Korean Job Discussion Forums

[seoulsucker]

Private elementary school near Sinchon.

24 forty minute classes, start at 8:30, finishteaching at 1:40 everyday, walk at 3:00.

2.3 + 350,000 housing allowance, 1 mil travel bonus, pension, insurance, the works.

3 full months of paid vacation.

The only downside was that I had to find and put key money down for my own housing. It actually worked out for the better, though.

[harryh]

I currently work 38 forty minute classes. I earn 2 million per month.

I go to work at 2pm and leave at 9.10pm.

For two months a year, my schedule changes to 40 forty minute classes, with a start time of 8.20am, and finish at 6pm. This is due to winter and summer vacations.

My boss doesn't pay pension. Originally I was told that the school was exempt from paying. Evidently, that's a lie (it's just a regular hagwon anyway).

Medical is 45,860
Tax is 60,000
Resident tax is 6,000

I live in a nice Officetel, which is nice, and close to the school.

Not sure if I'd recommend it.

Positive:

Accommodation / block shift / location

Negative:

Teaching 8 lessons without a tea break.

No pension.

Boss tried to change my contract on two occasions (of course, nothing to my advantage. Just wanted me to teach more lessons ((no extra pay)), stay on the premises at all times, during winter / summer vacations etc)

Unfriendly boss.

Only allowed to teach from poorly selected books, which are nearly always inappropriate for the student's level.

Video cameras in the classroom (used for the wrong reasons IMHO)

Boss who never responds to my polite greetings of "Hello, how are you?" (given up trying to be friendly now)

[sheba]

I work for one of the GnB schools in Pohang, and I highly reccommend it. I teach 24 fourty-five to fifty minute classes a week, starting between 2 and 3.30pm (which includes prep time) and finish at 8pm every night except one at 9pm. I get a free dinner every night and private transport to and from the school if I want (though its walking distance). I have a 2 bedroom apartment which has been redone inside, new flooring, wallpaper, gas boiler etc and was provided with new cell phone and home phone, computer and internet all before I arrived. They paid for domestic flights to get me from the airport to Pohang as well.

I do not have to attend any meetings, and all my extra classes during vacation were paid as overtime even though I wasnt working the full 30 classes anyway. My boss gave me extra vacation time and has honored the contract (tax, insurance and pension even!) The teachers are great, and I am allowed to conduct my class as I please! Actually ive been spoiled! Given expensive gifts for my birthday, bought me things (sometimes expensive) when I was sick, taken me out to dinner many times, taken me sightseeing, bought gifts for my family, they even gave me some cash when I went on holiday to buy lunch and bits at the airport on the way! They have generally given me anything Ive asked for (not that I ask for a lot).

I am in my second year now, and Ive never been paid late, I got my severance no problem, pay raise, they paid return airfares for a vacation between contracts, they have been terrific! When I finish working here, I will certainly be looking for a great teacher to take my place. My school is awesome!

On the other hand the kids can be a handful at times, though the staff fully support me when I have problems. A minor complaint compared to what I could have had!

[brento1138]

Keep em coming people. This is a very interesting thread.. since I am looking for a new job, it interests me to see your stats and how you feel about them. I think this thread will be very useful to others looking for jobs too.

[capebretoncanadian]

Monday to Friday....run of the mill hagwon, Daegu

M 3pm-9pm
T 6pm-7:30pm
W 3pm-7:30pm
T 6pm-9pm
F 3pm-7:30pm

Base Salary- 1.9 million

Work 19.5 hours a week with maybe 30 minutes phone teaching on top of that. No prep time, Korean teachers take care of it. I can roll in five seconds before class starts and roll out five seconds after it's over for the day. All contract obligations have been honored and followed with a bit of fighting by me and the other foreigner at the school.....on time and up to par. Free (decent, not spectacular) apt.....furniture and cell phone. An unnecessary but well meaning 50,000 won food allowance for meals at school. ...which I basically pocket. The bosses take us out for the odd dinner out/ drunk Noraebong adventure/ weekend day trip...they're generally good cats.

Owners are smart and keep very up to date on materials and also tailor courses and books to certain classes. Decently open to teacher suggestions. Me and my fellow waygook saram have tailored some of our own teaching material and had it professionally prepared for use by others. Good for the resume and the ego

Only issue I might have is with the salary.....little lower than the average of all y'all but the decent work conditions make up for it.

However yours truly wll be looking after Christmas to get on in an elementary school or college. I'll look back on my Hogwan experience with a silver lining around the thought balloon above my head

[brento1138]

[Reason.]

*hopes to have some nice testimonials like others here upon his first contract to Korea*

[capebretoncanadian]

[bijjy]

Wow Sheba, your job sounds amazing. If i was staying here another year, I think I'd probably be asking you about openings! ><

[ashke516]

Korean kindergarten, privately owned NOT part of a francise, that has an English program: Musical English, English art, English story-telling are all taught by K-teachers, and then conversational English, phonics, etc taught by me (though I incorporate music, art/crafts and story-telling into my class a bit).

Picked out what books I want to use and I choose how and what I teach in my class.

2.1million won, pension, medical, etc.

10am-5pm Monday~Friday, 22 teaching hours.
3hours of kindy from 10-1:50 with a 50minute lunch.
1 1/2 hour break to prep (which can take anywhere from 15min to the entire time), email, run errands, etc. Classes are 30minutes each.

After my break I teach an afternoon elementary class from 330-5pm that I teach alone (no K-teacher) and have total control over.

Just over 3 weeks paid vacation (2 in the summer, just over a week in the winter) and the exact dates are in my contract. Plus public holidays (found out already that we will be getting the sandwich days off during the week of Chusok, so an extra week vacay, woo-hoo!)

Great boss and co-workers. I am contracted to work 5 Saturdays during the year (Family day, concerts, etc). Not too bad on the last minute changes though it does happen occassionally. Always paid early and the one time I was almost paid late, my boss came to my apartment after work that payday, apologizing profusely, and handed me my pay and a bag of fruit. Hasn't happened again 15 months I've been at the school!

Great apartment in a decent location.

Love the school, love the kids and I'm very happy here.

[tracimcg]

I work at Sekyero English School in Gumi. I teach 5, 50 min classes Mon, Tues, Thus, and Fri. Wed I teach 4 classes and 50 mins of phone teaching. Mon, Tues and Thurs I also have 50 mins of phone teaching. I teach all elementary school children. My hours range from 2:20, 3:20 to 8:10, 9:00.
My director doesn't speak much English. He has always paid me on time. The other teachers (I'm the only waegook) at my school are friendly and I hang out with them from time to time.
I have a one bedroom apt 5 mins from my hagwon. It's decent.
My director pays 1/2 of any hospital visit and meds. No pension. When I'm sick I call the head teacher and she finds someone to fill in for me. Supposedly I have a couple days paid vacation but I that's chosen by the director and I'm not sure when or if that's going to happen. Recently I asked for time off--5 whole days--and was given it, I had to find a replacement.
I would rate it as good. I am staying in Gumi next year but not at Sekyero. I'll get paid more and have better hours at my new hagwon.