Korean Job Discussion Forums

[daniellelievre]

I have a nice contract, or what seems like a nice contract, with one exception, it's a split-shift schedule. I haven't found anybody that's ever worked one of these so I'm asking on the boards to find out if it really is that bad. I'm guessing it is because they probably make you do a lot of bullshiite jobs around the school in such a long day. Not only is this a split-shift, it's a split workplace. What's the verdict?

9am - 1pm mon-fri at Hong Ik Elementary School
>>>> 2:30 pm - 6:30 pm mon-fri at a hagwon (private academy) nearby
>>>> No weekends.
>>>>
>>>> Most of our materials are ready.
>>>>
>>>> Pay is Either 2.5 million won per month without housing
>>>> Or 2.2 million won per month with housing.
>>>>
>>>> One year contract
>>>> One week vacation - depends on our schedule
>>>> 50 percent of medical insurance paid
>>>> Return ticket will be paid for if you were in Korea at the time of
>>>> signing
>>>> E-2 visa will be sponsored
>>>> housing or housing allowance
>>>> one month severance pay upon completion of your one year contract
>>>> ==============================================================

[Col.Brandon]

Avoid it. There are better jobs out there. Just be patient.

[denverdeath]

That doesn't really look like a split shift...it looks more like a really long block shift, teaching at two different places. Anyway, the pay's actually pretty bad if you look at it on an hourly basis. Std 2mil/120 = ~17,000/hr. 2.2/160 = ~14,000/hr. I might do that schedule for 2.5-2.7(with housing) as long as both workplaces were cleared by immigration.

[VanIslander]

There's nothing better than average about that contract.

You could find the same thing in a lot of hagwons with a 2-8 or 3-9 pm teaching schedule.

But if you'd rather teach 30-40 kids in a class rather than 6-10, then go ahead!

(More work, more hours. No thanks.)

[denverdeath]

Just out of curiosity, why don't you ask the place if they'll give you 2.4(with housing) and see what they say?

[chessmaster9000]

[peppermint]

Elementary school classes are 40 minutes, so there's lots of breaks in the first block, and it probably includes time for lunch. Also, elementary schools get lots more holidays than hagwons, so you'll get to sleep in at least once or twice a month,during the term never mind the vacations.


Definitely ask what happens during school vacations before deciding, because the schools close for about a month in summer and nearly 2 in winter.

As far as the split goes- doesn't sound like a problem to me at all. you'd get some time off to go to the bank, run errands or whatever in the middle of your day. .

[Old fat expat]

Have to agree with denverdeath. That looks like an hour and a half lunch-break (did I read that right?).

Split shift looks something like:
Start at 6.30am and finish at 11.00am for first shift.
Start at 5.30pm and finish at 9.30pm for second shift.

Every day seems like two days. Every month feels like a year. A year feels like an epoch. They suck but if you want to work with adults may be the only way to get a start.

As you don't mind kids, find a good hagwon (I can hear the laughter from here) and you should get at least 2mil for 5-6 hours a day. You'll spend lots of time prepping, but that is part of the learning curve.

Good luck.

[plato's republic]

Make sure the Elementary school job is cleared by immigration if the contract is with the hagwon. Plus that long break between the two jobs will probably be just an hour. I'm sure they'll expect you to be at work for 2pm to prep a little. You'll actually be on the go for at least nine and half hours from around 8.30-8.45 until 6.30pm, that's a long day. Ask for more money with housing. Also clear up the holiday situation. It said only 7days if I'm not mistaken. That means that during the public school summer/winter break you'll probably be expected to teach all day at the hagwon or even do a camp. That would royally suck. Check out the facts first, could be a good job or it could be a nightmare. Best of luck!

[TOGirl]

I worked a split shift during my frist year and it really sucked. I worked at one school in the morning, had a 3 hour break and then worked at another school in the afternoon.

Old fat expat was right when he said that everyday seems like two.

I would just be careful because it doesn't sound like a long time for a normal job but if you have never taught before then then you might find that those long days will make you really tired.

I would look for a block afternoon shift if I were you or like the others said, ask for more money.

[sheba]

[chessmaster9000]

[quote="chessmaster9000"][quote="daniellelievre"]I have a nice contract, or what seems like a nice contract, with one exception, it's a split-shift schedule. I haven't found anybody that's ever worked one of these so I'm asking on the boards to find out if it really is that bad. I'm guessing it is because they probably make you do a lot of bullshiite jobs around the school in such a long day. Not only is this a split-shift, it's a split workplace. What's the verdict?

