Korean Job Discussion Forums

Snowkr · Joined: 03 Jun 2005

I finally made it to Korea after a nearly 8 week wait for my paperwork to be processed.

When I signed this contract, I agreed to work 30 hours. Anything over is extra. I am working 40 hours... no overtime. There is no given time for prep and planning but the lessons are pretty straightforward as I can tell.

The thing is, even though I never planned on working quite this much... I really like the school and the employer. I'm already attached to the kids even after only 4 days. I am just coming to terms with the fact that I have very little free time during the week.

Any thoughts on this?

the_beaver · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

Gopher · Joined: 04 Jun 2005

"This is not the job I agreed to..."

Indeed.

The Korean EFL industry is based on misrepresentation and deception. It is fundamentally corrupt. It's less stable than a house of cards; it's worthless. Koreans are their own worst enemy when it comes to teaching and learning English, as another poster said in another thread on this board.

Just look, for example, at all of the foreign teachers who complete their first contract, or, better yet, at all of the English-speaking Koreans who emerge from the system...

Grotto · Joined: 21 Mar 2004

choice A: tell them to stuff it and find another job

choice B: suck it up for an entire year working 10 more hours than the other FT's you meet and probably for less money.

choice C: stick to your guns....tell them that 30 hours is time at the prison(er I mean hogwan) not time in class.

This is exactly the crap that I have been talking about on other threads.

NITPICK your way to a clear and concise contract. 30 hours should state 2-8 or 3-9 Mon-Fri. If you dont insist on specifics they make up crap and screw you over on the time spent.

schwa · Joined: 18 Jan 2003 Location: Yap

Some schools will pull a fast one adding up every minute of classtime instead of calling 45 or 50 minutes an hour, which is the norm. If that wasnt clear at the outset, you likely have little recourse, but if your schedule is in direct defiance of your contract, you have a real grievance & need to express it.

Hagwon teaching is work, no doubt. Its normal to feel spent at the end of a shift, but 40 classes a week is brutal. Best luck.

sheba · Joined: 16 May 2005 Location: Here there and everywhere!

Just keep in mind, the good classes get a lot noisier as the weeks progress, and the naughty classes get a lot naughtier!!

Be sure you wont get burn out because on a bad day that can be 6 or 7 hours of non-stop stress.... I have 26-29 50min classes a week, and I can definately feel drained by the end of the day/week.

Live for the weekends, yes, but I hope you have enough energy left to enjoy them!

VanIslander

Gopher · Joined: 04 Jun 2005

Grotto · Joined: 21 Mar 2004

Sorry but a 45-50 minute class should count as an hour. It does in public schools! If this is the accepted standard why should hogwans get to decide to be different?

Picture Perfect · Joined: 29 Jun 2005

khyber · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Compunction Junction

Gopher · Joined: 04 Jun 2005

Pyongshin Sangja · Joined: 20 Apr 2003 Location: I love baby!

Huh? Listen, I'll pay you ten bucks an hour to wax my floors while you're at it.

inkoreaforgood · Joined: 15 Dec 2003 Location: Inchon

Ok, what does your contract say? 30 hours per week? or 40? If it says 30, then 30 it is, anything else is overtime. Be sure to keep a journal on the hours you work.

40 a week, you will burn out. This is not a regular job back home. Teaching requires alot of energy, that's why we're not working the full 40 hours. It's too much, and you will become tired and useless at your job within a month.

Plus, if the school feels that you are a pushover, they will continue to take advantage of you. Be firm with them, but not angry, polite, and be clear in what you want. 30 hours, then the rest is overtime. Do this now, and the rest of your contract will go smoother, wait a few more weeks, and your year in Korea will be very difficult.

I guess you must be the only foriegn teacher at the school. So you have no one to talk to and get some good advice from, thus they feel they can take advantage of you. Good luck.

Col.Brandon · Joined: 09 Aug 2004 Location: Seoul

Yep, be aware that the little buggers are a bit shy with you this week while they're scoping you out, but they'll be back to their little sebastian selves next week. When they do snap out of their temproary well-behaved state, be ready to come down hard on them to get them in line. You can ease off later once they understand what you expect.

And remember that those 10 minute "breaks" between classes usually require a lot of prep for the next class (such as cue-ing up tapes). It's still work, and you should still get paid for it.

Your boss is (literally) banking on the fact that you're a young person who can be easily manipulated. Just be assertive. And be prepared to walk if necessary. He needs you much more than you need him. Don't learn the hard way, like I had to!

Good luck!