Korean Job Discussion Forums

Wrench · Joined: 07 Apr 2005

So today I had reached my breaking point.

My contract says 30 hours teaching, most places I know do 30 hours in 1 hour blocks. My haqwon is doing 30 hours in minutes, I teach kindy and some elementary.

My school is to cheap to get another foreigner. The new guys that arrived has refused to do any ot, so they tried to dump extra classes on me. I already teach 34 classes in a week. He teaches 35 I would be siting at 37 classes after said and done. I am geting stressed out and geting really tired and all this for 2.1 mil. Also new guy has already quit, the other foreigner is geting exhausted as well. There are 4 k-teacher and 3 foreigners its a non stop day for us while the Korean teachers get less teaching time.

I told them that they need to get another foreigner other wise as soon as I get a response from a descent position I am quiting. I am extremly reliable, and I think I am a great teacher but this amount of teaching is taking a toll on my head. Am I wrong or am I demanding to much of them. I heard a rumor that they might up my salary to 2.5 mil but I am not sure if I want to give up my sanity for money.

the_beaver · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

I wouldn't do that many hours for twice your monthly salary.

Look for another job. The peace of mind I get from teaching a reasonable number of hours is incredible.

TECO · Joined: 20 Jan 2003

You shouldn't be teaching anymore than 25 hours per week for that salary.

laogaiguk · Joined: 06 Dec 2005 Location: somewhere in Korea

No, they are working you too hard. Actually, you telling them they need to do something or you are leaving is actually quite professional (as opposed to many who just up and go, though some with good reason). Stand your ground and leave if you need. If things start getting bad, make a report to immi so it can be showed you tried to settle things before quitting.

jajdude · Joined: 18 Jan 2003

JAWINSEOUL · Joined: 19 Nov 2005

Your making 14000 per hour not including free travel and class preperation. Hopefully someone here can help you stop getting hosed.

SuperHero · Joined: 10 Dec 2003 Location: Superhero Hideout

Son Deureo! · Joined: 30 Apr 2003

Your job does sound like it sucks, but if you want to stay in Korea and teach after you quit, you will need your current boss' permission in the form of a letter of release. It's not as simple as just quitting and taking the next good job that comes along, it will probably require some negotiation with your boss.

That's why so many people get stuck in subpar jobs, they need to wait out the terms of their contracts before they can get another visa.

the eye · Joined: 29 Jan 2004

sounds like even a raise wouldn't compensate for the amount of stress you have. just one class of kindy is brutal enough. put your foot down on the overtime, but don't step on any toes.

it's too bad that you weren't wise to the old teaching hours vs. teaching time trick, but i guess you'll catch that on your next contract.

blizzard_jdf · Joined: 28 Nov 2005

Hey I have just come out of the same situation. I was supposed to do 110 hours of teaching a month, which equals 25 hours a week. I'd been a teacher for a total of 6 weeks when they had to give me overtime. I got 33 hours of classes a week plus a field trip. I would of had to have done this for 6 six weeks straight. After 2 weeks I was going to have a nervous breakdown. I had 5 kindergarten classes each day and one was with some 3 year olds. So I just left.

At the end of the day most directors just care about money. If they cancel or combine classes they lose money.

Seriously just refuse to do it and if they say no just leave. They can't stop you from leaving. I no showed on Wednesday morning and my plane didn't leave till Sunday afternoon. I just stayed at a hotel in Itaewon. It was good because I got to do some sightseeing.

JongnoGuru · Joined: 25 May 2004 Location: peeing on your doorstep

rapier · Joined: 16 Feb 2003

You have a year or so teaching exp? then get a high school job like mine. 22 X40 min classes a week, 2.3M. Plus holidays.
Hagwons can be good- easy and relaxed, but generally the workload becomes unreasonable.
If you stay on, remember that you're unlikely to get fired, so take it easy! Work on your terms. kick back in class. have fun. throw the ball around, wind the kids up. Enjoy your time. Hagwons are not to be taken too seriously. If the kids like you, then everyone will be happy. Thats all that really matters. Getting a raise isn't that hard, I got 2 raises at my former hagwon by a mixture of negociation and threat.

By your previous posts on here wrench you seem to be a good and reliable type, but also someone who gets angry/stressed a lot. Don't let stuff get to you. Keep a sort of objective distance from your work.If you've been there a while, you should have the routine figured out. My former hagwon was too easy. I could teach a day without even thinking about it. Once you have a basic set up of activities, favorite games and reading/questions procedure, the rest is like sleepwalking.

rapier · Joined: 16 Feb 2003

Oh, and if you decide to quit and want your letter of release, pm me. I know a failsafe way to make sure the boss gives you it.

anyway · Joined: 22 Oct 2005

I don't know how old you are, OP, but I would imagine that you could get a job PDQ in Japan, especially if you are young and female. Why stick around here getting the sheetty end of the stick? That's ri-friggin-diculous. Tell them to stuff it right after your next payday.

As I understand it, if you leave your current job, you only need to wait until your current visa runs out before returning to Korea.

In other words, I believe that you only need a letter of release if you want to get another job here immediately after leaving the current one, but I don't have direct knowledge of this rule. Anyone else?