" - under their policies of wanting all students - both underpriveledged/disadvantaged studentent families etc - to be able to study English at a FEE much lower than that charged by private businesses - (that is - HAGWONS).

When a foreign teacher is empoyed by one of the "School Managers" (((NOT recruiter!))) - Geez!! I thought you guys would know the difference by now between a slimy korean recruiter and a "School Manager".... the Public School provides the contract, the E-2 visa (whether your airfare to Japan is paid for/or not) and places the teacher into the school.

The 2 bank accounts in THE TEACHERS NAME are for a very legal and specific purpose[/b]. One bank account is given to the school Manager and the schools - the other bank account is kept by the "Foreign teacher".

The reason for this is easy - the bank account (opened in the teachers name) and given to the school - has money deposited into it by many different persons on many different days throughout the month. The school pays some money into the account on a certain date during the month, the government pays money into the account on a certain date throughout the month - and the students who are studying the "extra-currilcular English subjects PARENTS pay money into the account on different days throughout the month - sometimes always on time - sometimes late.

IF the teacher only had one account - WHAT might you expect to happen??

The teacher would find small amounts of their salary paid into their account on ALL DIFFERENT days of the month.... What would the teacher do? - well going from some of the statements from so called "Oldies teachers who have been here for many years and seem to think they now all" the teacher would FREAK out!!

That is why the teacher has their OWN personal account - which they keep. Once a month the schools managers takes their FULL-SALARY out of the account that the schools keeps (pays tax on/etc etc) and transfers it into the teachers account - so that the teacher receives a MONTHLY - ONE-TIME-FULL payment each month....

There is nothing illegal about this - no tax scandals - the tax has already been paid for by the school based on the number of students who sign up to study the extra-curricular English classes - and the teacher also pays their 3% government tax.

Also it should be know that many of the foreign teachers working in the Public School System have their "Own" assistant Korean teacher there to help there - give them any assistance, curriculum, lesson plans, deal with the school and school teachers in both English and korean, and they also require a salary - although it usually is only about 33% of what the Foreign teacher is paid. - Hence any extra money left over in the account that was given to the school is paid to the Korean teacher as his/her salary. - If this NOT Fair??

schwa · Joined: 18 Jan 2003 Location: Yap

That seems to clarify the 2 accounts. But no one has remarked on the fact that the OP is presently teaching without a work visa.

Yesterday · Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2004 9:51 pm Post subject:

That is highly strange- the "School Manager" has to be immediately approached about this - as I know for a fact- that working in a Public School without the appropriate E-2 visa is HIGHLY unusual and illegal.

perhaps... I can say this... the school manager sounds to be a new person to his/her job - and if you give me his/her name/ contact phone number - I will sort the problem out immediately....

**No, I am not korean, I am just a foreign english teacher -like the most of you - however after having stayed in korean continuoulsy without having left - for several years and having worked in many private Hagwons and many, many Public schools - I do know the law, and I do have contacts in high places in order to help out any teacher who has a problem - especially with Public School Teachers.

If this "School Manager" has messed up /or delayed getting the appropriate visa for the teacher - i would like to talk to the school Manager myself - as he/she is destroying the reputation of others (more experienced and law-abiding) persons in this field....

**However, please note.... I have also fully read and researched all of the OP's former and current posts - and seem to find that maybe it could be the OP's fault - he/she seems more ready to go out drinking each day/night in Itaewon - than getting all of his/her paperwork sorted out.... who can i trust...?

Hollywoodaction · Joined: 02 Jul 2004

Nor does it explain the new contract that the school wants him to sign. He needs to be careful not to sign something that will give them the opportunity to intimidate/fire whenever they see fit.

Yesterday · Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2004 10:09 pm Post subject: Easy

there is an easy answer to that......

like I had stated prevously - a Public School is much different to a private company such as Hagwon, Company, Univ - who in fact have the right to mess you over whenever they feel - and as you all know do all the time...

With the Public schools the teacher should sign 2 contracts - (1) if with the school for E-2 clearance, timetable and duties - the other (2) is with the School Managers that explains the 2 bank accounts, salary, vacation time, sick leave, etc. The two contracts allow the teacher to work and still receive their full-salary during the 3 months Public school Vacation time (1-month summer vacation, 2-months winter vacation) by enabling the School Manager to LEGALLY place the teacher at a different school or summer/winter camp - etc depending on what the Foreign teacher wishes.

With only the one contract - with a public school - what does the teacher expect to happen to them - when vacation time comes?? the second contract allows for a full-years salary, benefits etc to be paid and ensure the teacher is better looked after and caref for - thean any other teacher who manages to privately find themselves a public school to employ them.

In fact the chances of being fired/sacked/etc whenever and however by a Public School is VERY HIGHLY UNLIKELY - as their is too much government forms, applications, policies to do such a thing so easily - if fact any teacher who is employed by one of these School Managers to teacher at a government school is - far more safer and better looked after than a Hagwon teacher.....

At least they will also receive their ful salary on time, be given all necessary teaching curriculum guidlines and resources - NOT be fired after 11 months and 2 weeks (such as many Hagwons do - to avoid paying the 12 month bonus pay).

Lets stop talking paranoid speculation here - and start respecting things as they are....

schwa · Joined: 18 Jan 2003 Location: Yap

Hollywoodaction · Joined: 02 Jul 2004

schwa · Joined: 18 Jan 2003 Location: Yap

Yesterday · Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2004 10:30 pm Post subject:

Think you know all - Mr Hollywoodaction- seems you have been working for private companies too long (that is, Hagwons, Univ's and companies).

Well those tricks don't work in the Public Schools.... seems you have never worked for one - maybe you are not qualified - perhaps no TESOL/TEFL cert or just not a qualified teacher.

Unless you have the experience and know what you are talking about - it is persons like you - who spout your ill-educated advice to other teachers on "Daves ESL Cafe" that is giving Dave's Cafe a bad name - a place for unexperienced - illinformed teachers to comment once in a while with paranoid, anti-koren teachers/schools info - whilst your Soul purpose in coming here was to travel from your home country - to Korea to pay off your student debts - mess around with naive, innocent students then take off back to the safety of your home- country?) How correct am I?

Unless - you are 100% certain of what you are talking about - do not answer to posts on this site - you are only offering wrong, and misleading advice to teachers who are seeking educated and correct info.