Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Yu_Bum_suk]

What really gets me about this is how they pay people at the Paju English Theme Park 2.7 to be English clowns (and I've been there and that's what some of them literally are) but their starting rate of pay for middle and high school teachers is 1.7. WTF do they expect?

[Demophobe]

Exactly. As I said, it's a stretch to discuss public school jobs, then use for a salary comparison, a completely different job.

Hakwons pay 2.0 million/mo. Chairman of Samsung makes 35 million/mo.

Public schools are obviously better.

In the article, they don't even mention the pay for GEPIK jobs. A level 3 (which is what the freshmen would probably be, unless they have a TESL/TEFL/M.A. or lots of experience) starts at 1.8 million. Next, level 2 is 2.0 (still not at hakwon pay rates yet), and level 1, at 2.3 million. Finally, after reaching the top, you are within hakwon pay rates.

[mack the knife]

Those poor fools at the English villages have to live in those hell holes. Curfews and all. How crap is that?

[Don Gately]

[tiger fancini]

[Paddycakes]

I'd be interested to know how many ESL teachers in the GEPIK/EPIK and other public school programs are doing midnight runs.

Is breach of contract really that serious of an issue?

[Yu_Bum_suk]

[Aussiekimchi]

believe it boils down to many Koreans inability to think of other systems as better or more advantageous. They simply believe that their way is the best way....that people should be thankful to work 50 weeks a year, put in long hours(after all more is more anything less... well that just doesnt work!)doing nothing.

While there are worse places to work than Korea it does take a special type of mentality to stick it out for more than one year. As has been pointed out in post after post....why havent Koreans realized that the teacher that just completed a contract is worth more than the 'new' teacher that hasnt arrived yet?

People who have successfully fulfilled 2 or more contracts should be highly valued. People who have done professional development(tesol, tefl, etc) are worth more than the teacher who is fresh from uni.

In the ESL industry there are no standards and no one really listens to ideas for bettering the industry(for to do so you must better the condition for foreigners).

As the vast majority of hogwans are simply cash cows to be milked, there is little incentive to lower profits in order to improve the business. Even though the business would most likely become even more profitable with better teachers who stay longer!

Because the powers that be in Korean education boards also dont want the FT's to be treated as teachers....just as curiosities to placate the parents.


Great insight. Absolutely correct!

[rothkowitz]

curfews?Oh man.......are people aware of that when they sign up?That nonsense is just begging for trouble...

What if I wanted a late night beer?Damned if anybodys gonna stand in my way

[Yu_Bum_suk]

[cornie_man]

Man, am I ever glad I don't work at that place!

[ttompatz]

[Ya-ta Boy]

[UncleAlex]

Well, it's about time Gyonngi-do realizes that with the stingy pay schedule
and vacation time, on top of the newly implemented 2 annual demo class
requirement, the province is bound to repel qualified teachers. And I don't
mean new undergrads. Untrained and inexperienced newbies could be a
hedache for the old goats just the same. With a higher pay schedule and
a full vacation period twice a year with the bonuses to boot along with the
Korean staff may attract certified teachers, B or MTESOL holders, and
proven vets to the provincial public school program. But as it stands, the
Ministry of Education obstinately continues to take advantage of and ex-
ploit native English teachers.

[JongnoGuru]