9am - 1pm mon-fri at Hong Ik Elementary School
2:30 pm - 6:30 pm mon-fri at a hagwon (private academy) nearby

*****I have always advised people not take split shifts. Personally, I think you would be better off working 2-8, or 3-9. One hagwon can sometimes be a pain in the rear, but two would be more than a pain. Make it simple for yourself, and work six hour shifts at only one school throughout the duration of your contract.

No weekends

*****Are there any clauses which say the schedule may altered as dictated by the needs of the students? They say no weekends, but sometimes they throw in one or two sentences hoping the prospective teacher will not see.

Most of our materials are ready.

*****Most? Ask them to clarify what they mean by most. This sounds interesting.

Pay is Either 2.5 million won per month without housing
Or 2.2 million won per month with housing.

*****When do they inted on paying you each month. I get paid on my arrival date each month. If you can get that hook up, then you would have it made. Some schools pay their employees at the 10th of the following month which is garbage. If you could get paid by the 3rd day of the following month then you would be okay. What about the taxes. That needs to be set in stone.

One year contract

*****Since I advised you to work at one school earlier, make sure that you have something stating that you will only be working at one school


One week vacation - depends on our schedule
*****Depends on your schedule? Depends on your schedule my a$$. Employees should get 10-12 vacation days per year. They should also be entitled to all Korean National Holidays.

50 percent of medical insurance paid
*****Insist that you get covered under the Korean National Health Care Insurance Plaan. You pay your premiums every three months now. Will your employer chip in 50% as soon as you go to pay, or when you get back from the NHIC office? That should be in your contract also. Employers will try and be little scumbag ferret heads when it comes chipping in their half.



Return ticket will be paid for if you were in Korea at the time of
signing

E-2 visa will be sponsored
*****Insist that you don't work until you have your E-2 Visa in your hand. To many employers make their employees do that, and they would be working illegally. If immigration catches you then it's deportation time. Get something about that in your contract.

housing or housing allowance
*****I don't like housing allowance clauses. Let the school take care of your apartment for you. Let them pay the rent each month. Less stress. If they ask you for an apartment deposit, then tell them to f**K off. This master con probably did.

*****You should also insist on getting a clause about obtaining a taxation certificate put into your contract.


one month severance pay upon completion of your one year contract


*****I would not take this contract. This hagwon sounds like a first rate scumbag. There are better contracts out there. Go to www.elf-law.com and look over some information about contracts. There is also information about recruiters on that website. Good luck!

[buymybook]

I chose to teach adults so that I could attend my civil/criminal court hearings this past year. Of course I had to work the dreaded split, but only for the 1st four months. I think I got lucky.

Now my schedule consists of two 1 hour classes in the morning 6:50-7:50 and 8:00- 9:00 Monday - Friday. On Wednesdays I'm usually finished at 9:00 A.M.

Mon. & Thurs. I have a 1 hour class during lunchtime after my early morning classes.

Tuesays & Fridays are my busiest days which are like Mon./Thurs. except I have an additional 90 minute AJUMA class in between my early morning classes and lunchtime class.

4 days of the week for the last 4 months I am usually out of there by 1:30 p.m.

2 days this week my students didn't arrive for the early morning class so I didn't do anything, but I'll get paid anyway!

I love it! "The early bird catches the morning worm."

[Fat Sam]

My first year here I had the split shift from hell. I defy anyone to beat this schedule which I did for the last five months of the contract:

7-8am, company class that was a twenty minute bus ride away.
10-11am, adult conversation at the hagwon (next to my apartment).
11:45am, get the school bus to Pyeongtaek (an hour from my place in Suwon). Have lunch at the company canteen. Teach one class (1-2pm). Arrive back home at 3:15pm.
5-6pm, kids class in hagwon.
8-10pm, adults at the hagwon.
10pm-1am, drink beer at local.

All this for only 1.9 million. I don't know how I survived and still managed to have a good time. I remember teaching 156 hours in that December, earning a measly 15,000 Won for overtime above 132 hours. That lunch was my only meal a day, if you don't include a few pieces of anju at the bar.

The thing is, most of the foreign staff felt we did okay -getting paid on time, new if tiny accommodation, and an easy job basically making conversation (lesson planning involved photo-copying a few questions). It wasn't real teaching compared to the elementary gig I've got these days.

[TheUrbanMyth]