Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Qinella]

I'm just curious about something. I work at a small hagwon where there are only 10 classes every day. The only other teachers besides me are two Korean women. The schedule works out to be me teaching five classes a day, as well as a private lesson with an advanced student, and them rotating between teaching two and three per day.

I don't know how much money they are getting paid, but I assume it's probably less than me. Also, I realize they want every student to have contact with a native English speaker, and as it is I teach every class here at least twice per week.

Also, I realize I've still got a great job, so I'm not complaining. I just wonder how typical this is, and if they are trying to take advantage of me.

Cheers,
Qinella

[Ya-ta Boy]

It was typical at my school.

[steroidmaximus]

[margaret]

Yes, the native English speaker is the big draw. I'm the only foreign teacher. There's a Korean math teacher and my 2 bosses, a couple, who both teach English. She teaches the grade school classes, he the middle school and I teach both. We alternate days.
Margaret

[Mashimaro]

it's common for korean teachers to get paid half as much as the foreign teacher, and many of them do a lot of work behind the scenes (calling mothers, paperwork etc.) They are also more likely to have to deal with office political crap. I doubt you would want to swap places with them.

[Derrek]

It can work both ways. I was putting in 5 to 6 hours of class at my first hagwon each day. The Korean teachers put in more for less money.

[JacktheCat]

Yep, it's par for the course for waegukin to teach more classes.

I don't think Koreans quite realise how hard it is too plan out a good conversation class and how physically exhausting it all can be. And they seem to believe we don't do any real work in those classes; that just being in the same room as a foreigner is all that is needed to learn English.

I've lost count of the number of times, someone has told me. "Oh, you are English teacher, that is very easy job."

[Real Reality]

Normal for foreign teacher to have bigger workload?

All of the foreign teachers, foreign instructors, and foreign professors I have met have always taught more hours than their Korean counterparts. Of course, the foreigners received a lower salary with fewer benefits.

Foreign scholars merit equal status
The foreign professor -- colleague or hired hand?
Foreign professors do most of the heavy lifting in terms of course loads, devoting themselves almost exclusively to teaching. Nevertheless, they tend to be treated as hired hands, without academic standing, and lacking the possibility of career advancement or tenure. They must submit to yearly contracts (compensated at a rate only 60 percent of their Korean peers) while walled off from the permanent Korean faculty who benefit from travel, research funding, sabbaticals, etc. Moreover, when hundreds of Korean scholars enjoy such perks at American and other foreign universities, something is obviously amiss.... According to the Samsung Group's chairman, Lee Kun-hee, to succeed globally, Korea must forgo the thought that Korea and being Korean is superior, and foreign specialists must be treated with respect.
by John B. Kotch; June 14, 2002; JoongAng Ilbo
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/200206/14/200206142349223599900090109011.html

[tzechuk]

Crikey, RR, do you have a newspaper article for everything???

[agraham]

I put in more hours than the other teachers. But honestly conversation class requires less prep, so I acutally do less work.
Some days I don't prep at all -- just shoot the breeze with whoever is feeling talkative that day and playing some games. Some days my prep consists of photocopying some pages or typing up a handout of a made-up-on-the-spot conversation. Probably if you average it out I prep for five or ten minutes per 45 minute class, while the Korean teachers prep for thirty minutes per.

[peemil]

Just wait a minute and he'll post a story about having too many stories.



Love your work RR.

[Reena]

Reading your post, reminded me of my hagwon. I am the only foreign teacher and have two other korean teachers at my school. I teach 12 classes a day, go one hour before class everyday to prep and see each student at least three times a week. On top of that I do phone teaching 3 times a week, I do get paid much more than the korean teachers but it is really exhausting... I'm glad to know I'm not the only one

[keithinkorea]

Yep we work more class hours but Korean co workers do other stuff (often unpaid). Moar Korean teachers are paid by the class and are not paid any extra for

I do loads more class hours than any of my Korean colleagues which is tiring but then again my Korean co teachers have to phone the parents and obviously spend a lot more time planning their classes, they are only paid for the teaching hours and this is quite normal.

Korean workers also don't get some of the benefits such as the free housing and other stuff.

All in all I'd say the workload is fairly balanced, the Koreans get paid quite a bit less and fewer benefits. At the same time they have to prep more as there may be vocab their unfamiliar with in the lessons. Native speakers get paid more, away from home (hardship pay) family and friends.

[crazykiwi]

I have always put in more classroom hours than my korean co-workers, but hey, it IS easier for me to prepare a class than them. They often ave to look a lot of info up just so THEY can understand what they are teaching, where as a lot of my stuff is just second nature. I dont mind, I get paid to work that much.

btw- kiethinkorea, i LOVE your picture thing of bad taste! awesome bro, havent seen that one for a wee while,

"i'm a derrick, and derricks dont run!"

[JacktheCat]